LtCdr ES McCuskey during and after VF-8

[keith A]

Bios of McCuskey can be confusing. In some he is stated to be the XO of VF-6 on USS Intrepid 1943-44. This appears wrong because VF-8 was on USS Intrepid in that period and McCuskey states he was a VF-8 pilot after returning to active duty in mid-1943.

Also it appears he became XO of VF-8 on promotion to LtCdr in March 1944. He joined the squadron at some date in June or July 1943. What was his assignment before becoming XO? He appears from his interview to have been in charge of tactics. Would this make him the operations officer? Following on from this, and assuming Lt McCuskey was not - who was the XO 1943-44?

Does anyone know what McCuskey did for the remainder of the war? Was he given command of VF-8 after they returned from the Pacific?

best regards

Keith

[twocee]

It's not easy to find material about VF8, but I think that McCuskey was with the squadron from its formation in 1943 until the end of the Bunker Hill cruise. The X.O. at this time was LtCdr R.W. Hoel so it likely that McCuskey was Flight Officer (#3), with collateral duty as tactics officer. He was not with VF8 when it reformed in January 1945 under LtCdr P.D. Duke.

[keith A]

Cheers George

[Leendert]

Some more 1943 info here: https://goefoundation.org/eagles/mccuskey-scott/

Regards,
Leendert

[R Leonard]

Elbert Scott McCuskey (081585) -
9/3/1938 - AvCad USNR, Date of rank from 1 Jul 1939 USNR Register
10/1/1939 - ENS USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register
3/23/1941 - ENS USNR AV(N), VF-42 USS Ranger (CV-4) in 1 Apr 1941 USN Active Duty Directory
11/1/1941 - LTJG USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register
6/15/1941 - LTJG USNR AV(N), VF-42 USS Yorktown (CV-5)
6/4/1942 - LTJG USNR AV(N), VF-3 USS Yorktown (CV-5)
10/1/1942 - LT USNR AV(N), VF OTU-1 NAAS Green Cove Springs
1/8/1944 - LT USNR AV(N), VF-8 USS Intrepid (CV-11)
3/15/1944 - LCDR USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jul 1944 USNR Register
6/20/1944 - LCDR USNR AV(N), VF-8 USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
4/1/1945 - LCDR USNR A1, NAAS Green Cove Springs

Knew "Doc" McCuskey for a goodly portion of my life. The old 1941-1942 VF-42 gang stayed in touch until they were all gone. Doc was scheduled to be the VF guy on the panel at the 1998 Midway Symposium at Pensacola, but he died shortly before the event, so they drafted my father as his replacement. Other USN aviators on the dais with my father for the event were VB-6's Dick Best and VT-8's Bert Earnest. There was a heavy leavening in the crowd of participants from Yorktown, Enterprise, and Hornet squadrons present at the event. Doc was a somewhat larger than life, enthusiastic, character.

[RSwank]

A link here to an interview with McCuskey:

https://digitalcollections.museumoff...ems/show/38097

[keith A]

Thanks Rich,

a few questions...

Originally Posted by R Leonard

Elbert Scott McCuskey (081585) -
9/3/1938 - AvCad USNR, Date of rank from 1 Jul 1939 USNR Register
10/1/1939 - ENS USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register
3/23/1941 - ENS USNR AV(N), VF-42 USS Ranger (CV-4) in 1 Apr 1941 USN Active Duty Directory
11/1/1941 - LTJG USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register
6/15/1941 - LTJG USNR AV(N), VF-42 USS Yorktown (CV-5)
6/4/1942 - LTJG USNR AV(N), VF-3 USS Yorktown (CV-5)
10/1/1942 - LT USNR AV(N), VF OTU-1 NAAS Green Cove Springs
1/8/1944 - LT USNR AV(N), VF-8 USS Intrepid (CV-11)
3/15/1944 - LCDR USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jul 1944 USNR Register
6/20/1944 - LCDR USNR AV(N), VF-8 USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
4/1/1945 - LCDR USNR A1, NAAS Green Cove Springs

Knew "Doc" McCuskey for a goodly portion of my life. The old 1941-1942 VF-42 gang stayed in touch until they were all gone. Doc was scheduled to be the VF guy on the panel at the 1998 Midway Symposium at Pensacola, but he died shortly before the event, so they drafted my father as his replacement. Other USN aviators on the dais with my father for the event were VB-6's Dick Best and VT-8's Bert Earnest. There was a heavy leavening in the crowd of participants from Yorktown, Enterprise, and Hornet squadrons present at the event. Doc was a somewhat larger than life, enthusiastic, character.

Why is McCuskey still a Lt(j.g.) in the USNR register of 1 Jan. 1943 when he is promoted Lieutenant on 15 June 1942 and is listed in that rank when he joins the OTU at Green Springs in October 1942?

Also why is he listed with VF-8 on the USS Intrepid on 8 January 1944 when he had been with the squadron (according to his interview) since June 1943? Is this because VF-8 is reinstated to active duty?

On a totally different strand Rich, your father flew with McCuskey in VS-41. Did he ever give opinion about the performance of the SBU-1 Corsair. It looks a robust aeroplane (carrier aircraft usually are) but apart from service in the Chaco War I am not aware of it meeting combat anywhere else.

best regards,

Keith

[keith A]

Many thanks again George,

Originally Posted by twocee

It's not easy to find material about VF8, but I think that McCuskey was with the squadron from its formation in 1943 until the end of the Bunker Hill cruise. The X.O. at this time was LtCdr R.W. Hoel so it likely that McCuskey was Flight Officer (#3), with collateral duty as tactics officer. He was not with VF8 when it reformed in January 1945 under LtCdr P.D. Duke.

What is Flight Officer #3? Does this mean he leads the third flight. (Sorry for being dim )

best regards

Keith

[keith A]

Thanks Leendert.

This site places McCuskey as c.o. of VS-22 from 1950.

best regards

Keith

[keith A]

Thanks Roland.

I listened to the interview and have downloaded the transcript. It gives lots of interesting personal detail but I wish he talked more about his contemporaries in the USN and especially those in VS-41 and VF-42.

best regards

Keith