Beatley, Rodman C., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6
Burley, Frankin N., Ltjg, VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 7
Clarke, Walter E., Lt., VF-5, Solomon Islands (Land Based), VF-10, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6
Coleman, Wilson, Cdr., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11), VF-13, USS Franklin (CV-13) - 10
A native of Eastman, Georgia, Captain Coleman entered the U.S. Navy on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941 in Huntsville, AL. Upon graduation from flight training at NAS Jacksonville, FL in Aug '42, he reported to VF-3 at NAS San Diego, CA. VF-3 under command of Lcdr E.H. "Butch" O'Hare deployed to the Pacific in April '43 flying the new Gruman F6F "Hellcats". Capt Coleman, then Ensign, had the unique experience of shooting down his first Japanese aircraft on his first flight from the new USS Princeton on Sept 2, '43. This 4-engine seaplane "EMILY" was also the first enemy aircraft destroyed by its pilots on the ship's first combat mission. Later, on Feb 16, '44 Ltjg Coleman shot down his second enemy aircraft while on a rocket and strafing attack over Truk Islands while flying from the USS Intrepid, which was torpedoed at midnight on Feb 16, '44 and returned to the states via Pearl Haror for repairs.
'44 found Lt. Coleman flying F6F's with VF-83 aboard the USS Essex in the Pacific. During this combat tour, Lt Coleman shot down 8 enemy aircraft, while operating off Japanese home islands and Okinawa, accounting for 4 aircraft on a single flight on April 3, '45. His final flight of WWII was a combat air patrol over the USS Missouri while surrender ceremonies were in progress below.
In the ensuing years as a Commander and later Captain USN, he held the following interesting assignments: Commanding Officer of Air Wing 11 aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, Instructor, US Naval Academy, Commanding Officer of VA-36, Executive Officer - USS F.D. Roosevelt, Project Officer, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commanding Officer, USS Muliphen, Commanding Officer, NAS, Cecil Field, Chief of Staff, Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville.
During his 32 years active duty Captain Coleman was awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, DFC (3), Air Medal (13), Presidential Citation (3), Navy Unit Citation (2), Joint Chiefs of Staff Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Captain Coleman received his education at Presbyterian College in S. Carolina and a Georgia Tech. He is a graduate of the Navy's General Line School and Naval War College, Newport, R.I. His retirement home was in Jacksonville, FL.
Davis, Robert H., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6.5
Denman, Anthony J., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6
Dibb, Robert A.N., Ltjg., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 8.5
Farmer, Charles D., Lt., VF-10, USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 5
Foltz, Frank E., Lt., VF-30, USS Monterey (CVL-26), VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 7
Godson, Lindley W., Lt., VF-6, USS Princeton (CV-37), USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 5
Gray, Lester E., Ltjg., VF-10, USS Enterprise (CV-6), VF-10, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 5
Harris, Cecil E., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11), VGF-27, USS Langley (CVL-27) - 24
Hearell, Frank C., Lt.Cdr., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11), Sept - Nov. '44 - 5
...born August 2, 1921, in Bronte, TX. He graduated from Long Beach (CA) Junior College and entered the Navy Flight Training Program at Pensacola, FL in Sept '41 as an Aviation Cadet. As a member of VF-18 in the fall of '44, he participated in numerous carrier-ased aircraft strikes against Japanese forces in the Philippines, Polau Islands, Formosa (Twiwan), and Okinawa, including the Japanese Central and Northern Naval Forces during the historic battle for Leyte Gulf. The squadron destroyed 172 aircraft in the air, 350 on the ground and participated in the destruction of four aircraft carriers, several cruisers and destroyers and the MUSHASHI (sister ship of the YAMATO). hE COMMANDED VF-871 of Air Task Group Two, ased aboard the USS Essex (CVA-9) during the korean War (August '52 to Jan '53) and led his squadron in 52 strikes over North Korea. Commander Hearrell commanded VT-2 at NAAS Whiting Field, Pensacola, FL from Aug '58 to June '61. He retired from the Navy in Oct '65, at Corpus Christi, TX, where he was the Operations Officer of the Naval Air Station. Tally Record: 5 kills, 5 destroyed on the ground.
Heath, Horace W., Ltjg., VF-10, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 7
Kirkwood, Phillip L., Lt., VF-10, USS Yorktown (CV-5/10), USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 11
Lerch, Alfred, Ens., VF-10, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6
Mallory, Charles M., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 11
May, Richard H., Lt., VF-3, USS Lexington (CV-2/16), VF-32, USS Langley (CVL-27),
USS Intrepid (CV-11), flew with Cdr Outlaw - 20+
Born May 16, '20 in Portland, OR, soloed at age 15, and was a licensed private pilot at age 16. He enrolled in Navy Flight Training, Corpus Christi, TX. Graduated June '42.
Flew F4F Wildcats and F4U Corsairs in FS-3 and FS-10 before entering combat in F6F Hellcats, as section and division leader in Fighting 32nd attached to the carrier, USS Langley.
Combat action, strafing and bombing, commenced at Marshall Island campaign in Jan '44. First opportunity for air-to-air combat came on March 29, off Eniwetok. May intercepted and shot down a "Betty" bomber. Off Wolai, April 2, he shot down the hughe "Flying Boat" bomber. At Truk Island, first strike of Task Force 58, May's 2 plane section, part of an 8 plane team, dove into a flight of 44 Tony fighters. In the melee 28 Tonys were destroyed. May made 6 of the kills. 3 kills. 3 kills were probables because the planes fell through an over-cast. Sight confirmation was impossible.
Oct '44 Fighting 32nd returned to the States. May entered Test Pilot school at NAS Patuxent River. He served as a flight test pilot until leaving active duty in Sept. '45. Shortly before he left Patuxwnt he experienced a "dubious first" when engine failureforced him to ditch the experimental YP-59A, ell twin-engined jet fighter, into the Chesapeake Bay.
As a reserve officer May joined the Naval Air Reserve Command for "Week-End Warriors". He flew Hellcats, Corsairs, F8F Bearcats and the jet F9F-6 Cougar. While CO of the reserve fighter squadron, Fighting 891, May led his squadron to the number one rated squadron among the Command's 96 fighter squadrons. After 17 years of flying in the Reserve May retired with the rank of Commander, with a total service of 23 yrs, oth Active and Reserve duty.
Combat and Fleet Tally: 93 combat flights. 500 hrs of flying time in combat. 250 carrier landings flown, setting a Fleet record of 54 consecutive landings made aboard the carrier without receiving a mandatory wave-off from the Landing Signal Officer. Air-To-Air Tally: 13 kills in the air. 7 kills confirmed. 6 kills probable. Commendations: 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 9 Air Medals.
Merritt, Robert S., Lt., VF-8, VF-72, USS Hornet (CV-8/12), VF-10, USS Enterprise (CV-6),
VF-6, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 7
Mitchell, Henry E., Ltjg., VF-6, USS Intrepid (CV-11), VBF-17, USS Hornet (CV-8/12) - 6
Mollenhauer, Arthur R., Ens., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 5
Murray, Robert E., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11), VF-29, USS Cabot (CVL-28) - 10.3
Outlaw, Edward C., Cdr., VF-32, USS Langley (CVL-27), CO USS Intrepid (CVA-11) - 6
Born 1914 in Greenville, NC; Public Schools, Goldboro, NC.; USNA '35, Retired, Durham, NC '69.
Glight Training, Pensacola '37-'38. USS Interprise, Scouting Squadron 6. '42 deployed to Pacific as XO (VC-11) flying F4F (Wildcats). Led flight of 54 from Fiji to Guadalcanal to re-enforce Marine Corps. He served there as leader of the Navy Fighter Group. '43 formed VF-32 as CO. Deployed on USS Langley . April 29, '44, he led a flight of 8 Hellcats on a pre-dawn fighter sweep over Truk atoll; at dawn sighted a flight of aout 36 Japanese Zeroes flying at 10,000 ft in column of V's; first pass his flight flamed 8; then, exercising perfect discipline "Holly" Hills (4 kills) led his division to "high cover" where they accounted for seven of the enemy. Cdr. Outlaw shot down 5 and 1 proable, fellow Ace, Dick May got 3 and Outlaw's wingman 4. Total for this brief action was 22 victories and 6 probables. The action took place in less than ten minutes and was declared by COMNAVAIRPAC to be "a perfect example of air combat and air discipline."
Subsequently, he served three times in Pentagon; as CO of USS Duxbury Bay and USS Intrepid; as CO Air Group Six (Coral Sea); CO Heavy Attack Squadron five (NucWpns).
Selected to rank of Rear Admiral and served as Commander Naval Aviation Safety Center; Commander Carrier Division One and Task Force 77 of Vietnam '64-'65 where he directed first sustained attacks; Commander CARDIVS 16 and 20 and Commander Hunter-Killer Force, Atlantic Fleet.
His last assignment was as Commander Fleet Aircraft Mediterranean/CTF-67/ and Maritime Air Mediterranean (a NATO orgnization of which he was the first commander). Decorations: Navy Cross, Legion of Merit (3), DFC (3)
Picken, Harvey P., Lt., VF-9, USS Essex (CV-9), VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 11
Quiel, Norwald R., Lt., VF-10, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6
Rennemo, Thomas J., Lt., VF-9, USS Essex (CV-9), VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 7
Tracey, F.W., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 6
Van Dyke, Rudolph D., Lt., VF-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11) - 5
Vraciu, Alexander, Lt., VF-6, USS Intrepid (CV-11), VF-16, VF-20, USS Lexington (CV-2/16) - 19
Alex Vraciu, the son of Romanian immigrants, was born in E. Chicago, Indiana in '18 and graduated from DePauw University. He entered the Naval Reserve in '41, already holding a private pilot's license, and in early '42 began Navy flight training at Corpus Christi, TX. He was commissioned an ensign upon completion of training in August, eventually joining Fighting Squadron Six.
Fighting Six was led by Ltcdr Edward H. O'Hare, and Vraciu flew as his wingman, then became the element leader in O'Hare's division. In this capacity Vraciu saw his first combat during a carrier strike on Marcus Island at the end of Aug '43. His first aerial combat occured some 5 weeks later, during a riad on Wake Island on Oct 5th. "Butch" O'Hare's division encountered airorne Zekes near Wake, and in the combat which ensued Vraciu shot down one.
Two subsequent carrier raids elevated Vraciu to ace status. He sho down a Betty bomber in the Gilbert Island on Nov 20, and during the Kwajalein operations, flying off of the USS Intrepid, Jan 29 '44, he added three more Bettys The last of these was destroyed during a long low-level pursuit with only one gun firing.
Vraciu's last score with VF-6 came during the spectacular carrier strike on Truk Atoll in the Carolines. The two-day raid on Japan's major fleet base began with 70-Hellcat fighter sweep at dawn on Feb 16. Vraciu was preparing to dive on one of Truk's island airfields when he noticed enemy aircraft approaching. He led his wingman into the threat and became embroiled in an uneven combat. But the two Navy pilots took the initiative and shot down five Japanese planes between them. Vraciu splashed four - three ekes and a Rufe.
Fighting Six shortly completed its tour and headee for the U.S. but Alex wanted more combat. He arranged to transfer to VF-16 aboard Lexington, and took up his new career where he'd left off with VF-6. During the second Truk raid, on April 29, the Indiana ace destroyed two more Zekes. A lone Betty shot down near the Marianas on June 14 raised his total to 12.
Five days later came the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, when Task Force 58 Hellcats destroyed over 300 Japanese aircraft. Vraciu had scrambled with VF-16 to intercept an incoming raid but lagged behind with supercharger troule. However, he requested a vector from the fighter director and was put onto a line of Judy dive bombers. In an eight-minute tail chase, Vraciu splashed six. The following afternoon, escorting Lexington bombers in an attack on the Japanese fleet, Vraciu claimed his nineteenth and last victory, a Zeke.
After a short trip home, Vraciu was again aboard Lexington, this time with VF-20. But on his second mission with the squadron he was shot down by AA fire while strafing a Luzon airfield on Dec 14, '44. He bailed out and spent the next few weeks with a band of Filipino guerrillas before returning to U.S. control. Though he flew no further combat missions, Alex Vraciu's 19 victories remained fourth-highest in the U.S. Navy.