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9« ' $~1:. 053

From: Commander carrier Air Group fiFTEEN To: Co~anding. Ot':f'icer, USB ANTIET.AI~.'I (CV-36)

Subj: Action heport of' Carrier A~ G~oup FI~EN for period of 26 November 1951, through 31 peoem~r 1951 ..

Ref; {a) OpN4v lnst. 3480.4 of l July 1951.

l!ncl: (1) Subject Action Report. f • 'l-~ 1. This report is forwarded as Enclosure {l) tor inclusion in the acrtion report of the USS ANTIETAM ('CV-36) as required by reference {a}.

2" · Informe.tlont QO.tninents a.~d recommendations are presented under the headifl&S irto.icated below;:

I Mission r;uid Oolltposi tiol! II Chronology

III Ordnance lV D&Tlage .

V Petsoxmel ~rtormance and Casualties VI Comments and ~comendations ·

A, Operations B. lntelligenoe C. Maintenance D. Electr.onics E. Survival

• • -.: ¥ :,._

i • ' 1

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•,'

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tlCCASS\f\EO . '

A.e'l"'CJJ~ 8MIIl • ~!'a UR CJtOUP 'ftPft'!tf r~ »-1.9« 'H trov«Jabtr - )l l»QeJabu l9$l.

P@'l! t JASSI01f AS'> ~Tl!a a. Dep&'ft.ins 1'0k~ ~ ..,,, ..... 19$1 carn~r JdJ:' ~:1"~· .~. embark$! aboat-4. tu 'ISS Alt.~:'~ lCV-3,,, prooe:e~ to. :tW eM or~ tM . Q.St coast ot J(o:Na . ..._ rel)rt.ed to CTJ17. Opel'a\lle under CT'.r 77 Op Ord•:v 22 ... 51. Mad. bt accordance 'tli tlJ. 1)~ W.L~ Air Plan ,Prom.ulga:te4 by eomc.cmya ONE, TJmf.~ t1D4 mE., th'e . · mission of' the Grou.:p ._.. • ,.r.tola iat~ict:i.o~ a.!.-. eoaatn~ ot $t:r11te•r armed ••omma1dtii1Ut .l'l.itllta E:tnd heckler tl~t.• . 41reo~e4 .Jl'imarily -au•t JlpnJl)t'Crean. SUpply roawe 1:aolucUn« railr.oa4. traok ant! etuipa~tAt,. ~.s, Al1~11'. e.Dt ~ veaa. Det&nsl ... ld.IUJioU iAOlUA\lrfB. ~ .ail ;Jim --~t

c~'1e Of Ill• ~· CrQOf' {Bifl ca-. 01'1. u~ ,...,) .

....

ElfCLQSlrnE ( J.)

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·PART I ' .. _ '• Ope:rating: A/C P1l•ts 'A.va~ble Total Avg •. Flight Avg. Fl~ght~. :B; Uid.t C•~nder 'l)'pe A/C ll/26/5112/31/51 ll/26/5112/Jl/51 Flight Hra. l,{r• .~·PUtt Per PU•t.

CAQ lS ·-eDit R.F. FARRING'IDN

VF71J l£DR R..L. DC>ER!t«} F4U-4

VA?28 AD2,AD4 :WDR s. T. BITTING .AD4Q _

VP-831 WJ)R A.J. DENMAN F9F-2

VF837 WDR R.H. KENTON

VC3 DET.D tci>R J .L. CALLIS

VC-3.5 LT R. Bk}R'ItETT

VC-ll

F4t15HL

·AD4Nt ADAQ.

LCDR C.D. CO:tfiliRS ADlM

17 15

18 / .14

l4 15

16 16

4

4

3 3

3

'

2

Notel Note 1 2). 1~4-3 43.-8

~te 2 Note·2 1004.:; .35·9

·20 '594 .. 7 29·7

20 21 .- i>0.3.4 28.7.3 "

6 1.35.6 22.~

5 5. 186.,3 37•2

144·9 28~9

4 4 100;.4 25.1

Note 1 ;o.. '!his includes thr,ee (3) replae$l'llent pi} Clts who reperted 4 December 1951. One pilet wa-s killed on 19 December 19.51, and is incll.lded in ·this report. ·

NClte 2 - 'lbese c()1umns incluae tw~ (2) pUots .from CAG-15 Staff,· ·the CCAG and the.stai'f ~peratJ.ons officer, who i'l;y r&gular4r with VA 728. ·. .

Note 1 26-~7

j

twte 2 11.7

18

17..-9

7.8

12.4

. 10.0

~.o

26 ·Nov 195l Depa~~ Yokosukal No air operat~ous due tp P8d weather•

L7 Nov·l9Sl No air operations dhe to bad weatho~.

' 28 Nov .li_~l No air operations due to bad weather. Joined. 'IT 77 at 22,46 Item. 29 Nov 1951 Az1ned recco, hecklers, strikes, recc'o 'sweeps, CAP, .&SP and one speqial

ele~tronic mission compr1•$d the days activiti~s. Total sorties ~ 72, ammo expended 2S,t.75 rds, bombs ir.l. tons - 49. -· '

' -The entire day's air opQrations was very successful and ~ny target~ such DS locorndltivos; boxcars, trucks and enemy troops were found ,to be exposed to our gunftrc and bombso LCDR F. T. DONAHOE, "LT Fronk NELSON and I,T ·Roger HAL.:, of vF 837 flying 1'"91 aircroft .succeeded in getting six r·or'~cuts. LTJG ~fohn FOX at VF 713 while flying over. enQl!lY terri• tory developed on oi2 leak and wns forced to ~?ke a l~nding a~ ·K-18.

~0 Nov 1951 Replenishment Day I

.. l,.··Dec. 1951 The new month found m1my lucrative t.~rgets in North Korea ond J.w.ny trucks .ond movements ttrcre observed by the pilots. A full day's fUght opero.tions Wr'S corried out with,o totel of 70 sorties. Total aillino expended 24,900 rds, bombs o.r.opped 44.6 tone.

2 Dec 1951 Another full scale operDting day wos ct-rricd out by the Air Group. , Total ~orties tlown 74;' total Ol'l o 30,400 r~s, totcl bombs in tons 4S.2.

The day's events commenced with the·hecklers destroying Gne storage tank, o.ne truck destroyed and one dmn~goo. LCDR CALLIS of VC-3:, · D£T

· "D", ~s credited with exploding one l~rge storage tenk,with a wall plnced 500# GP bbmb. · · . · WDR A. J. DENJ:W! nnd LTJG G. H. BENAS of VF S3l destroyed two trucks, one oxcart end mcde numerous railcuts. LT Mo. MAZZOC00 of VF -837 ond ·

- his fl~ght of Ponther Jets "'ere credited with eight trucks destroyed, five roUcuts, three oxcerts, ·five troops killed and numerous bo~~rs and barrncks destroyed and d~~ged. The ADs ond Corsrirs cleo hod a. good doy of enemy blllsting as roils were out, buildings destroyed, one locomotive destroyed and several direct hits on bridges and . bypasses

· .ENCtoSU!tE ' '(.1)

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bled the Air Group to fly a totel of ES8 so~U.a .,.,.,.~-,.-~ ... aetA. A.lUT!lO expended was 4.3,920 l"ds, bombs dripped

68.2 tons. J.tmy railcuts were recorded by VF 71) ~nd VA 72S directed 'by lCDR R. L. DOERING m1d WDR S. T. JI'r'l'nB. One pontocJl railroad bridg~ bypnss wns hit by a direct hit resulting ir1 one missing Sptl%1 £U'lQ two spr1ns severly domaged. AA positions were hit hard end accur-ntely ns six positions were knocked out entirely with en undetermined n'UI!lher of crew n'leobors killed... Th0 jet squl'ldrons also enjoyed a field dAy as tJlt\)crt.s, o'-Cen u.are hit, rP.ilroad tracks were cut and numerous buildings dnl!W.ged.:> ·

6 Dec 1951 Another. dny of per~~et wo~ther and many target~ found the Air Qroup rocking up tmotho!· hi.gh ·C.Otal of damage to the enemy. Total sorties flown -vrere B6, tot.~:. a:':'.mo ex:pended 43,$90 rds, "tote! bombs dropped 54o·4 tonsr · The nigt.t hecklerE' •..:o·vlE:nced thCJ d11y's activity by finding r.lany trucks mov:i.r .. g ol:~ng the r):tt·:l Kore:Jll .cJc.d .. ':a LT ST!XRt;'D, VC-.3, DET "Dtt, scored one d~~;.·uc4:.i hit on '::.be r~enter or :.. bigh\.ray bridge and two damcging 'hits on ~he end of tho b~idge. LTJG ·reo G/~ODZ, VC-35, DET nnn, and LT Stnn !'1.tlliNING, vc...._:, DET 'lfD 11 , nlso 1estroyed two trucks and da~~Wged three others •

. LCDR A. J. DENHAN, ii'F 931, wcs credited with severt~l OllCart«f and.'l:.t'oops destroyed end killGd:. ICDR B. RYf.N, VF 831, led a tlight ot four jei;.s ,.nd scorod four rrd.J.ct1ts plus severel oxcC'.rts destroyed ·and two dOI!l-nged. The prop.-sqUt!drons carried out their missions in en excellent mnnor and accounted for a total- of 24 rnUcUts, four oxc:;crts, one twin-gun amplE"cement end dOWlged three rcilccrs.

7 Dec 1951 Armed recco, sweeps,. striketh NGF. pre-dmm hecklers, photo and e.tcorts, ·cAP and ASP conprised the dl'y t s opervtions. Total sorties flown were sa. Total boobs drooped 54.6 tons, ammo expended .37, 575 rds. Hany rails were cut and one locomotive Wf'S destroyed on n bridge. The following dispatcp wcs recoived froo CTF 77t

CONGRii.TI,LATr.'NS 'oN YOlJR DOUBLE X IOOOHITn'ES ON 3RIDGES ARE Rt.RE X GETT :.NG T30TH rm ONE AT""ACK IS SOllETHING F01. THE BOOKS X WELL DrNE . .

Mlny buildings were either destroyed or dt~m~ged. The enony wns out in force thi,s dote but the pilots of this Air Group grently discouraged their actiVities.

8 Deo 1951 Replenishl:lent Day-

9 Dec 1951 Jot rec~o, sweeps, photo nnd escort, strikes, NGF, CAP, and ASP ~ccountod for a total of 95 sorties. Tot(ll emrno expcncled 34,~00 rds, total bombs dropped 56.9 tons. Perfect flying we~ther ennblcd the nir group to break the total number or sorties in one dry for this cnrrier on this cruise. LCDR DOERINQ ond tu.s squ-..,~ron of Corsnir pilots received n "Well Donen tror.1 CAP'l'Anf ·

"' · Georgo DUFEK rs tho entire squc,dron cmno obor..rd without one WAveotf ond held a 100% ovnilf)bility ot ,.ircraft for ·the days operntion. 1

ENCLOSURE (l)

DrCtASSIFJEn , . . . , · ~ 7 . hit by y. fire but ati wer¢) able to rot~n safely

{)xc;::e:ot ~R S. T. BITTING nnd his osbort,. LT C. NOTH vho lattded at K-lS_. ICDR BIT1'DiG wos hit on the lower portion of the fll.e' l.t>ge with extensive ,damege resulting. CDR R. F. FP.RRX:t"GTON, CVG-15 CO, scored direct hits on one locor.JQtive ond completely destroyed same. · Two enemy tanks wcro attacked w1 th one dctini teJ.y destroyed end one dt.U:lDged. .

1.0 Doc 1951 .Another dny of good weather produced 91. sorties. 'l'otel tlr.nnc>, 39,400 - rds, totol bombe 46 tons ..

Many ralls were cut Pnd buildings ,were heavily strafed e.s ICDR R. L. DOERING led the strike. An Air Group record of 'l:1 roU -cuts in one flight vas aocor.1plished this date J lB cuts were ml!lde by the Corsair sq\U'dron •

• 1 Doc 1951 This dnte the carrier lmmchod n total_ of 91 sorties, expended u, aso rds cf omo and dropped n totol of 60.4 tens of bonbs on enemy rnils 1 bri-:t~:~~, tt"nks, trucks end AA positions. , . . LT J ~ NER! of v~t 728 soared e: direct 2~000/1 GP bor:1b hit on one large enemy 't(ink which vo.s destroyed. The tcnlt rolled over on its side, all treads -wore destroyed os the pilots ot VA 72S ttnd VF 71.3 worked it' owr with e:onunition end oomba. ..lnothet- strike also damaged cnother eneey tcnk. The lt:tst throe days of excellent mrksmenship was finelly award-ed by the following dispatch from Co!:'lf.wnder TElsk Force 77:

TONIGHT 1 S OPERATION WAS A FINE ENDING TO THE LAST THREE DAYS OPERATIONS X DURING THE Ll\ST' NINE DAYS THERE 'mRi 937 R.R CUTS PLUS A RESPEC'l'J.m'.E NUNBER 01!' LOODr"OT:tVES, Rl•II:.1lOAD BRIOOES AND OXCARTS DESTRO!ED

12 Dec 1951 Replenishnent Day

13 Dee 1951 l?erf'eet we~thor again prevailed es 89 sorties were flown with a total of' 31,740 rds of e11l"l0 expended t.1nd 63 tons of bcnbs dropped. nnk and engine f'niluro resulted in h~ving two planes lost and one F9F-2 lend•

1 ing nt K-18. No porsonnel were injured or nissing. LTJG.N. DONAHOE . of' ~35, DET "D"J Wt:.s hit by 40l1M AA causing bin to lt-nd at K-lS •. LT SCHINOIERior vt-3, DET "P", while on on .ASP eecort flight wos th~ ; · victin of engine :failure and ht:!d to ditch his aircraft. He was rescued by the helicoptot tron the USS VAU,EY FORGE, (CV.4S). LT John Ca.t~ONS ot VF 8.37 while flying his F9F-2 ~• forced to l.nnd at K-3 due to an explosion in tho nose · of his eircrnf't. Tho heokletts stnrted the dAy"s dr.nege to the eneny by destroying and dm:w.ging buildings. The jots hcd. on excellent · dny as they boobed and

/ strr.fed nn nlrendy C.nnngcd tcnk an(l, its orev, destroyed oxcarts, cut rnilroad trr.cks, ki 1.led six troops, dmmged one jeep nnd killed sev-eral oxen.' · · · Tbe prop.squr•C'.rcns st~rtod their dt!y by dropping two Spans. of D four-span bridge, destro~. boxcol's, destroyed scvarril trucks, cut rails end dcnage1 several buildings.

'I

Stirftc:~s·, NGt,, ·fhq.~ ·~nd. ~~~. C.;;;~hrt -~~~·. ' . . ... ·. , . ·. . so;rtios. Tote..l, t'tmo )4, OSl} ra-• .bon• d!l()p~ §4.1 , :

totl&• . The. a activity ws sttlrtod bi I.CDR CALt~ imd LT lUW1ER « fJO;.;ol,· PET . •.· d~Jrstroy:ing one truck 9~ch p.nd. tog(l)ther danaged one. other truck. 'Ute heeklers t1nn tho t.iltet strtkec was di'VOrted ·to conduct ·a aearoli tor en .. AD4~1:. from tho UsS VtiLLEY FORGE which bed been shot down ol),. ll: Dec •. 19S. Wlmt .·wns be~iQv:cd to bo a pot-Pchute wns sighted 1)¢ !lO.: f'tO:ti'rit7 l:>y downod ·pereoim~l W!'!S Qbserved. · . . · · , ..

I EN$ ,COURTttEY ct Vii 726 d~tch'cd llt$· lJj after ans~e ~ilure C8U'Sed b7 . · .. l.l;' · n~ U. .. tt).e, Songj~ · erca. lb ws rescUed · ·bt· the .DD SWENSON at~. s~rldil'ilg 'tv, ~ and 'twwl~Din~~s $n .his. Ute .rett, & ws in good

' coriditton 1n 'api t& or .eXbeu.ritqn .. aM oxpo~Uro. . . . .

5 Dec 1951 .Al.l typos ot t:J.itht~ llW'e tlow to~:·~ ~1 of' SO •?rt1ooe·- .JLT1r.lo c3... . pended 391475 J:rls, botlbes dropped S9.l). to~a. . · .

L1 Stea Ui~l.,NING of VC..3,· DET ~D*', wtdJ.e oJ1 ~ ~awn ¥elder tlight ·o~ught an enemy loc~ot.ive I)M ~r ·tlOYin£· along the tracts~?~ ~oun:tq:. ·· Boribiftg f.ln(! ~tttttirlg t:1Jrl8 were nod:e With the ree'\ilta c>t · ono. loeor.Iot'ive end tender •s1'4P~ ~ing a~ Qptmt~ ate~• Ho then

· dlverted the inco!ning 'e~.J;ke of C~;LS, ~ai~ers ttnc! 0Qrsa1t~ which co!'lple~l.y doett-o)l'ed bo~ ~tee-•··. other bo~ worQ dsmged; 0~ -and ·o•J\ ~~OJ;ed ·tll:d lc#lleq, m~ ra.11$ ~r~. ·out, .. buildings d~stroy~• a roilroad tt-eet.le des~,:ed. ann bl-1dgea d.-:~ongtd~ ·

• ; :.6 Dec 1951 Repletlj,s)lment Dey

/ 1.7 Dec 1 events Which resulted in the mmber of 34 sorties tlown• l6,2QO l'de :, of ~Im!lO expended 'nnd 22.2 · tons of 1bom.b8· dropnsd. ·. ' . '

· blcra1f1ve teraete were at a prer.J.iun 'tis onJ.T .to~een (14} rell.fJ wal"e out, t1~ ox~rts d&Stroyfrl, ~~ rrtlroed bJ'idge a~ged and, seVeral ~ldi•gs denolisbed.

lS Dec 19Sl A totel of 91· sorties c~nprised tod~y's tl~t opernt:idns.- RDil8 -~ · . ·. cut1 buildings destroyed, bolle

'•,,'

~111PlD1MitJI~ both ·lie c~~ft- group -aM ·the ~beidoent ships. .were tlotai~' ' . . . : ; i' ( . '

·CDR R. F...· FARRINGroN, · .· 1 led a .stl-i.k¢ of OQ:r&aira m1d S~ers into the t~onsan area. deveatet~- results. l'teey ta~e,~ tbo7 bit was el thor.· in abombles or · ·~ t1erceJ.1 wh~n l.e st. seen. at.gh -clow.is ot fire end 'amok~ could ~ eeen thlrt,' r.d,lee frhr.l -the txree.. '

' LODa A. J. 1JENMAN we a_ l_oad~ the_ jeifs .. on wget$ with do.M€6 dea,eribed as exceUen~. tfr=- were killed,. reUs were, cut,. oxeJl killed, . o~ta ilaS_.OJed 8$ the · ~ ,eta loOOl',led tho'OI3Stetn "ctor·of Wee.

1 nee 19Sl Repleili•bment ~7 '- Dec' 1951 Pert act veat~er and the early tlOl'Jling schedule . .t't;>\Uld the ·Air Group f'lt-

. ~ a total or 73 -e,vtiea. . : . 1 ./ . ' ' - . • ... ' ' Lf ~ M.WIW.t ot' VA 728 led hla ~oup 'Of rlqteidera eM Corsairs .

/ 1 OV9J' the raU areas of central Kor~. ·While~ out o.t bls tJecotd run h1l pl.tm.e. wea bit by accurnte. enemy M fire.· ·!be p~ahe, ~tng tur~oual1', Md to be -~'bandoned. by LT lt"a'lSH,tU.;£, nnl'l be bailed ~t over e~·held terri torr, l~tunateJ.y· he landed on the top ot t1 ridge end

· otter lo.Ying his lite-#P..ek9~ on a bush ~ sm-e~ding h!s parae~ on t.be groun~. he wes kept ~ aiBbt .~Y t..~. -~tber pl.l'~es 1il the flight. '1\ro C~rantr pil.¢ts 'flew tQ · th$, IB8t ooea'\ .an(! eacol"'ted a ·helicopter to . the. , seeJ'la. The ·'Pinwheel t'Uot lilrde a -~sstul. ~as~ et'ld rat\U"ned the . pilli>t satel;T. .. · .· tT.fG JACOBSEN, VF ru, took ~.the lead ·ot the ttl-ike and with e»-: cellent .jUdgement and ekiU placed tour boz!1ba cllrectJ.r on tbe downed t\:b'creft nnd Cf ?6 sorties.; · · . .

· OOR R. F •. FA&"UNGTON led a ptrike CJf -~a~ers etld Corsoira. which ·eo-counted ·to-t' se-renteen l'ei1cmts, otte ~·· )(nookep, out, destroyed _nine small. ~ott, and heavily dow pet n 90. toot boa,. ·!bJj date the props ·cut· 'o totel of forty-ni.Jle (49)r.~tilrond -at$8. '!be · jtit aqumir~ · accounted tor three ~eU.cuts plus. o1lher d~e 'i,nt11cted c)n bUildings,

· ~ts end' trucks. ' '

I '

:.4 Dec 1951 A totAl of' 73 sorties

. (Ol[ffi~@~~!k~[ • '> . ' • '· •• • · . · 'DtCLASS\F\ED. < . . . . . .

clear end f.ir Gro1m FI~ flew. a totU of 64 against sv.pply route~.· ' . · · . . . . . ·

LT M MAZZOCCO of VF · foUnd a Russ'ion•type T-34 tank~ Hie ·div:ie~on ·or l'cnther Jets stopped the tPnk with e heavy assul:t of 20 MM al!llll'Qhi t-1-ion. He then divertecf the first ANTIETJJ1"'prp.p...;strili lrlbich d~maged .;:t 'it by bombing. Further d~g-e to the enenw c~s:tsted of rai_lcut.s, o3DSD. ~nd ox.cnrts destroyed, one railroad bypess destroyedl ·one loco\oaotive .damaged anri m~ny boxcars destroyed. '. . , After a total of 1651 eonpleted sor~ies for this operating period the ship 1-1nc: ~he 1U.r GJ:ooup dep~rted for NOB Yokosuka, Japan, for a ll).UCh needed and ~U-deserved r~st period. ·.

'9 Dee l951 Enroute to ie~

.·o Dec 1951 Enroute to Yokosukn

1 Dec lc}51 .Ar:r~ved Yokosulta

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. $JtT~-(!J.y·d~te and. t~) '·., · · _,;r .. 19Sl-.2S·I$.-el" l9n· •

. .

\ ....

· soaTn:s m · ...: · , mOP~ · . . . P~~ . . , . · . . p~ 'NT4 _AIORtt §ntBm .. ~~ .. 11'38 B 'II~_ l.i\19lt W J£. §fi(!AL

.. ··v. . . ·. . . . .

l'OOO# GP 815

500# GP 46 /

'J.60# hag 40 '

250# GP 2525 -

100# GP , 18

:t~apalm ·?SO# 6

_J~AR-3" ·6

.dVAR•S"

ATARS 20

' 20H4 .. 41,000 I '

.;o Cal MK~6 Flares

' ..

44

76

r46

a \ 2

89

l

37 . 34.5

122

140

. )0

1675

·1

540

104

)OS 86 '

140 .

' F9F-2 VJ:~l'Z

722 106

TOTAL

21,

81.'·

472

2)8,

4073

l9ll

9

12~

~91

160

9'1970 12,829 j 40,3'9 46,772 150,970 .

458,200 458,201 I

48 )8' 86

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' I ..

I. ENCLOSURE '{ 1)

-lo-

~,. . 1

, (t~ ~.· t8~~~~';!of P#lztance Mat-erial· II ~-"""- ,

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~IFJEIJ l.. l!'YF Tfpe Air~~att a. 20 MM guns

(1) Types ot stoppages of 20MM guns (a} U.Vdra9fr3;¢s

I

. Pressure switches 49 Check Valves 5 Valves, ~our way 2 Gun-ohatgers ·4

(b) Others

Calibration · 7 Link jams . 29 Feed mechanism te~sion 17 Broken breech bl,ock 7 · Broken tiring pins 6 Short driving sprittgs 8 Sears · 1. Trigger. Solenoid.s . 3 Amm\Ulition chutes 4 EJector l E~raetc;>r Spring , .1 Ruptured hounds 2 Burned out trigger·solenoids- 4 Gas Yent plug obstructed - 2 Bent reed chute~, 2

{2) Major causes of gun stoppages

{a) Absenc,e of check valves in Jiydraulic qystem (Change 65) f

\Jhen the aircraft were received by the- squadron tihe/ · log books. ina1cate9. ,that, Change 65 had been installed. by the t~ctory •. Jdter ext.ensiv~ investigation of. the hydraulic s:ystem .it was found that ·these valves were missing. These check valves have subsequently been installed in all aircraft. ' '

(b) Inability to properly set and test Hydraulic Pressure Switches: '

Laok of equipment to adeq~ately bench check and adjust these switcnea eaused·dependence upon a touoh system. 1-.. pressure meter has been acq_uil:'ed tori checking anti

. adjusting them clQser to their· opera~ing limits. ' This has; reduce~ p~ssure swit•oh trou\)le to. a minU!um.

·, t \

D.H. RLE'D, .h.OC, VA72S, b,as .devised a. test lamp tor Checking these switches i.n the airplane which has \ proved to be or great value. · ijs has. also proposed a. wiring change that would open tne exhaust solenoid whene.:ver the gun e.witc,b.es are in the ready position. At :the present time squadrons are ~xper!lnenting with the above procedure. This proposal., in conjunction with the, instal'lation ot the check valves should insure the draining of any nfdraul1c presstU"e in the charging system ~hen the guns are in tb:e ready position.

... • • I!

( q~ 1-a.pproJC~tely 10~. ~t al). gun~ t"ired successfully·. ( o50 1"0®.~ per stop~ase) . ' .

b. MK 55 Racks ... ~nadv~rtent .dropping o.r bombs on catapult shots

(l)

(2)

Description ot trouble . Inadvertent dr.oJ>ping of bombs on catapult shot. ~ing wire, becoming \.lnattached from bomb racks on , catapult shOt; and tailure'of bomhs to,release over target.

History: . Out of a total ot 1, 755 100 lb. W'ld 2;0 lb. bombs carried . by both VF 8:3.1 and •VF 837 on ·1$0 Mark 55 Mod "0., Bomb . · hacks! 22 have aocidetitallY· dropped ~n catapult la~nohes and 1~ b4ve been brought back to the ship after all means to release in the air have tailed. ·Of the$e 12. 10 dropped ott on arrested_ landings OJ; while taxiing im!n.ediately after an arrested landil).g. , Those dropping orr on arr6sted land-ings dam.a$e the aircraft t'laps

It is believed tbat tne raJ.ti..d aoo61erfit1on is :('ofcing the releast. soolenpid plunger aft t thus. releasing the bomb. . In OJ+E. cass, however 1 it was found tP,at the solenotd had not be.en.relea:sed which may indicate tha~ th€ trouble is in thEt- faulty design o:r. the latch assemblY• A despatch summary of this into~mation was made tQ Comb!rPao and an RUDAOE submitted. . . ;

o. MK SS Ra.cks .... dlld bombs. ·

(l) A number of dud hombs W€re eneountere'd. on catapulting the F9F t,. tli~ a:rming wire.$ are ].>uU6d-· ft'ee. of the Mta.rk SS raoks. To elipl1nate th).s trouble more ourc has been exercised in ,

· arming the bombs. Two clips a~re placed in .front of th£ o.rmiPS vanes and two JUst behind th£ vanos•· Finally, a rubber band cut trom an inner ... tv.be WO.$ placed around the rae~ in s"cb a way as to prevent tbe a~ins wire from

\ slipping out.

(2) ~ 'I ~. ~· • • ,

Hung ordnance :·"Was first attributed to, stioky release D16chanism wit{lin the Mar~ 5S Ruck. 'l'hi.s stiekil)S ~as pr€v,ented by ing. a f~w d11aps of the newly 4vvel()ped,

r ou~ .

2. AD type aircraft

(a) 20MM guns·

' CCC.,;C,'C r::~;~ln((\Jn;:\l ~~\ ~~-1 . -, I' ': I ~- \; i I lr,-1; ! I i\' l! :i \ i · _·- ·~! ·-.. ~L· 1 .~·-.,j U LJ .,__.,;~ . ..ru~

\

-~{l.rs~\ntn (l). During this p~riod this squadron experienced approx-

imately· forty {46)gun stoppages due to improper extraction or improper chambcring. of cartridges; and an~ ave:t'nge of 1025 r.oun,ds were fired per stop.Ilage.

(2) In using four guns it has bten found that ammo loaded into thE: cans while'· the wings are :folded gives a lower expenditur£ rnte per gun than tllat loaded, while the wings are spread~ It has been found also that onB can of ~o per outboard gun usuelly causGs,fewer jams than three cans per outboard gun. It is believed that this is c1,1used by the connecting link being slightly sprung when connected, some-times not meeting the small clear-ance nE-cessary while passing through the feed inechani·sm.. It is rcco~£nded that o complete rE-design of the wing panel be accomplished if it is to' house- extra guns. The ammo cans are very poorly designed for loading with th£ wings folded. \;1ng design for four guns is still consider-ed inadequate insofar as the wing was not originally designed to carry the extra guns, .and thb mounts are very shaky. The outboard guns have been removed from one aircruft due to rear mount failure on un arrested landing, awaiting a forthcoming ohs.nge.

(b) Bomb Difficulties

""':--,~·.~-~~

·,,

{1.} In this pE-riod twelve bombs failed to. release, Thre.e . we;rE. due to ,(~lEctrical circuits shot away du:ring bombing runs and to icing of racks during last days of operation

(2) Failure of nose and tail arming solenoids were \ experienced on two MK 51 t·s and three Aero 14A' s and three ~~ 55 rncks.

(3} Ce;nt€r bomb stations were manually r~leased on eigh-t;;(8) occasions due to faulty ejc ctor .cartridges,. ·

(4\ During thE.; first weeks of operations 250# GP bombs were lifted to the wings using a system of two parallel bars supporting the bomb on two webbing straps slung between the bars. This system proved unsatisfactory in service, being very cumbersome and also requiring a great deal of physical effort by four men for thQ loading of a single bomb. Later expc:tiEn9e has shown the us€ of a nose bar to be a rnuch more p~ctic.~l method. T!le nose bar is a length of steel pipe v;ith a nose plug from a bomb :attac~ed to one end. Loading with the aid of the nose bar normally requires a three man crew, although two can be used in emE:.rgei1cies. This system has b(jen

to educe loading time by upproxir.lO.tely 50%., ·

'ENCLOSURE ( 1)

o, AD4NL Spe oialized Ordnance

(1} MK6 Flares JlfCLASS:lff ED

Since thtorc is no tlare dispenser in service at .this time Whir allowance.

( 2) MK24 · Mine • ' When tJie MK24 mine is loaded on the j;~D it is carried on

~c center station and is held in place wit~ the Douglas Bomb Ejector. During the past month it became evident that aftE-r a few catapult shots and arrested landings, the toot ot the ejector was.denting the case of the.rn.i:ne quite badly. 'This was remedied by the u.se ot the au:Jtil;lary sway braces, which givss fqur more pQints ot contact along th6 min~ cas~ •. It is ~commended that th£se sway braces bo used by all oth6r,uni:t$ carrying

·tnis mine

3. F4U4'Aircruft . I

a. Ttte .50 oa;L. guns nre still op~r~ting without serious· malfunctions. By the end ot this cruise almost ev~ry gun will h~ve one barrel change since operations startad in Octobel". Cold weatht:r opu:·utions have proved no diftic1,1lties., __ Gun heat€rs have -been tut'nLd on on the deck as-soon as the aircrat't ure -yurned up • ' ·

Aero l4A bomb rack kits Wtire still not available this cru'ise and the cruise ended with only four MK ; adapters per plane ope;ro.tional. In spite of_ this fact no F4U left the deck without six wing rooks tilled since ro~k~ts were used to fill out where MK 5 o.dapters were not available. One rocket

, it. is beli'eved, E-Xploded on the port wing of BUNo 81568 ... (LTJG CR/..Vlili") during a rocket run olt'er Hungnam.. No explanao-tion is given for the explosion of t·he r;1otor except pernaps · broke.n ba.llistite due to rough tiundllng. The exploeiori; instead ot normal burning, took all the fabric off the wing ~nd put u ·hole 4 ft ~ by 3 rt • in tht- outer wing panel •.

ENCLOSUI\E (l}

J .

1

lu F4USNL AUcrntt otcl~S'S\f\EO . {a). Two ·suns on NP 4J B\lNe l~S;J.9_ (a replacement. airQratt} had

ruat6rial failure ort t,b;~ 20 UM guns suc~E-ssi V£-ly. One. . had. e. nut shearGd otf·on ree.d.ro.echanism \oracket. The other ha.d· a broken feed m.eohanl$m·&lide. No re.oord.~d been ki:;pt qn th~ rounds tired by t.he guns and t!l~Y should e,v~denoe hf.avy use. It is. recomt!l£nde

' '-'

A. OIINDAMAGE

l• DrilQc;B to AiJJtCRAP1' WE 'lO .BNEMY ACTION

I

· ll-a-J tl 8.31 P97-2. lZ/154 bb Blast Hu ·in lett in~~ flaP•

l2 •l VA 728 AJ>'-2

la.l · Vf 831 19r,..;2 · US093 - 2S Cal. A '

l.a-2 VF 831 791~ l21l-9' nak. t

l.Q-.3

12-3 . vr 713. 74TJ-4 al6.3i 20aa-

u-3 vr ru · t4tl-l. ·81546 ~ I

:12-.3 VF 131 r9p;.2 l2'7J..U ·2$·· Ca1. A .

12-5 ''

. I

tier.! out.•r akin ot bct.tal dive ; ... ,_. tbru. ~r akin t)t eame 11

Wen,t. ttu-u_. f,_elak• sld;.n UQ:te_-r di'ftJ ~·~ ~ old< thru. ski~ Ull•r pttrt tU.ve ~. fc tht-t.t ltC4;h ak:intl Ql port dive drakes. ·

lf)l~cl . .IU)se aection.

Port tip tank, P~rt ,eleqt~ atbct, bot.ta. at•bi~e~.

-tett Pa.n!'llldll«. ·Paated thN l#t"t bed.z-. stabilizer, 41~13' .bebJ.nd fC!~Q spar. ·

ltltered 8~ ~ CtJf(ling_. Eftt.red athd. ~ra • ..rtatrll:taer-. ·

· Fllter.d . iftfloarj fJ(Ige •t -oil. e~t•lbr •· , ace•• came out ~ ·ef ftlt.U..••

12.3436. ·!k16 · alaat ' Peftetrated ~-r s~ et the p*tt wing onl:f•

I

la-5 VA 72$ Al>-2 122315 &aall Ad hJJ.dldt -spar,_ taking· awa:y fl'l't~ t>l slda•

lW VA 728 AJ)...4 ~- Small .Amls Penetrated bottom d1vt~ bl"ak~ & ~-ed th rt.l port side of di Vte brake,

· ~7 V4 '728 AD-4 123JA' Jr$b·1Uu1) ~ta: enter~~td ~~ -~l"t c•JJna, . . ~·· -~~~·. bff~· ~· . . ' -3'

> '· " '

· .. ··,; ~ :: 't''~/ //T·J __ ·:, '..f; ..... ;.' ' ..... ,·, '··· ... '•

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·. Jn.~t. P~~trated ~r.t-aee