CVG-5 Korea
 

VF-92 F4U-4
VF-53 F9F-5
VF-54 AD-4
VC-3 Det B F4U-5N
VC-11 Det B AD-4W
VC-35 Det B AD-4N
VC-61 Det B F9F-5P

Can anyone tell me who were in command/XO these squadrons and detachments aboard the USS Valley Forge in 1952-53? Also whether they had WW2 experience.

LtCdr George C Duncan commanded VF-51 in this period. His XO was LtCdr Mueller but I have no details of him.

regards

Keith

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Keith,

From the USS Valley Forge Action Report 30 Dec 52-25 Jan 1953 on history.navy.mil:

"1-9-53: LCDR FICHMAN, Commanding Officer of VF-92, was forced to ditch his F4U due to engine failure etc."

"1-22-53: While flying a F9F-5 Panther jet, LCDR C.E. MULLIGAN, Executive Officer of VF-53, experienced a power failure forcing him to ditch etc..."

As for VF-54, then LCDR Henry Suerstedt likely: see story on https://airandspace.si.edu/support/w...squadron-vf-54

Regards,

Leendert

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Cheers mate.

Herbert Thayer Fichman (1920-2004)served in WW2 aboard the San Jacinto, not sure about his squadron at that time.

Henry Suerstedt, leader of VF-54 March 1952-July 1953, died in 1990 at age 69. Served in South Pacific in WW2 no information on squadron.

LCdr Lawrence B Green led VF-53. Have not found any details about him apart from hus service as c.o.

regards

Keith

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Keith,

Good Morning. All your answers are here: https://www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv45-53/index.html

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Superb, many thanks :)

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Now I need to beg information of WW2 service of commanders and the XOs of the Valley Forge squadrons :).

VF-51 xo LCdr Mueller. No initials.
VF-92 LCdr Herbert Thayer Fichman , xo LCdr Leroy Freeman Berkebile. Both served in WW2, Fichman might have been with VF-51 on USS San Jacinto.
VF-53 LCdr Lawrence B Green, xo LCdr Charles Edward Mulligan. No details.
VF-54 LCdr Henry “Hank” Suerstedt xo LCdr Robt.M McConnell. Suerstedt definitely served as an aviator in WW2, not sure about McConnell.

Lastly LCdr William Morris Meredith, the poet.

A tall order but the brains on this forum always come through. :)

As always this is my pursuit of the career of my fellow Scot, George C. Duncan (c.o.VF-51)

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Found others :)

Robert McChesney McConnell, Annapolis '43. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Lawrence Burton Green, Annapolis '43. Green was aiming to go straight into Aviation.

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Lieutenant-Commander Mueller? Can't even find initials for him.

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Just a guess, Richard Carey Mueller, USNA 1940.

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

If the right Richard C. Mueller, he's mentioned as Acting Commanding Officer in the April 1944 war diary of the then newly formed VF-82. See https://catalog.archives.gov/id/78404202

Regards,
Leendert

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Apparently

Richard Carey Mueller (085350) -
6/6/1940 - ENS USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1941 USN Register
4/15/1942 - LTJG USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1942 USN Register
10/1/1942 - LT USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1943 USN Register
10/1/1942 - LT USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1944 USN Register
4/1/1944 - LT USN VF-82 NAS Atlantic City
7/23/1944 - LT USN USS Bogue (CVE-9) attach recd frm VF-82
10/17/1944 - LCDR USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1945 USN Register
10/17/1944 - LCDR USN Date of rank from 1 Jun 15 VF-74B roster
5/1/1945 - LCDR USN CVBG-74 (CAG - acting) NAS Norfolk
5/1/1945 - LCDR USN CVG-74 (CAG - acting) as noted in 31 Dec 1945 AirLant CAG listing
5/1/1945 - LCDR USN VF-74B (CO) as noted in 31 Dec 1945 AirLant CO listing
5/10/1945 - LCDR USN CVG-74 (relv acting) as noted in 31 Dec 1945 AirLant CAG listing
6/1/1945 - LCDR USN VF-74B NAAS Otis Field South Weymouth MA

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Just to clarify, Mueller was appointed C.O. of VF74B on the date of its commissioning, 1 May 1945. At the same time he became temporary CAG of Air Group 74, but only for ten days until Cdr. J.T. Blackburn arrived to take over. On 1 August 1945 VF74B ceased to exist and VF74A became VF74, absorbing the pilots from 74B. I don't know what happened to Mueller at that point.

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Thanks chaps he was Lieutenant Commander or Commander in 1951-52, leading VF-23 (F9F-2) off USS Princeton. Maybe he decided to do another tour, accepting a demotion? I haven't found another Mueller anywhere.

K

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

His rank when leading VF-23 is confirmed as Commander in an issue of "Naval Aviation News" :(

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Mueller is, as we say in Scotland "doing my box in!". His photograph (as part of VF-51) shows at least two rows of medal awards indicating he had served in WW2 (not startling, to be a Lieutenant Commander in 1953 would argue some service as a junior officer in WW2.) But this leaves no clues. I shall just have to hope he appears in some random account. The fact that he does not appear to have made the jump to squadron commander after 1953 may mean he left the Navy?

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

How gallant, but the USN won't, and would not, allowed that.

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Is he Gregg Mueller. Born California 17 August 1919. Enlisted in the USN in June 1939. Midshipman 2nd Class 1940. Ensign 19 June 1942. Annapolis 1943 (Graduated in the shortened three-year class June 1942). Made Lieutenant 1 July 1944. Lieutenant Commander 1952 (?), Commander January 1955. This officer retired in January 1963. Naval Designator 1310 and later 1313 (grades of aviator pilot?). He is listed in the USNA Yearbook for 1943.

I am looking for a navy pilot named Mueller who served in the Korean war in 1953. Can anyone put some meat on these very bare bones? I assume he served in WW2 but was still a Lieutenant in 1949 therefore he might not have seen active service. His record has the designation Av43 (is that pilot qualified in 1943?)

best regards

Keith

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Incidentally he taught at Annapolis in 1956.

Re: CVG-5 Korea
 

Found another. Lawrence Burton Green, born 1920, Annapolis '42 (Graduated 1941). LtCdr by 1949. Retired as a Captain in August 1964. WW2 Service. According to the records he won the Silver Star as commander of PT-363 in 1944. Qualifying as an aviator post war he then won the Navy and MC medal for saving his c.o after a flying accident off Oahu in 1947 (does anyone have more details?)before winning two DFCs in Korea!

I found CE Mulligan. Aviator 1942. He flew TBF with VC-7 (USS Manila Bay)in the Pacific.

Hank Suerstedt flew with VC-21 in the Pacific in WW2 and won the Silver Star and DFC for damaging a cruiser and a submarine.

regards

Keith