This page is dedicated to all who served on and from the CVE-80 U.S.S. Petrof Bay.
HISTORY OF COMPOSITE SQUADRON 93
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET A I R FORCE
COMPOSITE SQUADRON NINETY-THREE
VC-93/RLW A12-1/wjo Serial 23C-45
Localities of Stations:
Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington
The Squadron originated at Naval Air Station, Sand Point. Seattle. Washington, on 23 February 1944. Lieutenant Commander Chester P. Smith, USN received the commission of the Squadron from Lieutenant Tichenor. representing Commander Fleet Air. West coast. Lieutenant Commander Smith of Greenville. Mississippi, has continued as Commanding Officer. to the definite benefit of the organization. All activities were supervised by Commander Fleet Air. West Coast. until 9 December 1944 when Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet commenced exercising direct control.
Commissioning occurred on a typical drizzling, cold, Seattle morning. Thirty-three officers and one hundred and thirty-four enlisted men standing at attention in dress blues heard Lieut. Tichenor read the commissioning order to the Commanding Officer. Lt. Cmdr. Chester P. Smith. The roar of a plane turning up on the line adjacent to the hangar alternated with the crisp reading of the order. After receiving the Commission, Commander Smith addressed inspiring remarks to his Squadron. Following the ceremony the entire shivering group was photographed. Officers and enlisted personnel then retired to the "offices" and ready room on the main deck of a hangar and began to compile personnel data and records; to sort, log and distribute voluminous commissioning packets of letters, instructions, etc. Executive, Flight, Engineering, Materiel. Training, Air Combat, Intelligence, Personnel, Navigation and Communications Officers and assistants were designated. Flying began with instrument and type familiarization in CASU aircraft: ground training with link trainer, recognition and athletic programs. Duty Officers were designated and the training of the Squadron commenced
Naval Auxiliary Air Station North Bend. Oregon
At the Naval Auxiliary Air Station. North Bend. Oregon. each VF pilot obtained approximately the following flight hours: familiarization 13. section tactics 7. division tactics 8, squadron tactics 2, dogfights 4. gunnery division tactics 20, gunnery dummy runs 17, gunnery 130 (firing at slow and high speed towed sleeves and banners), intertype tactics including gunnery 60, strafing 40, dummy glide bombing 3. instrument 10. navigation 4, night familiarization 2. This program resulted in an average of 54 hours per month for five and one-half months. Each VT pilot obtained hours as follows: familiarization 10. section tactics 7. division tactics 11. squadron tactics 3. fighter evasion 2, torpedo tactics 29, (including dropping 8 live torpedoes at Whidbey Island), high altitude bombing 15. glide bombing 20. anti-submarine bombing 15. low level bombing 4. free gunnery 28, fixed gunnery 6. navigation 40, instrument 11. night familiarization 2, intertype tactics 60, Z band radar 56. VT pilots accordingly averaged about 55 hours per month. A flight board afforded an open record of each pilot's accomplishment and was used in drawing schedules. During June and July 1944 intertype exercises. such as simulated strikes on strategic ground targets or shipping. occasionally with other squadrons, were successfully completed.
The aircraft were maintained by squadron personnel except for major overhaul or repair, with an availability of 18 usual for the 12 F4F. 9 TBM-I and one SNJ-4 assigned. Much rain and heavy mist was experienced. The wind was usually of high velocity. occasionally as high as 40 knots, and often a variable crosswind to the strip of 150 feet width was present. Ground looping of the VF was at first frequent- Analysis led to the opinion that this was due to unfamiliarity of the pilots with the landing characteristics of the F4F's. All VF pilots went through training in either SBD'S or SNJ's. Only in three accidents were aircraft seriously damaged. Ensign Russell Rainer. in the landing circle, experienced prop failure and made a forced let down in a marsh, where the plane turned forward on its back. Ensign Francis J. Hawley executed a wheels up landing on a beach when an emergency fuel tank became exhausted. Both pilots escaped injury. On I April. Ensign Donald P. Jackson, making a high side dummy run at 3000 feet, continued in the dive to the water. He was instantly killed as the plane disintegrated. Ground training consisted of link time, recognition, educational movies and athletics which included calisthenics interspersed by voluntary physical endeavors such as swimming. rowing. hiking, tennis. badminton. bowling and ping-pong.
TBM Landing on the USS Petrof Bay
Photo courtesy of Robert Allison
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