COMMANDER, AIR TASK GRtKTP ONE c/o F“ POST OFFICE #AN FRANCISCO

CALIFoRfJIA - From: To:

Commander, Air Task Group ONE Commanding Officer, U.S.S. BOXER (CVA-21)

Subj:

Ref : (a) OPNAV INSTRUCTION 3480.4

Action Report of A i r Task Group ONE for the period 28 July through ll November 1953; sutmission of

Encl: (1) Subject Action Report

1. Report of the U.S.S. BOXER (CVA-2l) as required by reference (a).

2, ings l i s t e d below:

T h i s report is forwaded as enclosure (1) f o r inclusion i n the Action

Information, camments and recommendations a re presented under t h e head-

I Mission and Composition I1 Chronology I11 Ordnance St a t ist i c s I V Operational Damage V Personnel Performance VI Coments and Recommendations

A; Operations B; Intell igence C; Maintenance D; Qrdnanue E; Electronics F, Survival

VII Summary of Reconmmdations

ENCLOSURE (1)

A, t a i n combat eff ic iency through t r a b j n g exercises emphasizing C l o s e Air Support, Bombing, Rockets, Gunnery, Strafing, Tactics, and Type Instruments,

The mission of Air Task Group ONE: during t h i s period has been t o main=

B, Composition of Forces:

UNIT

A T E 1

- - CDR L. L O WHITNEY, USN

E . t k

- VF-52

LCDR W. D. HOUSER, USN

LCDR 3. 3, KINSELJ,SI, USN

W-1XL CDR L. E. VICKERY, USN

VF-151 LCDR 3. M. RICKABAUGH, USN

W-194 LCDR X. N. MELHUSE, USN

. VC-3 .. DET "H" LCDR W. R. MOORE, USMR

VC-U. DET "H" LCDR T. E. NORTON, USNR

- VC-3 5 DET "H" LT C. R. JOHNSON, USN

VC-61 DET 'fH" 'LT C. WTCHINGS, USN

A U B w & OPE3 A/C TYPE A h 7/28 llh.1

0 0 0

16 WJ-4 16 #O

14 F9F-2 11 J-4

16 F9F-5 #O m

14 F~F-Z 12 14

iiD.40, 1

AD& 2

.".Dr, 3

4 FN-SN 1

a

@1

QO

4

3

@3

PILOTS 7/28 ll/lI

*6 6

20 20

23 23

21 18

29 28

2

5

6

3 FZH2P 2 @O 4

2 EXCLioSIjRF, (1)

5

5

6

k

* Officer f l i es with VF'-l!5l, and W-194 respec€ively. f l y from the ship,

The Air Group Command& f l i e s with VF-52 and the L i r Group Operatiom Three Landing Signal Officers fly with ~0&$?, lX

The remaining Landing S i p 1 Officer does not

# 1953. F9F-5 Aircraft.

VF-U was transferred t o t h e USS LAKE CH3fPLlLIN (CVL-39) 9 October VF-lll was transferred t o the USS BOXER 9 October 1953 with 16

@I Lircraf t transferred t o FLSRON 11 5 November 1953 included the follo*-g%

From VF-111 I.3 F9F-5 From VF-194 16 LD From VC-35 3. iLD From VC-61 2 F2H2P

Aircraft t ransferred t o the USS KE'BS4*JLGE (CX-33) 5 November 1953:

From VC-61 1 F2Ii2F From W-lll. 1 F9F-5

Lircraf t off-loaded a t Yokosuka 10 November 1953: From VF-194 1 LD I

From VF-111 1 F9F-5

PI3T I1 cHRoNoI;ocy -

28 July - No L i r Operations,

29 J a y - 6 Sorties, A l l Resaap,

30 July - 32 Sorties, Rescap 4, Banner Shoot 12, Electronic Training 12, ASP 4,

31 July .II' 6 Sorties; 4 Rescap, 2 SPL Airlift Yokoto.

,

4 L ,

1 Aqg.wt - No Lir Operations

2 luguat - No L i r Operations

3.f;ugust - 57 Sorties; 2 Test Flights, 1 Lbort- Total 60; Warning Magenta

4 LLugust - No Air Operations.

5,fiugust L 43 Sorties; k BORTS-- 'Tota l 47; Warning Magenta 20, C 1 9 16, Gunnory 5, ECM/AEN 4, Ferry Esc. 2,

6 Lugust - 42 Sorties; 2 Lborts - Tots 44; Inter5ept 20, Weather Recco 5, ADEPT 4, Gunnery 4, C A P 5, kSP/J.lW 4, Type Instr 2,

22, Gunnery 10, Jetsweep 8, CLP 8, I:SP/:;Ew 6, ECM 2, ADEFT 2, Q

,

3 ENCLOSURE (1)

7 August - 75 Sorties; CAP 20j ?B&ihs uj b e r y 10, Warning Magenta 13, r’SP 8; Type hstr 6, ADBIT 4..

8 August - No A i r Operations.

9 h g u s t 13. )To Air Operations.

- 32 Sorties; Tactics 22, CAP 8, !,EW 2. (BOXER anrpute t o HONG KQNG.

U Pagust - Ehroute t o HONG KONG, No l3.r Operations.

1 2 - 19 Lugust - BOXER at HONG KONG,

20 lLugust L Enroute t o Operating ixea; 118 Sorties; 3 Aborts - Total 121; Tactics 85, C19 26, ZW 8, PHOTO 2,

21 liugust - 34 Sorties; Tactics 22, CAP 8, i;Fw 2, ECM 2,

22 - 25 August - No iiir Operations.

26 lLugust - 59 Sorties; 1 Lbort -- Total 60;’Rockets 16, Bombing 12, Inter: cept 12, Gunnery XI., XIXFI’ 4, Photo 3, ;SP 2#

2’7‘i.,ugust - 61 Sorties; 2 * 3 0 r t s - Tota3, 63; Rockets 16, Bombing 12, Gunnery 12, Intercept 12, ADEPT 4, Target (Photo) 3, iSP 2, Test 2,

28 August - No Lir Operations

29 h.qpst - 39 Sorties; Warning Magenta 22, C ; 9 12, LSP 2, Courier 2, Test 1.

30 I,ugust - No Air Operations.

31‘August - 60 S6rties; l-i:bort 12, Intercept 10, LDEPT 5, :SF 2, Photo 2,

Total 61; &nmery 14, Bombing 16, Rockets

1 September - Task Force Replenished, No Air Operations.

2 Sep€ember - 100 Sorties; 4 i,bOrts - T u t a l 104; Gunnery 26; CLP 16, Type hstr,’l6, Bombing 13, Warning Magenta 13, Rockets 11, ASP 6, Intercept 2, Test 1.

’

3, Sbptember No Lir Operations.

5 6 September - No Lir Operations c

7 Septenber - 67 Shrties; C l P 20, Bombing 16, Instr . 12, Tactics 8, AEM 6, Ferry 2, Escorts 3,

4 ENCLOSURE (1)

8 September A 64 Sortiesj Tspc Instr ; 16, Tactics 10, Escort 8, Bombing 8, C,*&P 7, AEW 6, Bomb/Instr. '7, Ferry 2,

9 September - Underway f o r Yokosuka.

10 - 17 September - Period of Repair, Upkeep, and R & R i n Yokosuka,

18 .L 19 September - &route f r o m Yokosuka t o Task Force 77,

20 September - 38 Sorties; warning Magenta 27, C . P 4, Photo 4, .'JN 3.

21 September - No ~'~ir Operations.

22 September'- 109 Soeties; S L " 9 4.8, Bombing & Rockets 45, Type Ins t r , 7, FLM 4, .'SP 3, Photo 2,

23 September - No Air Operations.

" ,

24 September - No Oper.&ions. . .. 25 September 'C 66°Sorties; 2 W ' J S A T o t a l 68;'8ombing & Rocket$ 38,, Gunnery 10, CAP 8, ASP 6, Type Instr. 4, Photo 2.

26 September - No kir Operations, BOXER enroute t o Sasebo,

27 September - 3 October .I Maintenance and Upkeep in Sasebo

4 October - Enroute t o Task Force 77, No Air Operat$ons.

5 October*- 120 Sorties; C;S a, F,''X 24, C A P 12, Bmbing 9, ASP 8, Photo 7, Gunnery 6, Heckler 6, Recco 4.

6 October - 66 Sorties; CAS 18, CAP 9, Bombing 9, ASP 8, Photo 8, Recco 8, FAM 2.

7 October - Task Force Replenished, No Xr Operations.

8 October - 124 Sorties; Bombing'and Rocket146, Gunn&ry 23, CAP 16, I'SP U, WmrLng Maganta 9, Type Instr , 8, Bombing 7, PiDPT 4.

9 Octobok. - 98 Sorties; I'Abort --'Total 99; Xrnbing and Rocket 58, CAP 9, FHCTO 8, Gunnery 9, ASP 6, LDEPT 5, Type Instr. 4, Departed Task Force 77 About 1700 for Sasebo.

10 dctober - I';rrivcd Sasebo about WOO,

11 October .- Departed Sasebo f o r Task Force 77,

i2 October - Task Force RepIehWied, No A.Er Operations,

,

5 EXCLOSURE (1)

l.3 October - 95 Sorties; 2 Aborts Photo 12, Gunnery 10, ASP 8, FilM 4, Type Instr . 4, LCL Test 1.

I4 October'- 62 Sorties; 1 liMrt*- T o t a l 63; Bofibiw and'Rocket 24, Gunnery 10, CLP 9, Type Ins t r . 6, AS? 6, i X P T 4, Photo 4.

15 0ctoSer.- 126 Sorties; 1 fibort - Total 127; C19 a, CAS 23.; Recco'20, Type Instr; 17, Bombing 2nd Rocket 16, Photo 8, LSP 6 , LDEPT 4, LEN 4, Hecklers 4, CL Fkercise 4, FAM 2.

Total 97; CIS 30, Recco 16, QAP 12,

d

16 October - No Air Operations, Task Force Replenished.

17 October - 97 Sorties; Bombing 21; Type Ins t r , 16; Photo 12, C:.P 13, I:SP 8, Gunnery 8, Warning Magenta 8, AEW 5, iJXPT 4, F-'3 2.

18 October - No d i r Operations,

19-October - 106 S6rt ies ; ' l Abort .A Totdl'lO7; Bbmbing 32, Gunnery 26, CAP 18, Type Instr , 13, ASP 8, ADEPT 5, FLM 3 , AEW 2,

, 20 October - 14 Sorties;'ECM 12, FIX 2. 0800 enrouto t o Yokosuka.

21 October - Enroute to yokosuka, No A i r Operations.

22

Ship Departed Task Force 77 about

28 Octobep - Moored t o Buoy #lo, Yokosuka harbor,

29 October - Underway, a t 0750, %route Task Force 77.

30 October*- 94 Sorties; 2 irbbrts - T o t a l 96; CLP 24, Bsmbing and R6cket 19, Gunnery 15, Bombifig 10, LSP 6 , G m o r y 5 , ! A D P I 4, FAM 4, Type Instr . 4, COD 2, LCL Test 1.

1 November .I No Lir Operations.

2 Novanber - 9'7 Sorties; CLS 31, Recco 25,'C1;p 12,'Type Instr. 8, I"SP 7, Photo 6, S t r a f i n g 4, COD 2, "$LOW TIME" 1, T e s t 1.

3 November - 99 Sorties;.3 Lborts - T o t a l 102; ClS 28, Recco'24, C A P 12, 2noto 12, Type Instr. 10, LSP 6, LDEX 4, ;;Ew 2, COD 2, Test 2.

;+ Xovember - No Air Operations,

5 November - 9'7 Sorties; Ferry 32, Recco 20, GAS 14, C i 9 9, Type Instr. 8, ,ISP 5 , Photo 5, Gunnery 4, Took leave of Task Fohe 17 . a t 1'740 bound for tine United States V3.a Sasebo, and Yokosuka, Japan.

,

* ,

6 November - Arrived Sasebo about lo001

7 Xovember - Depwlted Sasefio.

9 November - BOXER arrived Yokosuka O73OI, 11 November S. USS BOXER departed Yokosuka and WESPX,

- \

1

6 ENCLOSURE (1)

111 ORDNLNCE STLTYSTICS 1,. EXPENDITURES

s C,'BS

100 lb, WSF 585 4s 48 856 12 16 1565

M-23 MIN, BOMBS 0 181 104 696 0 0 981

FUXT'LIGHT 37 10 15 35 2 0 99 MK-6

MK-5 DRIFT SIGNAL 0

3 25" ASR 0

P

0 0

34 01 0 34

0 0 12 12

0 0 0 0 2 2 MK-6 nrm 0

B, GUN OP3RATION

1, 20 mm GUN MALFUNCTIONS VF-52 W-194 F9F-2 !.Dl+NA TOTLL REASON FOR M.f&F"CTION

6 6 2mo 23 A CH!,RGW Fi.ILURE

6 6 FAILURB OF &WAY CONTROL VlJaVE rJNKNowM 5 5 LES OF TENSION ON I

,2 2 3 3 2 2

2

E Z D CHUTE LINK J;kx P,'ILURE TO EXWiCT BROKEN BELT BROKEN SOLENOID L;EhD

TOTAL

2

2 7 1 ' 30 37"*'

?Q 80: 5% vc-35

3. 9 5 0 Cl&. B l & d ! E ?JxriTION

VF-44 fl@r& '&$-4 Aircraft fired 8640 A d s of .50 Cal, famunition: using & &hd, without having a stoppage,

C, HUNG ORDNLNCE REPORT 2.25"

TYPE R:CK OR LiiUNCHER SCLRS 100 lb, WSF

54

60

2

ul

16

16' 32

RE'SON

8 macSURE (1)

REASON FAILURE OF STZLTION SEIBCI'OR 1 WLFUNCTION OF MK3 MOD4

TOTllL u 4 26 3 2 1 ' .

A t o t a l of 1207 Scars were carried and o f t h i s n W e r 5 is a percentage break down of the causes:

, 9 I

mcLosuRE (1)

4; EX-23 MINILTWRE BOMFIS. A totaJ, of 981 miniature bombs carried and of t h i s number, .32 were hung. breakdown of the causes:

The fouowing is a percent

One hung miniature bomb f e l l out of an Aero 4.B Contniner' upon an' One f u l l MK-47 Container, which had f a i l ed t o function,

The Safcty Bolt used t arrested landing, cane off of a M K - 3 Rack upon an arrested larding. jam the W-51 release rnechanixm was not of the proper sizo and the rack unlocked upon receiving the j o l t from landing.

VF-3.53. F4F-2 l.27187 D3 Nosh Wheel fail- ure

8-7-53

8320-53 VF-151 F9F-2 127187 D3 Right l a n d b g gear collapsed.

123960 D3 H q m Di: ck

8-21-53 W-151 F9F-2 123573 D3 Hangar D B c k

:,D-@JA 125762 D3 Hangar D8 ck

F9F-2 123484 D2 Hook release

I Accident. 8-20153 W-194

Lccident . hA.dent.

fa i lure ,

H i t book on r m p

8-29-53 VF-194

8-31-53 VF-lQ

9-22-53 VF-52 F9F-2 123676 D3

9-22-53 VF-151 F9F-2 123587 D3 Hard landing.

9-25-53 VF-52 F9F-2 $23689 D 3 Barrier.

landing, ' F9F-2 123078 n3 rbsc wheel up 1b5-53 VF-151

a*

D3 Barrier *

D3 Plane i n cat- ,

D2 Barrier,

D 2 Hard l a d b g .

D2 B n r r i e r . D3 Barrior.

,“.. excellent, of cxcessive’work required, ing purposesI It is fslt tha t full work and t ra in ing schedules a re e s e n - t i a l ’ f o r maintenace of norale and for preparedness of peak c0mbz.t e f f ic i - ency*

B, iilthough night operation8 b v e been prac t ica l ly nil, on the occasions t h a t night flying was done, r e s t of day drews upset by night crews entering or departing compartments and v ice versa, crews was XLleviated by segregating then i n staterooms i n one section on thc t h i r d deck, The s i z e of berthing conpzrtments as w e l l as locct ion Froclud,>d such segregation for enl is ted night crews.

Persolinel performance following cessation of h o s t i l i t i e s h5s rcm:incd

Spare time has been well ut i l izod f o r traiil- 1,s a r e su l t of’reduced operztions thcre ’nave been no periods

The s i t w t i o n f o r of f icer nie‘nt

C, There were no casul t ies dming this period.

D, V i t a l S t a t i s t i c s Officers -

Aboard JUly 28 Received Transferred Aboard Nov. 11

VF-52 26 2 4 24

VF-u 0 26 1 25

VF-151 23 1 2 22

W-194 34 1 2 33

vc-3 vc-11 5 ’ 7 1 0 1 0 5 7

vc-35 6 0- 0 6

VC-61 4 0 0 4

VF-M 26 0 26 0

m i s t e d

Aboard July 28 l!$ 0 111 146 34 24 4.2 21 326 26 13 1 1 J, 1 0

1 1 126 Received 8 130 Transferred 13 5 10 12 6 3 Aboard Noy 21 137 1 2 5 127 147 29 22 42 21. 0

Court Martial Capt aint 8’ Mast 0 2 2 0 2 0 0 1 0

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

t* 8

Figures oppo~k$e ktcdvcd. and t r q s f e r r e d include nrr ivr .1 and departure fo r temporary additional duty, 28 July through 8 October 1953,

Fitron Forty Four was on board fo r the period

PLRT VI COIQENTS iLND RECOMMENDATIONS

A, Operations

1. Flight Statistics

c13 0 195 154. 54 0 0 0 0 10 4c -. $3 . .

GLJNPLERY 0 88 117 33 0 0 4 , 0 , o 2@ .-_

ROCKETS 214 51 46 0 165 0 0 0 12 488 - BOMBS &

TYPE

I",DEPT 0 14 35 4 0 0 6 0 0 , 59

INST. 10 38 36 28 6 0 1 9 0 4 4 181

mcco 0 60 49 29 0 8 8 0 0 133 - Ti'GTICS 132 48 55 29 83 53 0 0 0 400

CILS 103 29 26 1 2 18 0 0 0 0 188 PHOTO & ESCORT 0 6 , 14 21 0 0 52 0 0 93 - . ;m & ESCORT 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 20 0 30 _ _ ESCORT 28 0 0 . 0 0 40 0 70 4 1@L_ ASP &

7 - . ECM 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 D,'SP & ESCORT 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 5

msc;,p, 2 0 0 0 ,o 5 * o 9 1 17

HECKLEIZ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 4 ,. i

GCI 0 13 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 OPERL',T I O N WINDOW 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 I

I 12

ENCLOSURE (1)

CoMMEE\rTS & RECOPIMEM);',T IONS ( CONT 1 D)

* vF194 V F l 5 1 VF52 VFlll VFU VC35 V C 6 l V C l l VC3 iiIR MISSION liD4NA F9F2 F9F2 F9F5 FN4 i&L&I F2H2P ;94W F4U5N CROUP

FERRY 20 2 7 0 2 22 9 0 20, 8 ? r

TEST 10 0 3 0 0 , o 5 Q , , 15 33 - - 0 0 0, 0 2 0 0 0 2 , L - .

ABORTS 4 1 10 0 0 4 1 , o 3 23."

SORTIE3 523 545 585 210 266 3-42 96 103. 115 2rF -

msc . TOT. .L

NOTE: November; f o r VF-44, dates from 28 J a y through 9 October; f o r Zl1 otlierLS dates frorn 28 July through 11 November.

Flight statistics f o r VF-UI inc;lvde dates 10 October tbrou.gh ll

vc61 vc1.1 GROUP -. m 9 4 -1 v F 2 VFlU +y.-- VF TOTAL SORTIES 1505 1519 + 15 5 57 3 1' 255 234 230 7,ld TOTAL Xis. 4333.9 2392 2355 l388.2 1743 831.3 3m 563.5 546 14533.7 nanv I1vEs1. J?LTS* 52 '72.3 n.0 3505 22*2 53.5 64 47 46 60.2 PER PILOT t".VER HRS. 149.4 114.0 107.0 55.5 67.0 138.5 95.0 112.3 1m.3 122,l PER Prim

3, June through 9 October; Fitron Forty Four replaced Fitron One Hundred Eleven for t h i s period,

4. With the cessation of h o s t i l i t i e s i n Korea the groug was faced with t!:e problem of mintaining a high st2.te of p i lo t rec..dincss under redGced f l i qh t opcrc?.tions and a general anti-climactic feel ing anong the pilots, the challenge l ' A l l p i l o t s Mettingsl' f o r each sauadron bewme a p m t of the ' dpys routihe. Flight safety, watches, and p i l o t tcchniqiics wcrc discussed. T h i s w;?s ;t po~r subst i tute f o r actual f l i gh t but it 3id appec?r t o keep 5he p i lo t s dprt and flight operations went off smoothly, since the t m c e ' h v e been briefed and de-briefed as though they were nctuaL comb3.t missions.

Fitron One Hundred Eleven w m deployed on the U.S.S. L:xE CH,",MPLLCN 29

To meet

A l l , flights f lown

13 ENCLOSURE (1)

5 , special exorcises conducted by the USS BOXER and !dr TLqsk Group ONE enroute t o and from port, exercise set up by WMF,’.IRfi’~PIzN ,and covered by sepnr&e l e t t e r , t a t i on w.?s a lso made with tho escort of propollor a i rc r& by j e t e$Pcraft over 8 long’run into a t a rge t where enemy a i r opposition could be e w c t c d a t “ny time, The different ia t ion i n specd between the two aircrarPt presentod quit0 2. problem, If the jets attempt t o s tay with the propeller I?ircrraft, ’

they carmot gain spoed rapidly enough t o intercept in-coming enen’iy‘a5rcral”t. Ensufficient f l i gh t time did not permit any conclusions t o be mde, group has received no reports on cxpcrimentd. t a c t i c s ?&ong t h i s ’ l i n e , It is strongly recommended tkt i f not already btarted a project ba sot up immediately t o develop the t a c t i c s necessary,

6, was u t i l i zed with destroyers r & h g the terge% by t r i6qp ln t ion . f l i g h t s were supervised by a i r coordimtors on B ship, t h i s pcrmittcd valuablc t ra in ing i n bombing And rocketing a rr.cving t?.rg.’> ;snd a i r discipline on the par t of t h e f l igh t . tochniquc i n mc&ing attacks through very l imi ted sectors, considered tha t the p i l o t s gained excellent experience as a i r coordinF-t ors,

7, o r section Lenders, were $llowed t o lohd fl ights. It i s f c l t t h & vcalur\’ole experience was gained by all concerned, opportunity t o observe and avaluate 7.ss;gned pilots.

8, which i n the majcrity of c n h s , p i l o t s of t h e two F9F=2 squadrons flew t h e i r own squadron 2.ircraft. of t he pcrsonnel involved improved,

Flight operations with Task Force SEVEWY SEVEZ were supplemente

Among these was a specicl window di&penso Expcrben-

This

For some bombing and rocket f l i g h t s during t h i s pcriod a towed sled

It is fc l t t h r k !U

It “150 dbvelopod p i f c t It is ?Is0

During t h i s pcriod cQl junior pi lots , who hxd previously flown a s wingmi?

T h i s proccdme permitted n be t t e r

During thc l a t te r per t of the period, 2 procedure was worked out by

3% WAS found that t hc eff ic iency and mor2J.e

9, rocket lzunchers wcre rcrnovcd from t h e F9F-5 on 10 October 1953. speod increase of 30 t o 35 kn6ts ,and a lowering of t h e f u o l consumption rxte by approximkely 500 per hour, gonciss during this period, w h i l e comploting ciLl niissions on t h e basis of 8. one and a h23f hcrur flight,

10, ;lir T w k Group ONE and no Ezllotted t ra in ing period f c r group tpc t i c s during the CONUS t ra in ing cycle, ‘tho truce czfforded the group i ts f irst opporhni ty t o practice such a program, during our period of cc.tu.4. combat c U e d f o r few g,roup t sc t ics , one decided problem WT~S the break-up procedure around the ship. It 5s‘ f e l t t h a t a gre?.t dcgl could be accomplished i f a group tnctics’period of t ra in ing wl?s included for A i r Tmk Groups prior t o reporting aboerd, erences In Squadron techniques t o be worked out p r i o r t o deployment f o r Operr.tiona1 Readiness Inspection o r m t u a l conibpk tour,

The MK-51 Bomb R~cks’~and yLero Removal of this drag-lopud rosuJ.tcd i n an avcrqe

The squadron experienced no low-fuel emer-

h e t o the area separation between t h s various squadrons at tmhed t o

Although t h e type of cper3,tions carried out

This would permit a l l d i f f -

11, bnrriccde engngemcnts t h a t h s u l t c d in the wiping out of t h e nose wheel tr iunion (Class D-2 DDmEge) engagcments shcw t h e a i rc rnf t in’a ncme down a t t i tude with nose wheol oleo

One matter of concern t o the group wc?s the nwbor of j e t b w r i c r and

Studies of photogrnphs of cortnin barricade

. * ‘ . - I I

ET\SCLOSUflE (1) 11,

ful ly compressed upon engagementb with the downward component'of t h e force of decelerztion may be cxusirq nose wheel tr iunion t o f d , the lower st raps of t h e barricade be set flush with tho deck,

B. Intell igence

1. squadrons have markedly changed i n p c e during the pos t -hos t i l i tba p ) v m of opera-tions which t h i s report, cwvers, and tho extremely closo akf;ention t o day t o day detF.ils nccessary i n combilt operations has .given place It0 a gre5.tcr oportunity f o r dissemimting usuable informt ion i n t h e f iq ld of Air Intell igence by act ive pwticipf-.tion i n the p i lo t s ' trnining p r o , y for the A1080 t o broaden the i r own profcssiond. t r c in ing thrcugh reading, study, nl?d conferences, and for tc.king stock of t h e i r tltorlr methods i n the combat s i tua t ion - which, bf course, it was culticipcqted, might recur 2-t .my time during t h i s period,

2, and i t s badkpound wns presented in bricfg by tho l l i r Group md squadron Nr Intoll igence Officers t o all off icers af the Lir Group, Air Intcll igence Officer acted as aaviser t o t he sqw-dron M r Intell igence Officers on t h e two or three tlmes weekly br i e f s of current intell igence <?-nd current a f f a i r s which the I z t t e r gave before t h e i r uni ts as p~rt of ..( t h e i r grotlnd training programs, the opportunity t o confcr with Offibers concerned with t h e saxe f i e l d on Staff of COMNAvFE and COEISEVENTMFLT, t i o n t r3ining wc?s inst i tued among the p i lo t s and pursued. Gn such sightings ol5tnined i n p i l o t debriefs hzs increased g r w t l y i n quantity and detai l , during t h i s reporting period, l inson hzs been maintained with t h e ships Air Intell igence Offiho <md between t h e unit A i r Intell igence Officecs and the ships office, E & E K i t s were returned during the period with 100 per cent accounting f o r custody it ems.

C, Maintenance And Material

The lit!% bf the bmrieade rc.-mp comblnpb

It is recommended th?k the r@ th9.t h

The Air Intel l igence activities of Air Task Group ONE <and 5 % ~ @oqmns.;.,t

Specifically, an e f fod ive symposium on the situ-.tion i n Indo-Chim

Tho Group

1

The group A i r Intell igence Officer had

A program of mcrchhnt ship recognir Informatioq

Close and micable

P u o t ' s

1, F9F-2 Aircraft,

Mjintenance dif f i c u l t i e s continue t o be centerod around tho hydraulLc systcm, Numerous leaks and fa i lures of the idleron Boost on and off vczlve 2nd l i n e filters h6s caused the la rges t percentage of non-availability of the F9F-2 afrcrczft, Two F9F-2 a i r c r a f t were t ransferred t o FASRON ELEVEN i n an Able J i g s ta tus beckuse of m undetermined fr.,ilure of the Aileron Boost System at alt i tudes, aboard ship with negative rcsults, F23RON ELEVE31 pcrsonnel m d G r u m a n Representatives conduct :d various checks and f l i g h t tests, but n o ' o f f i c i d report of t h e resu l t s have been forwarded t o t h i s a c t i v i t y r?,s yet, RUDMS' have becn submitted on t h e !.ileron Boost VciLve and Hydraulic Line Fil ters, Two J42-P8 engines were changed during t h i s peri6d due t o excessive Mbration <and metal p w t i c l e s i n the o i l filters. and engines marked i n accordance wigh Gencrd Engine Bulletin No, 64,

Evrary' possible check md test were performed

RUDPE were suEmit-Eed

1 5 ENCLOSIJ?S (1)

C . 2, F9F-5 hircr,zf.t.

Maint emnce And Nat e r i a l (Cont Id)

Two cnses of auto-accelerbtion of the 548-P-6L engine werc cncount cr-ci a t 24,000 fee t and 35,000 feet , only n few thousmd feet regpained normal operation, t inue t o be a problem, inducer wae.

3. iD Li rcmft ,

In both cases a dkcrerse i n rtltitudc of Hydraulic leczks con-

One engine was chp-nged due t o f c i lu rc of r? r ea r

hTo unusual mrzintcnaJlce problem were cnccuntcred “;?iring t h i s pcY‘;ocl. Thc advcnt of the Truce and t h e nccompaying snd d ’cn r ry ing combat lc2ds rcsultod i n fCv less s t r a i n on eircr:aft m d engines, tulccs of roughness or popping CB tpvke-cff were cnccun%zred. the R56-S spark plugs werc continued. the a i rc rPf t for cmpzrcitive purposes. R56-S pluds would brerak down by 69 hours of oper?,tion or less , where ?,s nc d i f f i c u l t y w . ~ experienced with thc R37-S-1 plx:gs up t o 90 hcurs md i n scvzr.?l inst-nccs 120 hours opcrntions, sent during a largc portion cf the opcrFting pcriod, cxtcnsivo i.noestigM.on of t h e igni t icn assembl*y w m mqde t o axmrc’+Jh-.t nci s turc i n dis t r ibutor bowls VPS not cnvsing pcpping ,and roughness.’ Two ign i t ion hnmesscb nnd bowl ?sscmblics were chnngcd due t o moisture.

t ion’of AD $brvice”chhge Nb, 332 due7to irnproper size of the senting ring. i:I N D M w;?s submitted, Three rudder hinge brackets R82-D6-421?689 and one t cp rudder hinge bracket R82-D6-2250753 werc found t o have fa i led a t the ceptcr l i n e of the connecting bolt hole. f a i lu re s occurred pr ior t o dclivcry of t h c z i r c r - f t t o t h e squadron 6,s n r :sdt cf impropcr contrcl locks or b;ittcning, Thma engine chmges wero.mde fo r t h c folloowing rwsxs:

Rcln€ively fcw inst- Ev?l;ir?tion r.-

R37-S-1 werc uscd i n a porticn cf In gcncr.2, it w s found th-..t t h c

Due t o t h e hlgh hurcdity prc-

RIJCYS mre siibidtted. One f ni lure of wing 9 c € w t ing cylindcr he zd occurred 2.f t cr ins t ~ l l n -

It i s believed thcse

I?uLps w9-s submittcd.

(a) Roller clutch fe i lure i n blower c?ssmbl.y. (b) 013. lczk i n t h e extornal l i n e f r h ronr sump t o nosc SectiTr..,

(c} Twisted t b i l s h d ‘ t and mct?J. pnrtiCLes found on wVgnetic Chpmgc 317 hAd been incorporated,

m p plug, (d) I n addition t o t h e cngine ch+--.nges, t h e No, 10 cylindcr h,-.d *

4, F U-5N

t o be ch\-nged on one engine due t b excssive oil. consumption,

i r c r a f t . No unusud m.intonznce discrepnncics t o report during thLs period,

5, F2H-2P hi rcraf t ,

No unusual maintencmcc discrcpmcics t o report dining t h i s period,

16 EMCLOSURE (I)

I

C, Mainkesnmce And Material (Cont'd)

6 , &it e,.ri a1 I

Matcrial'has been s a t i f r c k p e ititas; namely, Aileron Boo J vdve!4 Four X O G items were required during t h i s period, requimd t o procure 3n BCOG item w e s sixteen (16) dp-ys. Some items issued werc lacking the incorpcration o f cer tz in chmges and bul le t ins app1icr:bl.e fndiczk ing t h e it cms were ovcrnge i

7 ,

the exceptfan of a few cr i t ic :3 fiydrafiie Line Fi l ters . Twenty

The longest period

Comment s And Re comiand?.t ions

(a) During periods cf innctivitywhiLc i n port or cruising, a schedul '

prcvcntpkive maintenance program was estzblishcd fc r the F9F-2 type 2ircrr f- The a i r c ra f t were turned-up cvery thrcc dc?.ys, znd thc ccjmplete hydr-tuiic systcm actuated every f ive days, E.lany hydraulic lc-ks, md hydrwlic sys ' mczlfunctions were found, increased the LI1.tircraf\t safety and readiness upon rcturning t o the oper:iti c V C a .

be inoperative due t o corrosion, had becn pmformed on the previms oheok, it is rscommnded tha t imits ccnducting l imited a i r opcr?kj.ons inspect c jactifqn sc% knee braces =very t h i r t y (30) hcurs vice one hundred twenty (120) hoirs,

inadequate, u t i l i zed for other purp~ses. spaces were not c?vnU.nble t o properly stow tools boxes &.ld oruise boxos th9.t a squadron normn3ly 6pcrrtes from,-hnd to bc stowod rLongside the bulkhead on the Hmgsr Deck, speciFL tools were lo s t , on ' a l l ca r r ie rs mdd'whcre practicLl, spaces crig:in4.ly assigncd t o Air Groups be reasigncd,

D. Ordnrwce.

This program has aided t h c : v L l a b i l i t y ?:id

(bp One se t of e ject ion s63t knee braces on the F9F-5 was fmnd t o I n view of t h c f9d A functional check

(c) H&kcnance m d s t 6 r P . p spclce abowd sh ip h-vc been completely Spaces t h & were or igind. ly ;?ssigned f o r iLr Groups hwc been

Xlthough thc: ship coopcr7tcd t o €he fu l les t , .

eouipmenb, 331 t o o l

L*.s a rLsu l t , some It is recommdcd th:t n survey cf spr?cea be mnde

P. 2.25" Saars

a, were used with poor effect because of t he e l e c t r i c ? ! discontinuity of the a d q t e r , countered, (Rcf, Part, TIT) . tmc S C ~ P S (ones with-ut the pigbail adapters) be i s s w d for trL?.ining since it is 8 waste of o f f o r t t o lcad t he old type.

b, probabCi%y of the scqm coming off the adaptcrs upon nrrcstcd L-inling was grezt, sews on- the adapters, provided, but thz t t he wire not be'of such strepgth.zs t a ndversclg 2ffsct t he t ra jec tory of the sc.?rs.

A number of old t y p e scar$ which u t i l i z e -the pig t-il adapters

A ra ther hi&h'percont?ge of dud scar n&rs was d s o en- It is rccomendcd Yn-.t only thc nower

When malfunctioning sc.?rs wcro returned on Mc6 adaptors the

This WPS due t o t h c wcnk sheer wire prcjvidcd t o hold the It i s recommended th-h 7, stronger sheer wire be

17

D, ' Ordnance (Cont 'd)

2. Aero 43 Minizture Bomb Containers,

a, The sh ip stocked 60 Aero 4 B containers and 28 had t o be rewapkcd before issuing because t h e nose cap had been dcntcd during shipmentt jammink t h e manual release mechanism,

t h i s r b u i r i n g ovcrhaul of t he container,

D-ftor being i n service but a short time,

thorough inspection p r io r t o shipment 2nd t h a t more ware i n handling the ccntaincrs during shipment be stressed.

were rt.3,rborne, they functioned w & l l save f o r an occ r s i cnd elzctricL.ll failure of t h e rclcase mechanism,

3,

b, The cram followers on t h e releasd s h i f t of 5 containers fnXLcd

c, The e l e c t r i c a l leads on 3 cont55ners were found t o be broken.

d, It i s recommended t h a t t h e initicQ issuinfi nc t iv i ty provide a

e. Onco'the cznt?.iners were put i n good working order, loaded and

Chan,dn,q Rocket Lmnchcrs iad Bomb Racks

a.

. Maray tims advrtncc loads d t e r n a t d d bctwccn borzbs and rockets.

With'mrm modern oquipment such its t he Lcro lw,, 20 groblzm i s sncount- crcd, continuously changing bomb rack <mid rocket lmnchers between f l i g h t s , This r c su l t cd i n visry rushed-work, inspection cf bcnbs, ri\ckets, and fuses. Frcquent changes ,Qso cr?usc * a gcnerd. d&eriorc?tion of thc Zsunpher racks and f i t t i n g s on t h e wing,

4* BorcsiRbt i n 5

a. Proirisions f o r tho boresighting of guns sbmrd ships a re un- sa t i s fac tory ; This group has &tempted t c USQ a portnble templct f o r F9F aircr t?f t , This syseem has proven f a r mcre expeditious than paint ing B templct cn a bulkhea%space l imi t a t ions 2nd gun configumtions on AD & F4U Aircraf t 'prohibi tcd the use o f portnble t n p l c t Pr t m p l e t s pnintcd on bulkheads, eshorc be m?*de avai lnble for boresighting during in-port periods,

5,

Howcvcr with the F9F-2 x ~ d the MK-9 launchers, t h o sou?.drms +ere

Rushed work n n - y l o ~ ~ d t o imporper

It i s thcrefore considered highly importwt t h z t f ; l .c i l i t ics

Out Board Gun Ammunition Boxes,

a, The loca t ion of t h e outboard gun amnunition boxes i n the F9F has been a cons tmt ddArvmt t o reaming as w e l l as t o min tenmce , ance of booster motors and otitbowd feed chutes arc d e f i n i t e wc~k points in t h e gun Nnmu?~Ltion system. be mndc-in order f o r t he outboard gun m.ununition t o b,? p lmed i n t h e nose section, even at tho expense of decrcasing t h e to t ,Q l number of rounds cnrr isd,

1: gun ins td , l a t ion such as-is found in - tn i : F2H is much more desir- nble than i n the F9F'since the guns, aimmition, md nccessories are so riuch more accessable,

Maintcm-

;i relocrAion of equipmcnt should d e f i n i t e l y

b,

18 ENcLOSrnE (1)

t

D. Ordnance (Conttd)

6 , MK-9 Rocket Ln.unchcrs.

s t m d the s t r e s ses impose4 upon them daring’ j e t czzrricr opcr?.tions, RUDM 15-53 was subnitted covering t h i s item, fo r t h i s cquipmerrt a re s t i l l i n use, some modific,:tion should bc made,

7, Salvo Feature.

ordnnnce carried on t h e six st?“tions controlled by the stntion selector i n some F9F-2 a i r c ra f t be renoved, If .‘1 sCdvo fez,turc Ls considered news- snry, mother systcn employing a. sepwate, guarded, f i r i n g switch should bc i n s t d l c d , det??il.

8 . Gun Cameras.

taken i n nccordance with current OPN,’.V Notice 3330, t i c e i s cif grc& concern t o j e t squmlrens, these squ;?clrons have bccn using the gun cmsras t o a grezt extent, ass is tance i n the t ra in ing of t h e p i l s t s duo t o the 17ck of t hc Gun C a e r a .hsossing Projector m d Screen, ance f o r the above pieces cf equipment be revised t c !:make them avnilr.blc t o crnbzkcd squadrons.

i?. Mark 9 rocket launchers have proven t h a t t h e y ?.re too weak t o with- m-52

Si.nce a i r c re f t configurbd

a, It i s strongly recornended tbt the scd.vo provision fo r srlvoing

VF-52 NJDM 2J.-53 i s being submitted covcrj-ng t h i s subject, in

a. The acriril cmcm gunnery progrm is a t 53s present t h e being under- Since air t o a i r prr?c-

The developcc! fi’lm has offered l i t t l e

It is strongly rc?comciided thz t the KLlow-

‘ 9 , Orpmizntion Of Ordnmce Personnel,

a. Prior t o dcployment, A dcf in i to coor&Ln?tlon p1.1~1. fo r combined e f fo r t s on thit p m t of t hc ordnnnccmen fron the v;?rJ.ous saundrons should be workcd nut, units ?s t o t h e i r du t i : s when they are called on tc P s s i s t anclthcr uni t , Thcrc should Klso be a t rnining phase for c x h group p r b r t o deployment whcrcby ordnnnccmcli become f cmilim- with KL1 types cf a m w n t configurn- t ions i n the group,

This would preclude znf misunderstxnding between the v - r i m s

1, The most s icnif icant khange i n c lectrcnics during t h i s period was thc oonvorsion from ‘c;HF t o UHF, No cutstmding prcblem have been en- countcrcd ei thor i n ril%inten;?nce o r i n operztions o f the !3/1”,!ic-27, j c t car r ior operations , the ARC-27 mounting rnck ~ R Q a minhum CUnOUnt of safety provided, be givcn fo r securi ty of mounting r x k wing nuts h ~ ’ snfety wire, I”;t pr:sent thcrc i s n shortngc clf UHF t c s t equipment, t r hcve’at l e a s t three completo t e s t s t e t i r n s with cne lcc?tcd on t h e hr?ngar deckJ

For

. It i s recornended th2-t careful ?nd frcc~:ent‘inspectS.on

It would bo desirq.blc

19 ENCLQSUnE (1)

I ' c.

E. n c c t r o n i c s (cont th) * . d

2. The A&/,'&-2, k'9k in s t a l ln t i - r , h9.s requirsd mcre rnp-intcnmce sLr.ce the UHF conversion, a rzcii? m-stcr switch and !&R-2 off-on switch. every t h e plug-in power is used and the battory sw:Ach i s turned oh, frequent energizing has resulted i n an increase of vecumtube usage.

unsr?tisfnctcry due t o inxdcquate t e s t f n c i l i t i e s , Cd.y one TS-685/l:'DG-30 W P S av?.ilr?ble f o r use and it is believed th& each sounickon using LPG-30 equipment should have its cwn TS-685, For pro e r m.&ntcnance it would be desirable t o have a complete gun sight',wd AN P APE30 eystem se t up i n 8

standard t e s t posit ion on Ftll carriers.

It is bclicved t h - t this'is due t o the absence of The is1R-2 i s always Qner,?ioed

This

. 3, Maintenance fo the !JJ/APG30 rcdnr ranging equipment hr?s been

4; It is noted thc t spare pa r t s for the X?/XIT-26 arc elttrzmely sc?.rce, which resulted i n one ADL4W having the en t i re period of t h i s report.

inoperative se t during

F. SurViV?3.

1, During the period of t h i s report thcrc h-s h e n no vo1Unta-y c r inVoluntary use of survival equipment,

2, W o s u r c s u i t s vrerc not used z t my t h e dwing'the reporting period RS the sea w n t c r tempcr;llture was never below 70 0 F,

. 0.

3. 1"31 pjrachutes axi life rc..fts wtre tested. mid rcpr,cked each Yskcsuka F w i l i t i c s afforded by C O P i F U R J , ' 2 ~ 3 were adequate and sat is- fn-port period,

fnctory f o r t h i s work.

4, L shortrge of oxygen beilou€ bot t les was notcd i n the WESTPIX area On cert..in cIccp'.sii-ils, xi fcw as nine t h i s tour.

bo t t les of llbreak off nipples" o r valves which perrnit t h e flew of oyyaen c?.fter thc safety pin Qnd t h e wecden b ? U tog&c h8ve been pulled, b o t t l e s with the old type break-off nipple, thcre ?re no provisinns fo r r e f i l l i n g and the majority used hme been of t h i s type, ?ad the non-fillnble type bot t le m&c it extremely d i f f i cu l t t o m?int?.in the parachutes in tne proper condition, be carried i n stock, especially i n view'of the number of th ree ,jet squadron air groups deployed i n the WESTPX zrea,

(Stock Mo, R83-ERM214!,2).

On tho

The shortc?.gss

It is recomcnded t h a t more bo t t l e s

* 5 . The ship received the PSK-2 k i t abo'vd during the f i n d . .pa% of t h e There- tour; hpswever no use of these were made by tho p i lo t s og t h i s group,

fore, no avr3uation of t h i s gear is possible,

20

Page-ll: It i s fe l t t h a t f u l l work and t ra in ing schedules are essent ia l ' f o r maintenance of morale and for preparednese of pezk combat efficiency,

Page-14: Special exercises flown by ATG-1,

Page-I&: m n t o lead f l i gh t s and sections,

Page-14:

Pagel.4: ing period during CONUS t ra in ing cgcle.

It is f e l t t h a t valuable experience was gained by allowing wing-

It is recommended tha t squadrons f l y own plenes.

It i s recommended tha t A i r Task Groups have group t a c t i c s t ra in-

Page-15: the barricade be set flush with t h e deck,

Page-17: inspect ejection seat knee braces every 30 hours vice 120 hours,

Page-1'7: It is recommended t h a t a survey of spaces be mde on c2U cm?ier$ and where pract ical spaces originczlly assigned t o Air Groups be reassigned,

Page-l'li It is recommended tha t a stronger sheer wire be provided on MK6 Adapter,

Page-18: It i s recommended tha t the i n i t i a l issuing activity provide a thorcjugh inspection of Aero l+B Miniature Bomb Containers p r io r t o ship- ment,

Page-183 boresighting,

It is recommended tha t the ram$ t h a t houses t h e lower s t raps of

It is recommended t h a t un i t s conducting l imited Air O$erations

I t ' i s recommended tha t f a c i l i t i e s ashore be made available f o r

Page-19: i n some F9F-2 A/C ba removed.

Page-19: 2nd Screen be made available t o embarked squadrons.

Page-19: recommended tha t three ' (3) t e s t s ta t ions be se t up abowd ship with one loc,?ted on Hangar Deck,

It is recommended tha t salvo provisions f o r splvoing ordnznce

It i s strongly recommended t h a t &m Camera Assessing Projector

A t present there is a shortage of UHF t c s t equipment, It is

Page-20% gun sight and AN/APG - 30 system s e t up i n a standmd tes t position on carr iers ,

For proper maintenance it would be desirable 50 have a complete

Page-20: sc3ne.

It is noted tha t spare parts fo r t h e lJl/r,;lT-26 are extremely

17, t h e WESTPiiC area,

It i s recodended tha t more bail out bot t les s e carried i n stock kA B

21. EXCLOSURE (1)