Request for help
 

Hello to all. Im looking for photos showing Composite Squadrons 66 & 68 FM Wildcats as well as VF-37 Hellcats during Leyte operations in order to create profiles. I hardly can find anything in the net. Kind regards

Dimitris

Re: Request for help
 

Hi Dimitri,
As far as I can tell, VC-68 operated off the escort carrier USS Fanshaw Bay during the Leyte Gulf Operation as part of Taffy 3.

If you go to this USN historical document archive site -
http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/145/
you can download a short history of the USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) titled "Straddled". It has photos towards the back half of the publication that show a number of Wildcats, though I am not familiar enough to tell if they are six-gun F4F-4s or four-gun F4F-3s or four-gun FM2s (except from directly in front, and then can't always see the taller tail). So the ID of the Wildcats, I will leave to you.

Hope this helps,
...geoff

Re: Request for help
 

I cannot find any record of VC-66's involvement at Leyte in either:
- the book "Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors"

https://books.google.com.au/books?id...0vc-68&f=false

(If the rather lengthy link doesn't work, try a google-book search for the title for a preview.)

- or in the Military Unit History website:

http://www.ourwarveterans.net/miluni...pe=S&cpage=125

So, I'm afraid I can't help much with VC-66.

...geoff

Re: Request for help
 

VC-66 was on the Fanshaw Bay in September 1944. Last aircraft loss I have for them was on Sept 25, 1944. No details yet. On Sept 20 they had losses at Morotai. I suggest checking the online entries for Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70) to check its service in WW2. I believe the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships is available online.

https://www.history.navy.mil/researc...ies/danfs.html

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Request for help
 

VC-68 deployed aboard USS Fanshaw Bay on 12 October 1944. The squadron had replaced VC-66.
From USS Fanshaw report CVE70/A16-3 dated 2 November 1944:
"From 18 October through 24 October, VC-68 (Lt.Comdr., R.S. Rogers, U.S.N.), based on U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY, launched 85 sorties for direct support of the landing forces, 18 strikes against Philippine airfields, 10 sorties for air, beach and artillery observations, 4 photo missions, 45 local combat air patrol sorties, 38 target combat air patrol sorties, 27 local anti-submarine patrol and 18 target anti-submarine patrol sorties. A total of 5 Oscars was shot down by VC-68 planes and designated targets strafed and bombed."

The October 31, 1944 Aircraft Location Report (remember these reports actually run 7 to 10 days behind what they are reporting) show VC-66 enroute to the west coast for reforming.

Re: Request for help
 

VF37 was on SANGAMON in October with Carrier Unit 1 ( 77.4.11) off Leyte and Samar; they had Glossy Sea Blue F6F-5s with a horizontal white tail band ( lower and wider than VF-15s) and number above it on the fin.
VC-66 was with Carrier Unit 2 ( 77.1.2) in Sept. off Morotai with FM-2s but VC-68 was at Leyte in October with Carrier Unit 1 ( 77.4.31) in Taffy 3 ( I'm pretty sure also FM-2s) both units with a white diamond on the rudder and number on the fin.
It's possible some FM-2s were in 3-colour camouflage (the Eastern Aircraft pattern) but most would be Glossy Sea Blue.
The markings notes I made some years ago presumably from photos somewhere.
Regards......... Nick

Re: Request for help
 

There is a photo in the old Osprey Aircam Series Vol-19 on the F6F Hellcat, of the VF37 Hellcat landing on USS Sangamon during the Leyte Operations. Here's a link to the boxden modellers website where a copy of that page can be found:
http://www.boxartden.com/gallery/var...age_23-960.jpg

There is also higher resolution photo of VT37 TBM Avengers of the same time, sporting similar markings:
https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gall...vt-37-in-1944/

...geoff

Re: Request for help
 

Hello. Thank you all for taking a moment from your time and give me help

Kind regards
Dimitris

Re: Request for help
 

Hi Dimitris. This is FANSHAW BAY's symbol on a TBM-1C from VC-68 in Oct. 1944 ( also on VC-66); the FM-2s would be similar but with smaller numbers ( 16" high on aircraft up to 50' wingspan, 24" from 50-100'). This was Spec. SR-2D effective March 6 1944.
The TBM is in 3-colour camouflage; note the leading edges of wings and tailplanes should be Non-Specular (matt) Sea Blue rather than the Semi-Gloss on top flying surfaces.
Where necessary the anti-glare panel could be Non-Specular Sea Blue, more common on SB2Cs and Corsairs.
Nick

Re: Request for help
 

Thank you Nick, much appreciated!

Re: Request for help
 

Does anyone knows the range of numbers used by VC-68 FM-2s? If I’m going to make a hypothetical profile at least it’s better to be in the correct number range. I wish I could match BuNo with individual aircraft numbers.

Re: Request for help
 

Hello,
FM-2 losses were -
10/25/44
BuNo's
55366; 55496; 55508; 55578.
10/26/44
Bu No.
55419.
11/09/44
BuNo
56810
Could not find any others except TBM's.

Alex

Re: Request for help
 

Hello,

Douglas E. Campbell in his, Vol.III - U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft Lost During World War II - Listed by Aircraft Type (pp.127-154).

General Motors FM-2 - Lost

VC-68

03/12/44 - 15978

06/03/44 - 16093

06/08/44 - 46996

06/17/44 - 16710

06/17/44 - 46858

26/08/44 - 46894

10/22/44 - 56860

10/25/44 - 55366
10/25/44 - 55496
10/25/44 - 55508
10/25/44 - 55578

10/26/44 - 55419

11/09/44 - 56810

Col.

Re: Request for help
 

Thank you for your replies. I meant if we might knew the individual plane numbers...from 30-50 for example.

Anyway thank you all for the time consumed for my request.

Dimitris

Re: Request for help
 

Hi Dimitris. There was no directive for the range of numbers in a VC, as the TBM in the photo is no. 81 the fighter component would most likely have used low numbers ( but there were only 16 FM-2s in VC68 , plus 12 TBMs). The numbers ( and tail markings ) were at the discretion of the tactical commander ie. Commander Air Group; the markings were regularised in Spec. SR2e 21 June 1944 to be effective 7 October.

The side numbers should have been moved to the tails by Spec. SR2d 22 Dec. 1943 effective 6 March 1944 when overall Glossy Sea Blue was adopted, but as usual there were some VCs which kept the side numbers plus a letter eg. Sargent Bay ( D+number ) Petrof Bay B+number. Also there were many Eastern FMs still in the 3-colour scheme on escort carriers. The FM-2 in this photo has this, with side number V30 off Leyte in October if the caption is correct; this is the only photo I've seen of a VC68 FM-2 at this date, and the "V" code is unknown (?). Note that you can't see if the diamond is on the rudder.
The other attachment is a short history of Fanshaw Bay.



http://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/145/


http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/galler...aw-bay/cat/503



Regards
Nick

Re: Request for help
 

This is the unique Eastern FM-2 scheme, note the Non-Specular wing and tailplane leading edges. The unit is "White Plains"' VC-4.
The side profile is from Geoff Thomas' "US Navy carrier aircraft colours" which is very reliable though I don't know why the "012" designator unless it's a reference to the Bu.Aer. number. Possibly a replacement before side number allocated and their rudder diamond marked on.
Nick