On 9 December 1944 the Squadron disembarked at Pearl Harbor and settled at the Naval Air Station. Kaneohe. Oahu. T. H. Training during the period of 11-23 December. included pro-dawn simulated attacks on distant (130 Miles) shipping. smoke screen laying. amphibious support and combat air patrol exercises, tactical formations at night. glide bombing. gunnery and carrier refresher landings. The Squadron averaged 14 landings per pilot on the USS BATAAN (CVL-29) which cruised 100 miles from the base.
USS BATAAN (CVL-29)
During these landings. Ensign M. W. Williams made a forced water landing in a TBM when the engine failed and was picked up. uninjured. by the USS GREGORY (DD-802). Ensign I. E. Scherer was rendered unconscious and received head lacerations when his FM-2 went over the starboard bow of the same ship. The plane entered the water tail first on its back- The pilot escaped from the cockpit and drifted with "Mae West" inflated toward the plane guard, but had no recollection of the crash or his escape after rescue. A "native luau" was the occasion for the first squadron party held jointly for officers and men. It was very successful.
USS GREGORY (DD-802)
Picture furnished by Renwick Young (USS Gregory 1944-1945)
Renwick Young was an original crew member on the GREGORY.
His rating was gunners mate second class.
The skipper of the ship was commander Bruce McCandless who won the medal of honor in 1943.
Picture donated via his son Greg Young
(click on picture for a larger image)
On 26 December 1944 the unit embarked on the transport carrier USS LONG ISLAND (CVE- 1) for the Admiralty Islands- Bunk rooms furnished officers and men were too crowded and poorly ventilated. On 7 January 1945. the Squadron disembarked from the USS LONG ISLAND in Seadler Harbor. Manus. Admiralty Islands. Squadron personnel and gear were transported by LCI to Pityilu, a small island a few miles away. Since no CVE was available at that time, the Squadron was land based for further training. and came under the jurisdiction of CASU-42. which in turn was responsible to ACORN-28 and Commander SEVENTH Fleet. The scarcity of aircraft resulted in the receipt of a few at a time. On the 31st of January 13 FM-2s and 9 TBM-3s were in the custody of the Squadron. During the period that aircraft were available pro-combat training consisted of instrument flights. strafing. free gunnery and simulated strikes on shipping. The entire Squadron was thoroughly indoctrinated in the latest methods of survival on land and sea_ Recognition and code and blinker refresher courses were mandatory for pilots and aircrewmen. Mobile Training Unit FOUR was most cooperative- joint Intelligence Center Pacific Ocean Areas, representatives briefed all flight personnel on evasion and escape procedure. On 16 January Ensign A. J. LaMarco. Jr.. Ensign J. B. Whittemore and two aircrewmen reported aboard. making the pilot and aircrewmen complement complete.
USS Long Island (CVE-1)
The recreational facilities for officers and enlisted men were very favorable. During leisure hours. handball. volley ball and tennis courts were well patronized. A high degree of ingenuity among the officers was evidenced by the trim. speedy sail boats which were fashioned from abandoned gasoline belly tanks. Competition was heightened by the Sunday afternoon regattas. the winners of which received prizes. Swimming enthusiasts. undaunted by the lack of a good beach. made frequent use of a small strip of sand on one side of the island- The nightly movies. the officer's club, and beer parties for the enlisted men. did much to compensate for the unpleasantness of a hot humid climate.
Naval Air Base. Pityilu Island Admiralty Islands
USS Barnes (CVE-20)
On 11 February the Squadron embarked on the USS BARNES (CVE-20) for transportation to Ulithi Harbor. Western Carollnes. The USS PETROF BAY (CVE-80). to which the Squadron had been ordered. was reported as anchored there. Upon arrival at Ulithi, it was learned with much dismay that the PETROF BAY had put to sea on the preceding day. to participate in the IWO Jima operation.
