Lt Charles Ramsay Stapler USN

[keith A]

This pilot received a DFC in 1945 flying in a torpedo bomber squadron in the Atlantic. I assume he was flying from an escort carrier. Does anyone know which squadron?

regards

Keith

[RSwank]

He flew off the USS Card which carried Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1).

Long article on the Card which mentions Stapler.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/434...ng_id=77991431

The submarine sunk was U-117.

https://uboat.net/boats/u117.htm

[keith A]

Cheers, chum. The Atlantic squadrons are often lost in accounts of WW2.

[R Leonard]

Stapler was the first CO of VF-74, one of two USN F6F squadrons to see combat in the ETO. Stapler missed that trip though, having been replaced by Harry Bass (USNA '38) in April 1944; I suspect his time with VF-74 was as a caretaker CO until Bass arrived.

Charles Ramsay Stapler (082333)
3/23/1941 - ENS USN NAS Pensacola FL for instruc in 1 Apr 1941 USN Active Duty Directory
9/24/1941 - ENS USN NAS Pensacola designated NA # 9087
6/15/1942 - LT USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1942 USN Register
6/15/1942 - LT USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1943 USN Register
8/7/1943 - LT USN VC-1 USS Card (CVE-11) ASW action
1/6/1944 - LT USN VC-89 (CO) as noted in 31 Dec 1944 AirLant CO listing
3/15/1944 - LCDR USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1944 USN Register
3/15/1944 - LCDR USN Date of rank from 1 Jul 1945 USN Register
3/25/1944 - LCDR USN VC-89 detach as noted in 31 Dec 1944 AirLant CO listing
3/26/1944 - LCDR USN VF-74 (CO) NAS Norfolk
3/26/1944 - LCDR USN VF-74 (CO) as noted in 31 Dec 1944 AirLant CO listing
4/11/1944 - LCDR USN VF-74 detach as noted in 31 Dec 1944 AirLant CO listing
10/2/1944 - LCDR USN VT-89 (CO) as noted in 31 Dec 1944 AirLant CO listing
1/1/1945 - LCDR USN VT-89 (CO) as noted in 31 Dec 1945 AirLant CO listing
6/1/1945 - LCDR USN VT-89 (CO) unit to POA noted in 31 Dec 1945 AirLant CO listing
7/1/1945 - LCDR USN VT-89 (CO) NAS Kahului

[twocee]

Stapler was seriously injured on 2 April 1944. He crashed on take-off during FCLP at NAAS Pungo.

[R Leonard]

Probably explains the gap in dates.
Thanks, George!

[keith A]

Many thanks chaps

[twocee]

Rich,

I suddenly realised that I have a copy of VF74's records.

When VF74 was commissioned on 25 March 1944 Stapler became its first C.O.. Most of the pilots came from VC1 and VC89, and indeed Stapler was the last C.O. of the latter squadron. Having sustained back injuries in the 2 April accident, he was succeeded by Bass 0n 11 April.

When Bass was lost to AA over France on 20 August the X.O., Lt. H.H. Besore became acting C.O. for the rest of the deployment. On 10 September 1944 LtCdr J.H. Sandor assumed command, but the squadron was decommissioned on 1 October.

HTH