Through your link to VF-153 I found this
Naval Academy graduate LCDR George McFetridge served as
executive officer. VF-153 was McFetridge’s first flying billet, but his
service as a blackshoe had taken him aboard three flattops in campaigns
from Midway to Tarawa, including swimming away from USS Hornet
(CV 8) when she was sunk off Guadalcanal.
Many thanks
Keith