VMF-452 | "Sky Raiders" | USS Franklin (CV-13)

[walika]

VMF-452 | "Sky Raiders" | USS Franklin (CV-13)

 

Established as VMF(CVS)-452 at Mojave on February 15, 1944

Nickname of Unit: Sky Raiders
Name of Artist: Lt. Norwood Russel Hanson
Date of Insignia: 1944
Authorization: HQMC
Type of Aircraft Employed: FG-1, SB2C4E, F4U Corsair

DEPLOYMENTS
USS Franklin (CV-13) - February-March 1945 (F4U-ID)

 

Insignia

"The motif of the insignia is as follows: We have a rugged looking individual waving an extermely large scimitar above his head. It is plain to see that the personage herein described is Ali Baba. This derivation has arisen from the type of plane we use, the Corsair. In Arabic corsair means Thief, thus Ali Baba has been adopted to be our insignia from Arabian Night Fame. The consequence of which it is aptly named, The Sky Raiders." Excerpt taken from the original request for approval of squadron insignia, dated 25 May 1944.

The artist, Lt. Norwood Russel Hanson, enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, later transferring to the United States Marine Corps, where he trained as a fighter pilot, developing a reputation as a "hot pilot" (famously looping the Golden Gate Bridge). Following the war he went on to become a Rhodes scholar, a professor at Cambridge, and eventually head of the Philosophy Department at Yale University. He was killed while flying his F8F Bearcat in 1966.

 

Type 1 | Fully embroidered.

 

 

Type 2 | Fully embroidered.

 

 

Type III | Fully embroidered.

 

 

The "Sky Raiders" had one of the shortest combat tours of any US Marine Corps squadron in World War II through no fault of their own. Maj Charles Weiland, a veteran of VM0-251 in the early days, led VMF-452 through its first 16 months, covering nearly all of the squadron's wartime service. The pilots began rocket firing and field carrier landings during the summer of 1944 and later trained with CAG-5, conducting CQs aboard Ranger in January 1945.

Assigned to Franklin, the "Sky Raiders" were teamed with the recycled VMF-214 to augment fleet air defense for CAG-5. "Big Ben'' joined her task group on March 15, beginning an expected period of operations in enemy waters. Three days later the fast carriers attacked airfields and shipping on Kyushu, southernmost of the home islands.

VMF-452 claimed four "Zekes" over the volcano in Kagoshima Bay, two falling to the exec, Maj John Stack. The next morning (19th), only 50 miles offshore, Franklin was caught in a relaxed security status when dive-bombers attacked out of the clouds. The result was catastrophic - the "Sky Raiders" lost 34 men among the some 800 killed.

The carrier, severely damaged, proceeded to the East Coast, where she was fully restored but CVG-5's war ended on the second day of operations. Most of the Marines transferred to other ships bound for the West Coast, reaching home in April.

 

 

Posed VMF-452 squadron photo of pilots with squadron sign prior to assignment on board USS Franklin.

 

 

Sources

Millstein, Jeff. U. S. Marine Corps Aviation Unit Insignia 1941-1946.

Tillman, Barrett. U. S. Marine Corps Fighter Squadrons of World War II.

 

 

[Bill Scott]

Rick as always fantastic pieces of history.That third one is fantastic and I never knew it existed thanks for posting them.Scotty

[walika]

Rick as always fantastic pieces of history.That third one is fantastic and I never knew it existed thanks for posting them.Scotty

Thanks, Bill. The third one is the only period-made one I've seen. It has been reproduced and peddled by one or more dealers who, as we know, pass them as origional.

 

 

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