John D Vanderhoof VF-8

[keith A]

Vanderhoof became a Republican politician post-war, rising to be Governor of his own state. He claimed a number of victories in WW2 and winning the DFC and Purple Heart. How many victories did he claim? I know he was credited with one kill flying with VF-8, but did he claim others?

regards

Keith

[SteveR]

Lt (jg) John Dennis Vanderhoof:

19 June 44: 0920-1010 3 Hamp
21 Sept 44: 1545 Tony

Total Claims: 4.0/0.0/0.0

Source: USN Credits For the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-To-Air Combat World War 2 by Frank J. Olynyk

[keith A]

Many thanks Steve

[keith A]

On 19 June 1944 LtCdr McCuskey claimed a kill, Lt Topliff added two more, and Lt Harry Brownscombe added another two, if Vanderhoof claimed another three then there's at least one pilot missing who claimed from this combat.

[SteveR]

Same source as above:

0920-1010 Zeke Lt. Cdr. Elbert Scott McCuskey Orote Pe., Apra Harbor
0920-1010 3 Hamp Lt (jg) John Dennis Vanderhoof same loc.
0920-1010 Zeke Lt (jg) John Walter Topliff same loc.
0920-1010 Hamp Lt (jg) John Walter Topliff same loc.
0920-1010 2 Zeke dam. Lt (jg) John Walter Topliff same loc.
0920-1010 2 Zeke Lt (jg) Harry Thomas Brownscombe same loc.
0920-1010 Zeke Lt. Harlan Iver Gustafson same loc.
0920-1010 Zeke Lt (jg) Thomas Irvin Brown, Lr. same loc.
0920-1010 Zeke Lt (jg) Christian Haslund Allen same loc.
0920-1010 Zeke Lt (jg) Edward Joseph Dooner same loc.
0920-1010 Hamp prob. Lt (jg) Lloyd Paul Heinzen same loc.
0920-1010 Zeke Lt (jg) Lloyd Paul Heinzen same loc.
0920-1010 Zeker dam. Lt (jg) Robert Andrews Hobbs same loc.

That's it for that time frame; there are more claims for VF-8 later in the day.

[keith A]

Many thanks again Steve. I have read the ACA report by McCuskey but maybe there are pages missing. He leaves out several claims including his own!