EXTRAORDINARY WWII Short Snorter signed by Pilots from VF-5

[KASTAUFFER]

This is a very scarce short snorter bill that was owned by Melvin C. " Boogie" Hoffman. He was a Naval Aviator that had a distinguished carrer that included being the test pilot for " Koga's Zero" that was captured in the Aleutian Islands in 1942. He was later a member of " Fighting Squadron 5" on the USS Yorktown. He had a number of his squadron mates sign this bill. Many were aces, Navy Cross recipients , many KIA , and even a POW. They all signed the bill at the very beginining of VF-5's 2nd tour in 1943.

 

There are 21 bills taped together on this short snorter, but I am only going to picture the 2 bills with signatures.

 

I have just started to research the names on this bill and am presenting what I have found so far.

 

If any of you can read some of the names, and can fill me in, I would greatly appreciate it! I have numbered the names that I can not read.

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Many of these men earned the Navy Cross before and after their service with VF-5.

 

Probably the most famous person on here is Jimmie Flatley.

 

HOFFMAN, MELVIN C.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Melvin C. Hoffman, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane embarked from the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action on 24 July 1945, while deployed over Kure, Japan. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

 

FLATLEY, JAMES H., JR.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to James H. Flatley, Jr., Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Executive Officer of Fighting Squadron FORTY-TWO (VF-42), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against Japanese forces on 7 and 8 May 1942, during the Air Battle of the Coral Sea. Lieutenant Commander Flatley's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Born: June 17, 1906 at Green Bay, Wisconsin

Home Town: Green Bay, Wisconsin

 

 

SATTERFIELD, KARL B.

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Karl B. Satterfield, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Section Leader of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the engagement with enemy Japanese naval and air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Although he was faced with strong fighter opposition and withering antiaircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Satterfield led his flight in an attack against the enemy which resulted in two direct bomb hits on a Japanese heavy cruiser. His outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 315 (June 1943)

Born: September 11, 1915 at Highgate, Missouri

Home Town: Highgate, Missouri

 

GRAY, JOHN FLOYD

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John Floyd Gray, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FIVE (VF-5), embarked from the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action on 16 and 22 February 1944, while deployed over Truk in the Caroline Islands and Saipan-Tinian in the Marianas Islands. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

 

DUNCAN, ROBERT WAYNE

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert Wayne Duncan, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Division Leader in Fighting Squadron FIVE (VF-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-10), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Truk on 16 February 1944. After escorting an attack of torpedo and dive bombers to the target and observing twenty enemy planes approaching to attack from out of the sun, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Duncan courageously led his division in a determined attack to destroy eight of the enemy planes, personally accounting for four. By his skilled airmanship, courage and gallant devotion to duty in the face of overwhelming fighter opposition, he contributed materially to the success of the attack and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Home Town: Marion, Illinois

 

James " Pop " Condit was shot down and was a POW in Japan for much of the war.

[KASTAUFFER]

This bill was also Hoffman's, but is from his time on the USS Bennington late in the war. He earned his Navy Cross while serving on the Bennington.

 

The signature to note here is Rich Tregaskis's autograph. He was the author of Guadalcanal Diary.

 

Yes, it is a "Hawaii " bill too

 

[KASTAUFFER]

Just figured out another name on the 2nd bill. His name is written right below Georges head.

 

Bert Harden is :

 

HARDEN, HUBERT B.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hubert B. Harden, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane, in action on 28 July 1945, while deployed over Kure, Japan. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

 

Bob Ross ( right below the brown seal ) is :

 

ROSS, ROBERT P.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert P. Ross, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier- based Navy Combat Plane, in action on 24 July 1945, while deployed over Kure Naval Base, Japan. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[KASTAUFFER]

I just realizied I had the USS Bennington cruisebook and was able to ID many of the signatures on the 2nd bill!

 

Starting top to bottom:

 

LT Simpson Evans Jr VF-1

 

Lt. Robert. L. "Cleet" Cliett VBF-1

 

Ens Marvin D "Dogs" Dahlgren VF-1

 

Lt. Edward M. " Eddie" Albrecht VF-1

 

Cdr. Robert P. Ross VBF-1 Commanding Officer

 

Ens. Bert G. "BG" Cox VBF-1

 

Lt. Ben E. Fowler VF-1

 

Ens, Glenn C. Almond VF-1

 

Cant read

 

Cdr. Hubert P. Harden, Carrier Air Group One Commanding Officer

[KASTAUFFER]

CLIETT, ROBERT LEE

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Robert Lee Cliett, Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant], U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Bombing Squadron ONE (VFB-1), embarked from the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at the Kure Naval Base, Japan, on 28 July 1945. In the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire from numerous warships and from several strategically-located shore batteries, Lieutenant Commander Cliett courageously led his four-plane division through adverse weather in a well-coordinated attack against a heavy cruiser. Pressing home to low altitude, he scored a direct hit on the hostile vessel while other planes in his division obtained a second hit and a near miss, inflicting serious damage. By his airmanship and aggressive fighting spirit, Lieutenant Commander Cliett contributed materially to the success of an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet near Kure were either sunk or damaged. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Commander, 2d Carrier Division Task Force: Serial 02030 (October 12, 1945)

[KASTAUFFER]

SATTERFIELD, KARL B.

Citation:

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Karl B. Satterfield, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Section Leader of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the engagement with enemy Japanese naval and air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Although he was faced with strong fighter opposition and withering antiaircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Satterfield led his flight in an attack against the enemy which resulted in two direct bomb hits on a Japanese heavy cruiser. His outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 315 (June 1943)

Born: September 11, 1915 at Highgate, Missouri

Home Town: Highgate, Missouri

 

Satterfield did not die in this action. He was KIA in December 1943, but the Navy Cross was awarded to him posthumously for this earlier action.

 

KUrt

[KASTAUFFER]

The following men were aces:

 

James H. Flatley - 6 Kills

 

Robert W. Duncan - 7 Kills

 

John F. Gray - 9.25 Kills

 

The owner of this short snorter " Boogie" Hoffman scored 3 kills, all with VF-5

[KASTAUFFER]

Any help in reading the names I couldn't identify would be greatly appreciated!

[ADMIN]

Wow! Now that's something you don't see too often!

 

And excellent research!

[KASTAUFFER]

thanks Admin!!

 

Anyone have any idea who the unidentified names are? Any guesses?

[Bugme]

I've heard of guys doing this but, never saw one before. A very unique and historical item for display! Great research and fabulous background on these guys also!

[Bluehawk]

Forgive the zoomie ignorance, but, what the heck IS a "short snorter" other than signatures on money?

[KASTAUFFER]

Forgive the zoomie ignorance, but, what the heck IS a "short snorter" other than signatures on money?

 

 

This thread has a pretty good explanation

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...showtopic=13816

[KASTAUFFER]

If you want to see another very cool short snorter see this one posted recently from the Murmansk Run

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...mp;#entry292459

[Boogieman]

Wow! I don't know much about short snorters but i do know quite a bit about Boogie. I didn't see his name on the bills you posted, is it on one of the others? I haven't found any new signatures for you yet, but i can confirm that the R.W. Duncan is correct. I have a personalized photo to Boogie from Dunc (to my very good friend) with the same signature. Where did you happen to find this? And do you know of anything else that belonged to him?

[KASTAUFFER]

Wow! I don't know much about short snorters but i do know quite a bit about Boogie. I didn't see his name on the bills you posted, is it on one of the others? I haven't found any new signatures for you yet, but i can confirm that the R.W. Duncan is correct. I have a personalized photo to Boogie from Dunc (to my very good friend) with the same signature. Where did you happen to find this? And do you know of anything else that belonged to him?

 

The bills have " MCH" written on it in a few places.

 

A bunch of Hoffman's stuff was sold in an estate sale here in Wa about 10 years ago. I know where his flight jacket is and would like to get it some day!

 

Kurt

[Boogieman]

The bills have " MCH" written on it in a few places.

 

A bunch of Hoffman's stuff was sold in an estate sale here in Wa about 10 years ago. I know where his flight jacket is and would like to get it some day!

 

Kurt

 

I figured there must be some more stuff out there. I am caretaking what i was told was all of his military items for the family, but it's mostly just photos. I'm very disappointed that we don't have a single one of his medals. About the only piece of his uniform i do have is his white dress hat.

[KASTAUFFER]

Here is a great website on short snorters if you have not seen it!

 

http://www.shortsnorter.org/index.html

[Stony]

 

HARDEN, HUBERT B.

Synopsis:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Hubert B. Harden, Commander, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane, in action on 28 July 1945, while deployed over Kure, Japan. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

 

 

I used to have Harden's uniform (it had the N.C. ribbon on it among others). I sold it to C.C. some years ago (you know who C.C. is Kurt).

[hink441]

The following men were aces:

 

James H. Flatley - 6 Kills

 

Robert W. Duncan - 7 Kills

 

John F. Gray - 9.25 Kills

 

The owner of this short snorter " Boogie" Hoffman scored 3 kills, all with VF-5

I have John F. Gray's belt buckle. Unfortunately after surviving the war, LCDR Gray was killed in a flying accident in 1946. Here is a picture of the buckle.

 

 

[hink441]

Here is a picture of J. F. Gray with VF-5 onboard the USS Yorktown in 1943.

 

[Bluehawk]

I have John F. Gray's belt buckle. Unfortunately after surviving the war, LCDR Gray was killed in a flying accident in 1946. Here is a picture of the buckle.

 

 

image.jpg

Such a treasure...

[Wharfmaster]

BTT

[KASTAUFFER]

Just bought Hoffman's uniform locally from a collector who has had it as long as I have had the short snorter. I will post the uniform in its own thread later.