Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 128 text:

CDR Vincenf L. Hafhorn. Air Group Commander. HE STAFF of Commander Carrier Air Group Eight is the organization established to assist the Air Group Commander in having his policies carried out by the various squadrons and detachments. The Staff officers have the job of coordinating the effort of the entire group and heading up the department aboard ship. Commander V. L. Hathorn, as Air Group Commander, had tactical command in the air when the group was fiying a mission. The command of this all-reserve air group was assigned to Commander Hathorn April 9, 1951, when the formal commis- sioning ceremonies were held at the Naval Air Station, Jackson- ville, Fla. On this date the Air Group was given the numerical designation which identified one of naval aviation's most famous air groups of World War II. The Staff at this time was com- posed of three officers and one enlisted man. It has since in- creased to its present strength of nine officers and 17 enlisted men. The present complement includes reserve and regular Navy personnel hailing from as far north as New York State, home of Administrative Officer, LCDR B. M. Anderson, to Texas, home of LT H. 'W. Hammonds. The Staff office force handles all ad- Leff fo Right: FIRST ROW: Sur- raff Nowakowski Roberfson Ku I I I P' ersfein, Carringion, Seymore, Paf- fillo, Burkharf, Scoz. SECOND ROW: Sayre, CPO Van Huss, CPO Vlief, CPO Fifzgeralci, CPO Moulder, CPO Lenny, Salfer, Francisco. THIRD ROW: LT Mur- chison, LCDR Roberson, LT Nor- man, LCDR Anderson, CDR Haf- horn, fAir Group Commancierl, LCDR James, LT McAfee, LT Hammonds. I 1 'l New N N Z0 aff Coming in with no wheels or flaps, oil on windshield, pilot in sfufe of shock? Yes sir, l'II tell him. CARRIER AIR GROUP EIGHT ministrative and personnel work for the Air Group. This depart- ment is staffed by Chief Yeoman D. F. Moulder, W. D. Burkhart YNSN, J. J. Sayre YNSN, and F. V. Scoz SN. The Leading Chief of the Air Group is J. E. Fitzgerald, with A. J. Van Huss as Staff Aviation Ordnance Chief. The staff is assigned three planes, one AD-SQ Douglas Skyraider and two F4U-4 Corsair fighters. The following plane captains keep these planes in constant readiness for flight: M. D. Robertson, AD2g E. L. Seymore, AD3g R. J. Francisco, AD3g and A. P. Carring- ton, ADAN. G. W. Lenny, ATC, an Air Crewman, rides as radar and radio operator with the Group Commander on all tactical fiights. . G. I. Vliet, Chief Hospital Corpsman, is assigned to the Medical Department where he works with the Air Group Flight Surgeon, LT G. C. Murchison. The ship's disbursing office is work station for three of the Staff members: W. H. Pattillo, DK1g P. D. Kuper- stein, DKSNQ and B. J. Nowakowski, SN. Stewardsmate 2nd Class, E. Surratt assists in the preparation and serving of food in the officers' wardroom.

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Executive Officer LCDR JACK M. JAMES was born in VVildwood, New jersey. He graduated from XfVildwood High School in 1937, from Annapolis in 1941 and from Pensacola in 1944. He married Miss Louise Snyder of Oak Park, Illinois, in 1946 and is the father of two boys. He joined the Air Group in August, 1951. Commanding Officer Currier Air Group Eight CDR VINCENT L. HATHORN is a native of Pittsfield, Maine. He makes his home with Mrs. Hathorn and their five children in Virginia Beach. He graduated from Pensacola in 1937. Commander Hathorn came to Air Group 8 as Air Group Commander when it was formed in April, 1951. His last previous duty was Executive Officer of the Naval School of Photography at Pensacola.

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in Roger pass -Air Group LSO's ai' work. -1 The Air Group bosses: CDR W. E. Fly, CO VF-22: LCDR R. E. Moor, CO VA-859: CDR V. L. Hafhorn, CAG-8: LCDR H. K. Price, CO VF-67Ig LCDR J. M. James, Operafions Officer, Air Group Eighfg LCDR L. H. Pulford, CO VF-92l. Num.. X Y V? ,,., X ,, A , ,efwg g Qlul .. XW LL -1-....,., wh,-g.-,V Paper Navy - depar+men+ of CAG Sfaff. Air Group Commander awarhng 'rhe caf sho'r. Operations for the Group were organized by LCDR J. M. james, Air Intelligence was handled by LT F. D. Mlhipple, Communications and Materiel were handled by LT R. E. Norman assisted by H. L. Salter AMI, and Maintenance for the Group supervised by LT F. E. McAfee. The senior Landing Signal Officer for the Group is LCDR H. YV. Rober- son. On his expert paddle waving depended the success of the several landings made each month. Thus it is apparent that the work of the Air Group Staflf affects every squadron in the Group, and in addition is a vital part of the efficient operation of the ship and its strik- ing power of some 80 to 90 planes. The major effort of the Staff has been directed toward making this Group Eight a heads up Hying organization that will fit into the ship's operation efficiently, and reflect credit on its famous name- sake. CAG Staff Mainfenance personnel runing up Hue iron bird .