VB-9 | WWII Bugs Bunny patch | Essex (CV-9), Saratoga (CV-3), Lexington (CV-16) and Yorktown (CV-10)

[walika]

VB-9 | Essex (CV-9) 1943 and early 1944, Saratoga (CV-3) 1944, Lexington (CV-16) and Yorktown (CV-10), 1945

 

Essex (CV-9) put to sea for her sea trials in January, 1943 around Chesepeake Bay with VB-9's SBD Dauntless Dive bombers, returning in April, 1943. In May it set sail for Pearl Harbor. By mid-August CV-9's Air Group had honed its skills and was ready for war. Essex departed Pearl on 22 Aug 1943 to join Task Force 15, targeting Marcus Island. Subsequent cruises included the Saratoga, Lexington and Yorktown.

 

 

13 Mar 1943 - 27 Feb 1944 | Essex Air Group 9 | Marcus, Wake, Rabaul, Tarawa, Kwajalein, Marshalls, Truk, Saipan and Tinian

 

Aircraft

SB2U-2 Vindicator, 1942
SB2C-3 Helldiver, 1945
SB2C-4 Helldiver, 1943-1945
SB2C-5 Helldiver, 1945

 

 

 

Silkscreened on leather.

 

 

 

Essex (CV-9) 1943

 

 

 

 

 

 

Essex flight deck, 1943

 

 

 

 

VB-9 SBD Dauntless, 1944.

 

 

 

 

SB2C-4 Helldivers of Bombing Squadron VB-9 returning to the USS Lexington (Essex-class) after a strike in support of the US Marines on Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands, Feb 1945.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thor996]

I have letterhead from the group-same design thanks for posting!

[Salvage Sailor]

Aloha Rick,

 

Here's the original print I have by Strack, the artist for 'The Buccaneer' aboard the USS ESSEX (CV-3) circa 1943