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USS BENNINGTON

AIR GROUPS


 Prop Plane   Prop Plane   Prop Plane
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NAVAL AVIATION
Precursor: Turning Points in History
The Golden Age of Aviation (1919-1939)
and The Aircraft Carrier
by George E. Mattimoe, Ph.D.

CV-20 USS BENNINGTON
1944 Oct 16 - 1944 Nov 17
Shakedown
Lv New York for Paria Gulf, Trinidad
CVG-82 attached to 1945 June 17
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
--
Bombing Sqd. 82 (VB-82) The Battering Rams -- --
--
- - - - - -- -- SB2C-3 Helldiver
--
- - - - - -- -- SB2C-4E Helldiver
--
- - - - - -- -- AM-1 Martin Mauler
--
- - - - - -- -- AD-5 Skyraider
--
Torpedo Squadron (VT-82) Devils Diplomats TBM-3 Avenger
--
Fighter Squadron (VF-82) Fighting Fools F6F-5 Hellcat
--
Fighter Squadron (VMF-112) Wolfpack -- --
--
Fighter Squadron (VMF-123) Eight Balls F4F Wildcats
--
-- -- -- -- -- -- --


The Battering Rams Patch
Bombing Sqd. 82 (VB-82)
The Battering Rams Patch
HISTORY OF VB-82
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The Devils Diplomats Patch
Torpedo Squadron (VT-82)
Devils Diplomats


Fighter Squadron (VF-82)
Fighter Squadron (VF-82)
Fighting Fools
VMF-112 ACTION (PDF DOCUMENT)
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Fighter Squadron (VMF-112)
Fighter Squadron (VMF-112)
Wolfpack
HISTORY OF VMF-112
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Fighter Squadron (VMF-123)
Fighter Squadron (VMF-123)
Eight Balls






BENNINGTON'S FIRST AIR GROUP
AND THE SINKING OF
THE BATTLESHIP YAMATO



Chronological Narrative and History
of Marine Fighting Squadron, VMF-123
(1942-1945)
by
George (Matt) Mattimoe




CV-20 USS BENNINGTON
1945 Jan 1 - 1945 Nov 7
San Diego to Pearl Harbor
1st war cruise. Lv Pearl Harbor for Ulithi Atoll
Iwo Jima Operations, Okinawa Gunto Operations
Shares in sinking of Japan's super battleship YAMOTO

CVG-82 attached to 1945 June 17
Geometric ship's aircraft ID, double arrow pointing up

1945 June 17 CVG-1 attached to war's end
Carrier aircraft ship assignment code, TT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
--
CVG-82 -- -- -- -- -- --
--
VF-1 (AG - 1) -- -- -- -- -- --
--
VT-1 (AG - 1) -- -- -- --
TT
VBF-1 (AG - 1) Royal Flushers F4U-D
--
-- -- -- -- -- -- --


Fighter Squadron ( VBF-1 )
Royal Flushers
Fighter Squadron ( VBF-1 )








Towards the end of 1945, Air Group 19 moved to Barber's Point for training.
At about the same time, USS BENNINGTON (CV-20) was moved to the
Hawaiian Islands to be used as a training carrier.
In January of 1946, Air Group NINETEEN boarded BENNINGTON for further training.
During that time, all pilots accumulated their 20 day and 2 night landings.
On 26 February 1946 the Air Group participated in a joint
Army-Navy Air Defense Exercise around the island of Oahu.
Air Group NINETEEN launched a pre-dawn strike from BENNINGTON,
150 miles at sea and headed for Oahu at sea level to avoid radar detection.
The squadrons split up into groups to strike the island from many different angles
and were nearly to the target before being intercepted by the Army's fighters.

The above data provided to Joe Pires, USS Bennington Historian
by Robert Jarvis of the United Kingdom.
Info from the Satan's Kitten's website.

www.satans-kittens.net

Fighter Squadron ( VF-19 )
VF-19
Satan's Kitten's
www.satans-kittens.net




World War II Overseas Aircraft Losses
Operational and Combat



1953 Aug - Air Boss Wanabee
Dan Butterfield



CVA-20 USS BENNINGTON
1953 Feb 19 - 1953 May 07 Shakedown
1953 Sep 16 - 1954 Feb 21
Only Mediterranean Cruise
Last cruise of prop. squadron, VF-74
CVG-7 embarked, Tail code L
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
L-4xx
VF-74 Be-Devilers F4U-4
-- --
VMF-232 Red Devils
Marine
Fighter Sqd
-- --
PL-9xx
VFP-62 -- -- F2H-2P


Fighter Squadron (VMF-232)
Be-Devilers
Fighter Squadron 74
(VF-74)
Fighter Squadron (VMF-232)
Red Devils
Marine Fighter Squadron 232
(VMF-232)
Fighter Squadron (VMF-232)
Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 62
(VFP-62)




CVA-20 USS BENNINGTON
1955 Oct 31- 1956 Apr 16
1st WestPac cruise
Okinawa, Hong Kong
ATG-201 embarked, Tail code ATG
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
--
VC-33 Night Hawks --
--
VC-4 Night Cappers --
--
VC-6 Fire Bees --
--
VC-9 Hoot Owls --
--
VC-62 Gladiators --
--
HU-1 Pacific Fleet Angels --
--
VC-12 Omars --
--
VA-105 Gunslingers AD4 Skyraider
--
VF-13 Aggressors --
--
VA-36 Roadrunners --
PL-9xx
VFP-62
Det.30
Eyes Of The Fleet F2H-2P
--
AJ -- --
 
Knight Hawks
Knight Hawks
(VC-33)
 






CVA-20 USS BENNINGTON
1956 Oct 3 - 1957 May 23
2nd WestPac cruise
Japan, Okinawa, Phil., Hong Kong, Sydney
ATG-181 embarked, Tail code I
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
200
VF-21 (*1) Mach Busters FJ3 Fury
100
VF-41 Black Aces F2H Banshee
--
VA-42 Green Pawns AD-6 Skyraider
--
VF-174 Hell Razors F9F Cougar
(NF)--
VAH-6 Fleurs - Love's Flying Circus AJ-2 Savage's
PL-9xx
VFP-62 DET.30 Eyes Of The Fleet
Smitty's Moonshiners
F9F-8P Photo
(SS)--
VA(AW)-33 DET. Nighthawks
Pleasantville, NJ.
AD-5N Skyradir
(RR)--
VAW-11 DET. Early Eleven AD-5W
(UP)--
HU-1 DET. Pacific Fleet Angels --
(*1) redesignated VA-43 on July 1, 1959




The Black Aces Patch
The Black Aces VF-41 Patch
The Green Pawns Patch
The Green Pawns VA42 Patch
The FLEURS Patch
VAH-6 Det. "N" (this was a patch created
for Lt. Commander Love - the Commander of the Squadron)
VAH-6 are known as "FLEURS" (squadron name)
Aircraft were - AJ-2 Savage (they were used for refueling)





CVA-20 USS BENNINGTON
1958 Aug 21 - 1959 Jan 13
3rd WestPac cruise
Matsu & Quemoy coast crisis patrol
Formosa Strait ops, 1958 Oct 12 - Nov 2, Nov 24 - Dec 3
ATG-4 embarked, Tail code ND
July 23, 1958 - CDR Royce A. Singleton - CO
August 1, 1958, was redesignated as VA-152
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
ND
ATG-4 - - - F2H-3
PP-9xx
VFP-61 Det.K Eyes of the Fleet F9F-8P

A-1H 134-636 VA-216
Taken Jul '58 aboard USS Bennington
Lt Jerry Tabrum is the pilot
AND
ND 507 VA-216
Taken Oct '58 aboard USS Bennington
http://skyraider.org/skyassn/memberpics/tabrum/tabrum.htm





CVS-20 USS BENNINGTON
1960 Oct 1 - 1961 May 2
4th WestPac cruise
South China Sea, Laos crisis
CVSG-59 embarked, Tail code NT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
10
VS-33 Screwbirds S-2F-1
30
VS-38 Red Griffins S-2F-1
50
HS-8 Eight Ballers SH-34J
--
HSS-1 -- --
--
HMR(L)-163 Ridge Runners --
--
HUS-1 -- --
(RR)xxx
VAW-11 Det. Q Early Eleven EA-1E
--
AD5W Early Eleven AD-5W
xxx
COD -- C-1A


CVSG-59
CVSG-59 Patch
HS-8
THE EIGHT BALLERS
HS-8 LOGO
HELANTISUBRON EIGHT
http://www.hs8.navy.mil/


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History Of
HELANTISUBRON EIGHT
(HS-8)




CVS-20 USS BENNINGTON
1962 Jan 6 - 1962 Jul 25
5th WestPac cruise
South China Sea, Laos crisis
CVSG-59 embarked, Tail code NT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
10
VS-33 Screwbirds S-2
30
VS-38 Red Griffins S-2
50
HS-8 Eight Ballers SH-34J
(RR)xxx
VAW-11 DET. Q Early Eleven EA-1E
xxx
COD -- C-1A

VS-33
THE SCREWBIRDS
VS-33 LOGO


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VS-38
THE RED GRIFFINS
VS-38
VS-38

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VS-38 DEACTIVATED
Click To Read Report




CVS-20 USS BENNINGTON
1964 Feb 19 - 1964 Sep 11
6th WestPac cruise
Pearl Harbor, Yokosuka, Sasebo, Hong Kong, Manila Bay - P.I.
CVSG-59 embarked, Tail code NT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
10
VS-33 Screwbirds S-2E
30
VS-38 Red Griffins S-2E
50
HS-8 Eight Ballers SH-3A
(RR)7xx
VAW-11 DET. Q Early Eleven EA-1E
(NG)1-4
VA-93 DET. Q Blue Blasters
Blue Blazers
A-4B Skyhawk
(UP)xx
HU-1 DET. Q Pacific Fleet Angels UH-2A
xxx
COD -- C-1A


 
Blue Blasters - VA-93 DET. Q
Blue Blasters
VA-93 DET. Q
 



CVS-20 USS BENNINGTON
1965 Mar 22 - 1965 Oct 7
7th WestPac cruise
1st Vietnam war cruise. ASW & SAR patrols
CVSG-59 embarked, Tail code NT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
10
VS-33 Screwbirds S-2E
30
VS-38 Red Griffins S-2E
50
HS-8 Eight Ballers SH-3A
(RR)7xx
VAW-11 DET.Q Early Eleven E-1B
xxx
VA-113 DET.Q Stingers A-4B
xxx
COD -- C-1A

VA-113
STINGERS
VA-113


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CVS-20 USS BENNINGTON
1966 Nov 4 - 1967 May 23
8th WestPac cruise
2nd Vietnam cruise. ASW & SAR patrols. Australia
CVSG-59 embarked, Tail code NT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
10
VS-33 Screwbirds S-2E
30
VS-38 Red Griffins S-2E
50
HS-8 Eight Ballers SH-3A
(RR)7xx
VAW-11 DET.Q Early Eleven E-1B
xxx
COD -- C-1A



CVS-20 USS BENNINGTON
1968 May 1 - 1968 Nov 9
9th WestPac cruise
3rd Vietnam war cruise. Sea of Japan exercises
CVSG-59 embarked, Tail code NT
Modex
Squadron Aircraft
10
VS-33 Screwbirds S-2E
30
VS-38 Red Griffins S-2E
50
HS-8 Eight Ballers SH-3A
(RR)760
VAW-111 DET.20 Hunters E-1B - - - (See Below)
042
COD Bu.No.146042 C-1A
--
--- --- ---
--
HC-7 - Det. 110 Seadevils ---

HC-7 PATCH
HC-7
OUR NEW HOME PAGE
HC-7 PATCH
http://www.hc7seadevils.org/


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Paul Trombetta wrote:

Don't forget that when the Benny was on Yankee station in 1968 and beyond, squadron HC-7 would deploy aboard (crossdeck) and operate combat search and rescue until the Benny left yankee station for a liberty port. HC-7 would then cross deck to another carrier. HC-7 stayed on yankee station continuously from Feb. 1968 until the end of the viet nam war, providing combat search and rescue for all downed pilots, including those in country.

The aircraft had all the sonar gear removed and M-60's mounted in the forward and read doors. They carried grenade launchers and other weapons as well. Mini guns were eventually mounted on these aircraft. A high speed hoist was used and many modern rescue techniques in the water were pioneered by HC-7.

HC-7 deserves a place in your airgroup section. It's properly labeled HC-7 Det. 110, and they were aboard during the yankee station periods in 1968 and everytime the benny was in yankee station thereafter. How do I know? I transferred to HC-7 det 110 and loaded aboard the Kearsarge on Feb. 1, 1968 to respond to the Tet offensive. This was the first Det 110 and I spent 75 days at sea assigned with 30 other enlisted men, setting up this detachment and 6 combat sar aircraft. In that 75 day period I was aboard the Kearsarge, Yorktown, Enterprise and Kitty Hawk.

If anyone is interested, HC-7 has a website- http://www.hc7seadevils.org/ The most decorated squadron of the viet nam war.

Thanks for listening,

Paul Trombetta






CVSG-59 (NT)
1968 May 1 - 1968 Nov 9
VS-33(S-2E) VS-38(S-2E) HS-8(SH-3A)
10 151666 30 152827 50
11 149852 31 152808 51 149902
12 152332 32 152807 52 149908
13 33 53
14 151667 34 149887 54 149706
15 149883 35 149868 55
16 149869 36 152333 56 149900
17 152806 37 149845 57
18 152809 38 149881 58
19 149850 39 149853 59 149727
20 149854 -- 60 149906
-- 149852 -- 61
-- 149860 -- 62 151541
-- 152335 -- xx 149901(*1)
-- 152336 -- --
-- 152340 -- --
-- 152809 -- --
(*1) 1968 Jun 23 Operational Loss
VAW-111
DET.20(E-1B)
COD(C-1A)
760-148920 042 146042
761-147240 --
762-147238 --
763-147227 --






Have you ever wanted to know what the significance is of the different colors of shirts worn by the flight deck crew? Well, here is what each color is responsible for.

Yellow
Aircraft handling officers
Catapult and Arresting Gear Officers
Plane directors
Green
Catapult and arresting gear crews
Air wing maintenance personnel
Air wing quality control personnel
Cargo-handling personnel
Ground Support Equipment (GSE) troubleshooters
Hook runners
Photographer's Mates
Helicopter landing signal enlisted personnel (LSE)
Brown
Air wing plane captains
Air wing line leading petty officers
Blue
Plane Handlers
Aircraft elevator Operators
Tractor Drivers
Messengers and Phone Talkers
Purple
Aviation Fuels (AKA "Grapes")
Red
Ordnancemen
Crash and Salvage Crews
Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
White
Squadron plane inspectors
Landing Signal Officer (LSO)
Air Transfer Officers (ATO)
Liquid Oxygen (LOX) crews
Safety Observers
Medical personnel




WEB SITE LAUNCHED
1 September 1999



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