Escort Scouting Squadron Nine (VGS-9) / Composite Squadron Nine (VC-9)
Escort Scouting Squadron Nine (VGS-9) / Composite Squadron Nine (VC-9): The Squadron was originally established on 6 August, 1942 as Escort Scouting Squadron Nine VGS-9 at the Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle, WA. It was redesignated Composite Squadron Nine VC-9 on 1 March 1943. The squadron embarked the Bogue for duty, 22 November 1942 at San Diego, CA. Lt. Comdr. William M. Drane, USN, was the squadron's first Skipper. The VC-9 Squadron was detached from the Bogue 23 August 1943. The squadron, with its new skipper, Lt. Comdr. Howard M. Avery, next embarked on USS Card (CVE-11), commanded by Captain Arnold J. Isbell, 23 September.
For its action on two cruises aboard the Bogue, VC-9 received the first of its three Presidential Unit Citations.
| VC-9 Avenger pilots & their Flight Crews, 1942–1943 |
Pilot |
Radioman |
Turret Gunner |
LT(JG) Letson S. Balliett |
James H. Finch ARM 1/c |
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LT E. W. Biros |
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LT(JG) Wm. F. Chamberlain |
James O. Stine ARM 2/c |
Donald L. Clark AMM 2/c |
LT(JG) Stewart E. 'Kid' Doty |
R. E. Pollock S 1/c |
Arthur N. Cox AMM 2/c |
LCDR William M. Drane |
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LT(JG) Frank D. Fogde |
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LT(JG) W.S. 'Munk' Fowler |
Clement Wojcik ARM 2/c (1) |
Harold E. Bucholz AMM 3/c |
LT(JG) Harry F. Fryatt |
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ENS Charles H. Goodchild |
Thaddeus C. Bartoszek ARM 3/c |
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ENS Edwards R. Hodgson |
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LT(JG) Stewart B. Holt |
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LT(JG) Roger C. 'Bud' Kuhn |
Mitchell S. Gos ARM 2/c |
David A. Smith AMM 3/c |
ENS Jack Menary |
McClure & P. E. Sams (ratings & duties not known) |
LT(JG) Alexander C. McAuslan |
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ENS J. O. Pfeffer |
C. M. Marlette, Jr. ARM 3/c |
G. S. Laughlin S1/c |
LT Howard S. Roberts |
Norman O. Newman ARM 3/c |
Wrex C. Boyd AOM2/c |
ENS Barton C. Sheela |
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LT(JG) Robert L. Stearns |
E. L. Myers S 1/c |
Frank Dittmer AOM 3/c |
LT(JG) Donald E. Weigle |
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LT Frank M. 'Pop' Whitaker (2) |
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| (1) Wounded 8 June 1943 while attacking U-118. (2) Was transferred in early 1943. |
| Some of the VC-9 Wildcat fighter pilots were: LT Richard S. Rogers; LT(JG) H. C. Carby; LT(JG) Elbert S. Heim; LT(JG) Robert J. Johnson; LT(JG) Phil Perabo; LT(JG) David O. Puckett; LT(JG) R. L. Steward; LT(JG) Raymond J. Tennant; ENS Jaffe P. Ebarb; ENS Joseph D. Horn; ENS T. Killefer. |
The Squadron had other Avenger and Wildcat pilots and Avenger crewmen not mentioned by name in 'The History of Composite Squadron Nine.'
VC-9 Honor Roll
| VC-9 Honor Roll |
ENS J. O. Pfeffer, C. M. Marlette, JR, ARM 3/c & G. S. Laughlin S 1/c |
Lost in a midair collision 4 Dec. 1942 in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. |
ENS Jaffe P. Ebarb |
Lost in plane crash near Virginia Beach, Jan. 1943. |
ENS George S. Friend |
(Landing Signal Officer). Killed when an F4F plane crashed on landing, 7 February 1943. |
LT(JG) R. L. Steward |
Lost in a crash off the Bogue on 7 February 1943. |
ENS Charles H. Goodchild & Thaddeus C. Bartoszek ARM 3/c |
Lost in a plane crash, off the USS Card, 7 October 1943. |
ENS Joe W. Roberts |
Lost in a plane crash off the USS Mission Bay (CVE-59), 10 January 1944. |
LCDR Frank M. 'Pop' Whitaker |
Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron 17, aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). Lost in combat in the Pacific, 2 February 1944. |
LT Charles G. Hewitt |
Lost in a night catapult from the USS Solomons (CVE-67), 20 April 1944. |
LT(JG) Wm. F. Chamberlain, James H. Finch ARM 1/c & Richard G. Hennick AMM 2/c |
Lost while attacking U-860, 15 June 1944. (Operating from USS Solomons.) |
ENS Harold L. Handschuh & ENS Paul H. Walker |
Lost during a search for U-860, 15 June 1944. (Operating from USS Solomons.) |
ENS George Edwards, Albert D. Pacyna ARM 2/c & Frank Kuczinski AMM 2/c |
Shot down while attacking U-860, 15 June 1944 while on the USS Solomons. |
LT Robert J. Johnson |
Missing in action during the invasion of southern France, 17 August 1944. |
LCDR E. W. 'Joe' Biros |
Lost in the Pacific in 1944. |
LT(JG) Stewart E. 'Kid' Doty |
Lost in the Pacific in 1944. |
LT(JG) Robert L. Stearns |
Shot down in the Pacific in 1944 (probably in late June, while operating with Air Group 15, from USS Essex (CV-9).) |
LT(JG) H. C. 'Hank' Carby |
Lost in a plane crash in the Pacific. |
Bert Mynard Hargett ARM 3/c |
Shot down in the Pacific in 1944 or 1945. |
LT(JG) Elbert S. 'Stu' Heim |
Missing in action, in an attack on Chichi Jima, March or April 1945. |
LT(JG) Peter H. Hazard, William P. Bird ARM 1/c & Clarence E. Davis AOM 1/c |
Lost in attacking an enemy off Okinawa, 27 March 1945. |
ENS Robert William Washburg & ENS Richard E. Quack |
Lost in a midair collision off Okinawa, 9 April 1945. |
USS Bogue (CV-9)
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