After the War and Korea

BETWEEN WARS

Feb. 1946 &= nbsp; VT-17 moved to NAS Brunswick, Maine, flying SB2C-4Es and SB2C-5s ²⁰.

Aug. 1946 &= nbsp; VT-17 moved to NAS Norfolk, Virginia.

Nov.1946 &n= bsp; On the 15^th, VT-17 became VA-6B, and a component of Air Group Five, which made a shakedown cruise aboard USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-45).

Sept. 1947 = On the 21^st, VA-6B began flying AD-1 Skyrai= ders ²¹and made the maiden voyage aboard USS C= ORAL SEA (CVB 43) in early 1948

Dec. 1947 &= nbsp; LCDR Glen Butler relieved CDR Kon= ig as Commanding Officer.

May 1948 &n= bsp; Carrier squadrons were assigned colors to further distinguish aircraft within an air group.

June 1948 &= nbsp; The Berlin Air Lift began on the 26^th in an attempt to supply 4,500 = tons of supplies per day to Berliners isolated by the Soviet Blockage of the city. At first, barely half t= he required tonnage arrived in B= erlin.

June 1948 &= nbsp; Development of TACAN began.

July 1948 &= nbsp; On the 27^th, VA-6B became VA-65 when Air Gr= oup Five became Air Group Six. Af= ter a training cruise aboard USS MIDWAY (CVB-41) in late 1948, the Air Group made a two-month Mediterranean cruise in early 1949. The squadron changed its homeport = to NAAS Oceana, Virginia upon return.

Dec. 1948 &= nbsp;      CDR M. J. Hanley relieved LCDR Bu= tler as Commanding Officer.

March 1949 =     Louis Johnson was sworn in on the 28^th as the nation’s second Secretary of Defense. Preside= nt Truman asked for his resignation on September 19, 1950. Johnson’s name is still a four-letter word in many Navy circles for his cancellation of the USS United States on 23 April.

May 1949 &n= bsp;      The Soviet Union lifted the Berlin blockade = on the 12^th after it became clear the Western Allies had won the hearts= and minds of their former enemy by airlifting supplies into Berlin. The airlift included Navy transport aircraft and flight crews, many = of them Reservists recalled to active duty.

October &nb= sp;         An atomic bomb is exploded in the Soviet Union, ending America’s nuclear monop= oly.

Nov.1949 &n= bsp;      On the 12^th, Air Group Six crossed the Artic Circle during a two-mo= nth cold weather cruise aboard USS FRAN= KLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT (CVB-42).

Jan. 1950        CDR Richard J. Phillips relieved = CDR Hanley as Commanding Officer.

20.&nb= sp; The SB2C-5 entered production in 1945, with 970 aircraft built. It had the same engine and electro= nics as the TBM-3, while the cockpit layout was similar. Dive-bombing (about 70°) was a proven technique in both SBDs and SB2Cs during WW-II. TBM pilots, however, seldom got ov= er 45º while glide bombing. Therefore, flying the SB2C was an obvious preliminary step for a squadron slated to receive Skyraiders.&nbs= p;

21. All AD-1s were soon relegated to shore-based training flights after wing-cracks were discovered during carri= er operations. They were replace= d in fleet squadrons with AD-2s, which had an improved cockpit and a more powerf= ul engine.

VA-65 adopted a new sq= uadron patch similar to the present one (left), in June 1949, less the scroll. The original fist was larger. The scroll was added in July 1959,= when VA-65 became VA-25. Stars were added in 1974, but recently removed.

The orientation of the lightning bolt has changed over the years.= At one time it was vertical, but diagonal (as shown) is most common.=

This patch appeared in= many scenes of the movie TOP GUN, despite the fact that VFA-25 never flew the F-= 14.

KOREAN WAR

The international events leading up= to the Korean War are complex and confusing.&= nbsp; War is sometimes triggered by a single event. More often it evolves from our ina= bility to predict an irrational dictator’s mind. The events proceeding 25 June 1950= , in our own country, are a sad commentary of politicians and political appointees’ funding nuclear bombers while allowing the world’s greatest Army and Navy deteriorate.

The Army and Navy, including the Marines, were shortchanged in the budget process after USAF bomber pilots convinced Congress that the USAF would win the next war from the air. The United States held a monopoly = on nuclear weapons, but the Soviets had entered the nuclear arena late in 1949.   Other than some American military assistance programs, South Korea was expected to defend itself, while North Korea received massive military aide from both China and the Soviets. Our closest Army troops were in Japan on occupation duty, ill-prepared for combat. Marine units sent to Korea required augmentation by Reservists.

The USAF was particularly surprised= by events. USAF units in Japan w= ere prepared to intercept Soviet bombers, but their bases in Japan and Okinawa could only provide token support for ground troops in Korea. B-29s and B-26 bombers dropped ton= s of bombs on Korea during the first few weeks of the war, but soon ran out of meaningful targets and scarcely slowed the North Korean advance on Pusan. Meanwhile, USAF planners worked ov= ertime to find planes with propellers, pilots who could fly them, and bases to fly= them from. Maybe we really do need= the Navy!

Clearly, our national leaders were = not thinking about the possibility of another war in the Pacific. The Berlin Airlift, and the events= that triggered it, kept the focus on Europe.&nb= sp; Our primary concern in the Pacific was the possibility of the mainla= nd Chinese invading Taiwan. To compound the problems, neither Defense Secretary Louis Johnson nor Navy Secretary Francis Matthews had any understanding of the Navy’s capabilities or needs.   &n= bsp;

At the end of WW-II, the United Sta= tes Navy included 28 active fleet carriers (CV and CVL) and 71 active escort carriers (CVE) out of a total force of 833 warships. By June 1950, this force had dwind= led to 11 active fleet carriers (39%) and 4 escort carriers (5%) out of a total of= 161 warships (19%). The United St= ates probably didn’t need an 800-ship Navy in 1950, but an 80% reduction c= ould only encourage dictators in their faulty thinking. In June of 1950, we had:

The three Midway Class carriers operating in the Atlantic, where they maintained a limited nuclear threat to the Soviets.

Of the four active Essex Class carriers, USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-= 45) was in Subic Bay. USS BOXER had just completed a Wes= tPac deployment and returned to Alameda. USS LEYTE (CV-32) was on deployment in the Mediterranean. USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47) was on = its way to the Pacific, arriving off Okinawa on 1 August.

Of the four active CVLs, only the = USS BATAAN (CVL-48) deployed to Korea in November 1950 with a Marine F4U squadron aboard. The USS C= ABOT served during WW-II, but was the Training Carrier and served in the Atlantic during the Korean War. USS SAIPAN and USS WRIGHT (CVL-49) were similarly employed in the Atlantic.

Of the four active CVEs, USS MINDORO (CVE-120) and USS PALAU (CVE-122) remained in the Atlantic.   USS SICILY= (CVE -18) operated with a Marine F4U squadron, arriving off Korean on 3 Aug= ust 1950. USS BODOENG STRA= IT (CVE-116) operated with a marine F4U squadron arriving off Korea on 14 July 1950. These Marine squadrons = were an important asset because they operated with ground-based Forward Air Controllers.

Although ill prepared, the Navy’s response to the crisis was swift and decisive.

Fortunately, the British carrier HMS TRIUMPH was also deployed in t= he Pacific and immediately joined VALL= EY FORGE in the Yellow Sea. Without this early use of naval air power, the North Koreans might h= ave pushed friendly troops into the sea at Pusan before reinforcements could arrive.      = ;

1950=

June &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   VA-65 received its second Battle Efficiency "E" award for being the best single engine bombing squadron in COMAIRLANT during 1949. The squadron was then based at NAAS Oceana.

June 25&nbs= p;           North Korean ground units invaded South Korea.

July =       =          A group of combat ready squadrons (VF-24, VF-63, VF-64, and VA-65) and a VC-33 VAN detachment was ordered to the West Coast, becoming the "revised&qu= ot; Air Group Two²², with CDR Donald M. WHITE as CAG, and departed N= AAS Oceana for NAS Alameda, California in August 1950.

July 8 = ;            &n= bsp; USS BOXER (CV-21) is loaded with 1= 45 P-51s and 6 L-5 aircraft for the USAF.&nbs= p; 19 spare Navy aircraft and 1012 passengers are also loaded for record-breaking runs to Japan and back to Alameda²³. =

July 14&nbs= p;            Fourteen reserve squadrons were recalled to active duty, including ten VA/VF squadro= ns.

August 24&n= bsp;        VA-65, along with the Air Group Two, embarked in USS BOXER (CV-21) sailed for Korea in another record-breaking run. BOXER carried 14 spare aircraft destined for Kisaruzu air base (Tokyo Bay).<= /o:p>

September&n= bsp;       North Korean troops have driven American and South Korean troops into a narrow perimeter around Pusan, on the southeast tip of Korea.

September 12   Both BOXER and the typhoon Kezia arr= ived off Japan at the same time, forcing a southerly diversion 400 miles to Naha, Okinawa for offloading the spare aircraft.

September 14   BOXER arrived in Sasebo for ammuni= tion and cargo, and then departed the next morning.

September 15   Air Group Two flew their first strikes near Inchon at 1420 (local time). BOXER, however, damaged her #4 reduction gear just before turning into the wind. She used only three engines for the remainder of the combat tour.

September 17   Ensign R. R. Sanders, of VA-65, was rescued from damaged aircraft after a forced landing.

September 19   President Truman asked for Louis Johnson’s resignation as Secretary of Defense. The poor readiness of units deploying to Korea was probably a deciding factor.

September 20   LTjg C. E. Seeeman, of VA-65, listed as MIA after his planed crashed in enemy territory.

October 1&n= bsp;       Air Group Two launched a successful strike against a power plant east of Pyongy= ang.

November&nb= sp;       UN forces occupy most of North Korea and are within 50 miles of the Yalu River= .

=

<= /o:p>

Deck launch of AD-4 with a typical combat load, circa November 1950.

This particular aircraft belongs to VA-115 aboard USS Philippine Sea (CV-47)

November 11=    BOXER and Air Group Two returned t= o NAS Alameda.

November 26=    Chinese units, estimated at 250,000 troops, launch an all out ground attack south of the Yalu River .

December 2&= nbsp;    VA-65 was called back from leave to mobilize, with Air Group Two, for immediate departure to Korean waters.

December 23=    Air Group Two and VA-65, embarked in USS VALLEY FORGE (CV-45), returned to Korean waters for air operations near Hungnam. It was a whole new w= ar against Chinese “volunteers” who crossed the Yalu River.

22 Air Group Two consisted of four F4U Corsair squadrons (VF-23, VF-24, VF-63, and VF-64), VA-65 (flying AD-4s) and the usual special mission detachments. The letter “M” on the tail identified CVG-2 aircraft.

= 23. BOXER departed Alameda for Yokosuka, making a record voyage of eight days and sev= en hours. She beat her time on t= he return voyage by 12 hours and 24 minutes.

=

1951

January&nbs= p;            Communist troops push well south to about the 37^th parallel, again occupyi= ng Seoul, Inchon, and Osan. Here= , the advance stalls and begins to fall back towards defensive positions along th= e 38^th parallel. <= /p>

March 19&nb= sp;        Air Group Two, with VA-65, transferred to USS PHILIPPINE SEA (CV-47). A= ir Group Eleven transferred to VALLEY = FORGE and returned to Alameda.

March 21&nb= sp;        Ensign R. R. Leaglund, of VA-65, successfully crash landed his AD-4Q at Seoul airfield.

April 2&nbs= p;             = Two VF-191 F9F-5Bs were launched with bombs from USS PRINCETON (CV-37) for the first use of jet fighters as bomb= ers.

April 11&nb= sp;           Gene= ral MacAurthur is relieved for insubordination. He is replaced by General Ridgeway= .

May 1 =              Eight VA-195 AD-4s launched from PRINCETO= N for a successful torpedo attack on the Hwachon Dam.

May &n= bsp;            = ;   Ensign E. E. Brey, of VA-65, is listed as MIA after his plane crashed behind enemy lines.

May 29 = ;           LTjg J. B. Dick and Ensign R. W. Murphy, of VA-65, are listed as MIA after a mid= -air collision.

June 9 = ;             <= /span>VA-65, and PHILIPPINE SEA, returned to NAS Alameda. During this 7-month period, VA-65 = flew 1,718 missions, of which 1,645 were combat missions totaling 5,583 combat hours.

July 11&nbs= p;            Air Group Two and VA-65 moved to NALF Santa Rosa, California for training.=

August 25&n= bsp;        USS ESSEX (CV-9), newly modernized= under SCB-27A, began combat operations. The F2H-2 Banshee, flown by VF-172, made its combat debut. This modernization included remova= l of the flight deck gun turrets, an 8-foot increase in the ship’s beam, t= hree ready rooms on the 2^nd deck, and the H-8 catapult with jet blast deflectors. However, the ship= was still a straight-deck carrier.

August 31&n= bsp;        CDR Gordon A. Sherwood relieved C= DR Phillips as Commanding Officer ATKRON 65.&= nbsp; The squadron continued training for the remainder of 1951.

December 11=    VALLEY FORGE began combat operatio= ns with ATG-1, a four squadron air group intended to simplify flight operations from unmodified Essex Class carriers (four ready rooms). Eight ATGs were in existence by 19= 55.

=

1952

February 8&= nbsp;      Air Group Two and VA-65 departed NAS Alameda in BOXER for its third Korean tour.

April 18&nb= sp;           LCDR W. P. Neel, of VA-65, is MIA after his plane crashed 20 miles northeast of Wonsan. His port wing was obs= erved to shear off and no chute was seen.

June 17&nbs= p;           LTjg Richard C. Rowe and Ensign Dale Faler, of VA-65, are listed as MIA after th= eir planes are hit by AAA. Rowe&#= 8217;s plane plunged into the ground and exploded. Faler’s plane disintegrated = in flight and a chute was seen.

June 23/24&= nbsp;      VA-65 flew successful coordinated strikes against North Korean hydro-electric pla= nts.

July 14&nbs= p;            The keel of FORRESTAL was laid at N= ew Port News shipyard.

August 6&nb= sp;          A major shipboard fire resulted in the death of a squadron mate, Airman Apprentice I. Canales.

September 25   BOXER and VA-65 returned to NAS Al= ameda.

October 1&n= bsp;       CV and CVB aircraft carriers were designated CVAs.

October 22&= nbsp;     On leave to his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, Commander Gordon A. SHERWOOD pas= sed away unexpectedly. LCDR M. R.= NOVAK became acting Commanding Officer

October 28&= nbsp;     Lieutenant Commander H. M. THOMPSON <= /b>assumed command of ATKRON 65.

1953

January 12&= nbsp;       Test operations began aboard USS ANTITAM= (CVA-36), the Navy’s first angle-deck carrier.

<= /o:p>

= USS BOXER off Korea, circa 1953.

This particular ship had few improvements since WW-II.

= F9F Panthers, F2H Banshees, F4U Corsairs, and AD Skyraiders are on the flight d= eck.

May 21        &= nbsp;   An AD-4 launched from NAS Dallas with a 10,500-lb bomb load, a useful load of 14,491-lbs.

July 27        &= nbsp;    An Armistice was signed ending the 37-month Korean War. The original boundary between Nort= h and South Korea became a DMZ. In = a few months, only the families of the dead remembered there was a war in some far off place. It was a war nobod= y won and even the lessons learned were soon forgotten.

October 1        USS HORNET completed its SCB-27A modernization at the New York Naval shipyard.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> This was the last of nine ships so modernized. Other ships began modernization to SCB-27C and SCB-125 standards later in decade.

In June 1953, the United States Navy had 19 (173%) active fleet carriers (CVA/CVL) and 10 (250%) active escort carriers (CVE) out of a total force of 326 (124%) warships. The number or fleet carriers and t= otal warships continued to climb until 1963.&nb= sp; Then, guess what happened…

Back to Ho= me Page