CVE-80 USS Petrof Bay
On 30 May the Squadron was detached from the PETROF BAY in Apra Harbor
and immediately reported aboard the USS STEAMER BAY
(CVE-87) for further duty. relieving VC-90. The entire Squadron was then
transported by bus to the Flight Personnel Rehabilitation Camp, Guam, for
10 days rest and relaxation.
USS Steamer Bay (CVE-87) Guam. M.I.
Flight Personnel Rehabilitation Agana, Guam, M. 1.
Photo courtesy of Robert Allison
(click on picture to see a larger image)
Oliver Dennett is leaning on the tree at the right.
Directly behind him is Dan Tuschner and behind him is Robert Sullivan.
On the other side, we believe the man with the dog is Leon Star.
Behind him is Ralph Friedrich, then Quentin Schenk. Joe Oliver,
(we don't know the guy in the funny hat and cigarette).
Bud Foster (Navy Cross winner) is at the back leaning against the tree.
Photo courtesy of John Dennett
(click on picture to see a larger image)
Daily rations of beer and coca cola. nightly movies. fish frys on the beach. Swimming and trips through the native villages served to erase many unpleasant memories of the combat experiences, and to relax completely all personnel. This camp was operated in an exceptionally pleasing manner and is highly recommended.
Guam 1945 - My Dad is second from the left (with sunglasses)
On 10 June the USS STEAMER BAY left Guam and during the period of 15-22 June, as part of Task Unit 32.1-3. the Squadron struck the enemy air facilities on the islands of Miyak and Ishigaki. The ship later arrived at Ulithi Harbor, where it remained until 3 July. It then escorted a large group of oilers and supply ships which serviced the fast battleship and carrier units striking the main islands of Japan. The operating area was east of Honshu. and at one time the ship was within 250 miles of this enemy island. This was the closest any Allied Nations' CVE had yet been to Japan. The Squadron flew combat air patrols and anti-submarine patrols for these ships of the train until 21 July when the ship departed the forward area.
Reference is made to Appendix L for the compilation of the general achievements of the unit in combat. 8500 hours were flown during 2360 sorties of all kinds which inflicted extensive damage on enemy airfields and installations. Appendix J sets forth damage to enemy air craft on the ground only as positively confirmed. An unconfirmed account totals 18 destroyed, 1 probably destroyed and 23 damaged. Many explosions were caused. the most violent of which sent debris over 1000 feet into the air. Many fires were started, one of which covered approximately one mile of railway storehouses S. E. of Naha. Many strikes were commended for their specific damage to worthwhile targets. An outstanding example of such an attack occurred on 22 April when 7 VT planes from the squadron were led by the senior VT pilot and directed by the executive officer. acting as air coordinator in an FM-2. A number of enemy gun positions. cleverly utilizing the favorable features of a higher rugged terrain. were effectively stopping the advance of our ground forces. These batteries were destroyed by pinpoint bombing without damage to our adjacent troops. who were seen to move forward. Equally meritorious performances were accomplished on other types of missions. One pilot. on anti-submarine patrol. voluntarily assumed the warning duties of a picket destroyer. which he observed to be substantially damaged by a Jap suicide plane. Of the 17 airborne enemy planes destroyed, 11 were engaged in an attack run on our ships and 7 were followed into the intense AA fire from the ships under attack. The photographic pilot and crew were highly commended by Task Group Commanders who used such words as "best ever seen" and "miracle in photography" to describe photographs taken during low slow flights over enemy gun positions. Four VT pilots laid a very successful smoke screen over the main assault beach of Okinawa on "L' Day.
Some of the "Green Weenies' received while in the combat area are quoted below,
31 March 1945
THIS MORNING WAS THE FIRST SINCE ARRIVAL THAT THIS FORCE HAS NOT BEEN UNDER DAWN SUICIDE AIR ATTACKS X EFFICIENT INTERDICTION LOCAL FIELDS INDICATED AND MUCH APPRECIATED X (VC-93 TCAP orbiting enemy fields of Okinawa during early morning).
6 April 1945
JAPS SHOT DOWN TODAY X SAGINAW BAY 1 VAL X PETROF BAY 3 VALS 3 ZEKES (VC-93) RUDYERD BAY 4 VALS X WELL DONE TO YOU BOYS X.
Shrapnel dammaged Parachute from Esn. L.W. Jeffreys TBM Avenger on the deck of the USS Petrof Bay.
Click on picture for a larger image. Use back key to return.
Courtesy of Robert Allison
12 April 1945
LEGION AND COLOR SPLASHED TOJOS, ZEKES VALS BUMS TOTALING 14 TODAY X WELL DONE X COLOR LEGION X (VC-93 downed 1 of the 14 mentioned).
19 April 1945
VERY LOW OBLIQUE NEGATIVES DROPPED BY 392 LEGION GRAPHIC ABOUT 1700 YESTERDAY OF TAT 8733 WERE PRINTED AND ARE UNDERGOING INTERPRETATION BY MIDNIGHT RESULTING IN SEVERAL PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN TARGETS BEING DESTROYED TODAY X SPEED OF PRINTING AND EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS DECLARED TO BE "MIRACLE IN PHOTOGRAPHY" BY MUSTANG X 392 LEGION GRAPHIC WAS UNDER ENEMY FIRE DURING THIS WELL EXECUTED MISSION X HE AND HIS PHOTOGRAPHER DESERVE COMMENDATION FOR THIS AND OTHER JOB WELL DONE X (VC-93 Photo Team).
19 April 1945
CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE X SIGNED ADMIRAL DURGIN BT X (VC-93 Photo Team).
19 April 1945
NICE WORK THIS MORNING X (VC-93 Strike Group after hitting Okinawa objective).
22 April 1945
HAVE HAD SEVERAL REPORTS EXCELLENT HEAD WORK AND LEADERSHIP YOUR SQUADRON COMMANDER X REPORT NAME X GIVE HIM WELL DONE FOR ME BT.
26 April 1945
YOU WILL BE RELEASED THIS AFTERNOON TO PROCEED WITH DENNIS RENDEZVOUS RUDYERD X PETROF AND HER SQUADRON HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH OUTSTANDING EFFICIENCY X WELL DONE BT.
Top row left to right: George Wessel, Paul Bumgartner , Joe Oliver, George Vigeant
Bottom row: Don Bartell, Bill Ahearn, Ralph Freidrich, Louis DeMarco
The hands behind Joe Oliver are those of Lyman Jeffreys
Photo courtesy of Robert Allison
However, the damage wrought upon the enemy was not without cost to the Squadron. On 27 March Price Seferian AMM2/c. turret gunner. was instantly killed when hit by flak during a propaganda run over Naha field in a TBM-3 airplane. On 30 March Ensign G. A. Collipriest was involved in a mid-air collision. with a plane of another Squadron. during a strafing run in rain. and crashed near the beach of Okinawa. On 12 April Ensign C. J. Janson was involved in a midair collision with an F4U during a dog fight with a Tojo north of Okinawa and is presently listed as "missing". On 15 June Ensign George. J. Vigeant. Jr.. was killed while making a forced water landing east of Miyako Jima. where the engine of his FM-2 had been hit by AA fire. On 20 July A. R. Katough ARM2/c died as a result of excessive submersion. after the TBM-3 in which he was radioman was landed on the water due to engine failure. The plane was piloted by Ensign Paul. R. Baumgartner. Two pilots were wounded by flak: Ensign LaMarco over Okinawa on 25 March and Ensign George Wessel over Miyako on 29 June, but each returned to base for uneventful recovery. In addition to these casualties 5 pilots were forced to execute water landings due to engine failure after hits by AA fire. but all were unhurt and promptly rescued by a friendly ship. plane or submarine. These were Ensign R. A. Kinnaird near Okinawa on 27 March, Lt. Cmdr. C. P. Smith near Miyako on 15 April. Lt (jg) A. Godfrey near Ishigaki an 15 April. Lt. Cmdr. C. P. Smith near Ishigaki on 22 June and Lt. R. 1. Myers, whose engine failed in the landing circle on 21 June after being hit ever Miyako. Ensign P. R. Baumgartner was orbiting the crash of Ensign Janson's plane on 12 April when a Tolo's bullets damaged his engine in a surprise attack. With his engine power failing he made one pass at the enemy plane, which was sufficient to cause it to flee. and then glided toward the water for an emergency landing. A destroyer. mistaking him for an enemy. fired an him and further damaged his crippled plane. but then rescued him after his successful ditching. Planes were hit by AA on approximately I 10 occasions. Ensign Allison had two operational dunkings, on 31 March and 15 June. and Ensign DeVries had one on 11 May. on take-off.
On 24 July the Squadron arrived at Guam and on the following day departed
for Pearl Harbor. On 4 August it left Pearl Harbor for the United States.
On 3 August the Squadron was ordered by Commander Air Force, Pacific Fleet,
to report Commander Fleet Air, West Coast, for Decommissioning. Reclassification
and Leave.
CVE-80 USS Petrof Bay
