CVG-5 Korea

[keith A]

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

[Leendert]

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

[keith A]

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

[Ferreira]

Keith,

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

[keith A]

Superb, many thanks

[keith A]

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)

[keith A]

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.

[keith A]

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

[R Leonard]

Just a guess, Richard Carey Mueller, USNA 1940.

[Leendert]

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