Ticonderoga (CVA 14) - Naval Cruise Book

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A HISTORICAL THUMBPRIN T The Attack Carrier Air Wing is the striking arm of the nations mighty Aircraft Carrier-its pilots carrying home to the enemy the full force of a conventional or nuclear naval power. Attack Carrier Air Wing FIVE is one such force and has a proud and distinguished history which dates back over a quarter of a century. Attack Carrier Air Wing FIVE has participated in, and contributed to, many ff firsts in naval aviation history. Initially serving in the Pre-World War II Aircraft Carrier U. S. S. YORKTOWN QCV-55, as Carrier Air Group YORKTOWN, from 1938 to 1942, it was the first group to receive the now famous Douglas SBD ff Dauntless 'i dive bomber, The first to accomplish aircraft launchings from flush-deck catapultsg Participated in the first U. S. Carrier air offensive of World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations, And played a decisive role in the first naval engagement of history fought without opposing ships making contact, in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. Carrier Air Group YORKTOWN was embarked in U. S. S. YORKTOWN when that gallant ship was lost to enemy action at the Battle of Midway Island in 1942. Serving later in the 4' new U. S. S. YORKTOWN QCV-10D from August 1943 to April 1944, as Carrier Air Group FIVE, it participated in many firsts in attacks on various Japanese held islands in the Pacific, Marcus, Truk, Marshalls, Gilberts, Marianas, and Western Carolines to 11ame but a few. For its part in these actions, Carrier Air Group FIVE was awarded the coveted Presidential Unit Citation. Fate again laid a destructive hand on Carrier Air Group FIVE when in 1945, while embarked in U. S. S. FRANKLIN CCV-135, off the coast of Japan, the ship sustained such severe damage from aerial bombs that a majority of the groups aircraft were destroyed and many of her heroic members were killed. This action terminated Carrier Air Group FIVE's active participation in World War II. The Post-World War II years found Carrier Air Group FIVE home ported at San Diego, California, when not embarked in one of the many aircraft carriers for routine operations and cruises to the Orient and Western Pacific as a part of the powerful Seventh Fleet. During this period a fighter squadron of the air group conducted carrier evaluations of the FJ-1 ff Fury jet fighter, This same squadron was the first to be assigned the Grumman F9F ff Panther jet fighter. In January 1950 the air group had two jet squadrons operating on the same aircraft carrier at the same time, a milestone in the annals of modern naval aviation history. In Korea in 1950, Carrier Air Group FIVE was the first carrier unit to go into action against the North Korean 44 horde when they streamed across the 38th Parallel, and thus was the first group to employ the F9F jet fighter and the AD attackwboniber in combat. In the subsequent three years, Carrier Air Group FIVE marked up the most months ingiclombafg forifa-'ksingle air group, and was awarded three Navy Unit Commendations for her deeds. Singeif-19.53, Carrier Air Group FIVE has made numerous cruises to the Western Pacific and Oriental waters in supporgoffiblational Policies. ,jiaese cruises, while not engaged in any form of actual combat, demand a high percengfage of Q.aircraftQ-aivailabilityg and a high degree of personnel training, and necesssarily demand many long hours of worfg 'Hom both tlie officers Faijd men on a daily basis. efficiency was provenfbeyond a doubt when aircraft from, the wing participated in the air strike on North Viet Nanifof August. 5, 1964.gwithout sustaining any casualty to the planes involved. Down lilfiroughvtthe years, in peace, in war, and during periods of national emergency, the officers and men of Carrier Air Group YORKTOWN, Carrier Air Group FIVE, and Carrier Air Wing FIVE have given of themselves unstintingly, and have distinguished themselves on countless occasions, earning nearly every possible award and decora. tion for their courageous acts. They have written their deeds in the annals of Naval Aviation History in the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. A record to be justly proud.

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RRlER AIR w AIR WING PERSONNEL U . E7 4

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Commander E. M. Cooke r. Commander Carrier Air Wing Five Commander E. M. Cooke Jr, USN, was commissioned a naval aviator in 1944. He then flew F6F Hellcats with VFN training squadrons for one year. In November 1945 he reported aboard USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 as an aviator with the VFN Team attached to AVF-87 and in August 1946 he served with the VFN Team aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CVA-41. From 1947 to 1948 he studied at George Washington University under the Holloway Program. He attended General Line School in 1950 and was an F6F advanced training instructor at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas during 1951-52. He has flown from the decks of USS Philippine Sea CVA-47, USS Coral Sea CVA-43, and was Officer in Charge of the VFN Detachment aboard USS Bennington CVA-20. After three years at BAR St. Louis, he received F4D training in 1959 at NAS Key West and served as Commanding OHicer of VF-102 from 1960-61. He was then CATCC Officer aboard USS Forrestal for two years and became Commander Carrier Air Wing Five in January 1964. He is a resident of Georgetown, Texas where he attended Southwestern University. Commander Cooke is married to the former Carolyn White of Purdys, New York.