Wasp (CV 18) - Naval Cruise Book

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LAUNCH ME, I'M A NIGHT FLYER! A DAY'S I OPERATIONS A I R B O R N E IT ISN'T PETTY, BUT :Ts SAFE l! 'I LOOKS TOO EASY IN THE DAYTIME SO .... .... T HEY TURN OUT ALL THE LIGHTS

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VC-12 There came from Quonset Point, in the land of the Ouohaug, a small brother called by all the Ugly Duckling. But this Ugly Duckling had none of the complexes suffered by Hans Christian Anderson's original of fairy tale fame. For though this duckling knew he would never be beautiful he had a profound sense of well being. He knew his effectiveness matched that of his sleeker brothers, that he was admirably equipped to fulfill his missions. His missions were many and varied. Most important from the standpoint of Mother was the Ugly Duckling's ability to search for and find submarines and low flying attack planes. He and his brother, the Juvenile Delinquent, formed the WASP's hunter- killer team. Having found a target the Ugly Duckling then directed his brother to make the kill. Since the dangers of submarine attack are ever present the Ugly Duckling was ever ready and did fly in all kinds of weather, day or night. The Ugly Duckling first proved his worth early in the cruise during Operation Mariner when radar controller Lt. Macon directed Ltig. Oberholtzer of VC-33 to the theoretical kill of a submarine threatening the WASP. All this occurred while the maiority of the WASP's crew slept soundly during the pre-dawn hours. The Ugly Duckling earned the respect and gratitude of forty two pilots who were aloft when fog suddenly closed in about the fleet during Operation Mariner. During those hours of Indecision, when ditching in Arctic waters seemed imminent, it was the confident voice of Ltig. Patrova piloting a guppy, with Chrele Tebrich as radar controller, who could provide much needed information about the force below. When the fog did lift, so that all could make a safe landing, the Ugly Duckling maintained his vigilance until the last of his brothers were safely aboard. The Ugly Duckling performed other services, too. His search and rescue capabilities quickly endeared himself to all his brothers. Worth mentioning perhaps was the mail service perfomed while the WASP cruised off of Florida. Best forgotten, however, are the hours spent at Pinwheel. A The Ugly Duckling can claim few records but of the eight Blue Nose cards awarded on this world cruise, six were to members of the VC-l2 detachment: Ens. Muennink, Ens. Morency, Ens.Wetz, Chrele Tebrich, Williams AT3, and Gustus ATAN. The cruise has been interesting and we're glad to have played our part, but now we're glad it's over. We'll trade all the world's exotic food for a good hamburger ..... served Stateside. '91- Left to Right: Back Row: wmte, KOPACZ, Nfisorsi, cAvAN A A AUGH, BOHAN, BLAKE eAouRAs RSONV w. K., PWTOR' LOCKWOOD, BAKER. , , ANDERSON, R. A., ANDE ,, Second Row: HECKART ADC, LTJG WET TEBRICH, MARTIN ALC. Front Row: PASANEN, JONES, SWIES, GUSTUS, H Z' LUG MUENNINK, me PAtRovA, LT SHERMAN, LT MACON, me MORENCY, CHRELE ickirsi, cRossMAN, WILLIAMS.

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I COULD HAVE SWORN I LEFT MY TOOL BOX IN HERE SOMEWHERE! W IF THAT THING BITES ME AGAIN I'LL .... N il'