VB-89 | VBF-89 | VP-89 "Pied Pipers" | VT-89 | CAG-89 - USS Antietam (CV-36)

[walika]

VB-89 | VBF-89 | VP-89 "Pied Pipers" | VT-89 | CAG-89 - USS Antietam (CV-36)

 

This thread will share a wonderful grouping I acquired about fifteen years ago attributed to Lt. Commander Joshua Cookenbach, Jr., who served aboard the Antietam as CAG-89 (Commander Air Group 89). This grouping includes photos, publications, patches and decals.

 

USS Antietam (CV-36) was launched 20 August 1944 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard; commissioned 23 January 1945. It joined the Pacific Fleet too late to participate in active combat operations during WWII, instead serving in a support role and after the war the occupation of China and Korea.

 

 

SB2C-5 Helldiver and F4U Corsair aircraft of US Navy squadrons VB-89 and VF-89 aboard USS Antietam, 1945; note USS Highbee in background. United States Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation

 

 

 

A TBM-3E Avenger of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 89 in flight over USS Antietam (CV-36) off Hawaii, possibly in 1945. U. S. Naval Institute.

 

 

 

 

U. S. Navy photo.

 

 

CAG-89

 

13 June 1945 - 19 June 1945
Transit to Pearl Harbor

12 August 1945 - 1 September 1945
West Pacific

 

Squadrons and aircraft:

VF-89 | F6F-5, F6F-5PH
VBF-89 | F4U-4
VB-89 | SB2C-4E
VT-89 | TBM-3E

 

 

Lt. Commander Joshua Cookenbach, Jr. (1907-2012) served four years of active duty with the U. S. Navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific as a lieutenant-commander and naval aviator during WWII. By the close of WWII he was CAG-89 (Commander Air Group 89) on board the USS Antietam (CV-36). He was commissioned a Lieutenant following completion of Naval Training School, Quonset Point, RI. (Class 4, 1942.) already a career executive with Bell Telephone, he enlisted in 1942. He returned to the telephone company upon his return home in late 1946.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VP-89 aboard the Antietam.

 

 

 

Tsingtao, China. 5 November 1945.

from left: Lt. Cmdr. Carl Shoup, USS Antietam; Lt. W. L. Griffiths, ComCarDiv-5 and Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Cookenhack, Jr., CAG-89.

 

 

Due to Forum limits on the number of photos in a post, the post will continue in this thread, below.

[walika]

VB-89

 

Established 2 Oct 1944

Disestablished 22 Apr 1946

Aircraft: F6F-5, F6F-5P

 

 

Embroidered on wool. 5" round.

 

 

 

[walika]

VBF-89

 

Established 14 June 1945
Disestablished 21 November 1945

 

Aircraft: F4U-4

 

 

Embroidered on wool. 5" round.

 

 

 

 

Plaque

 

 

 

 

 

 

[walika]

VP-89 | "Pied Pipers"

 

 

Aircraft: SB2C-4E

 

 

Embroidered on wool. 5" across.

 

 

 

 

Decal (6.5")

 

[walika]

VT-89

 

Aircraft: TBM-3E

 

 

Embroidered on wool. 5" across.

 

 

 

Decal. 6".

 

 

 

[jerry_k]

Great Stuff Rick!

 

I noticed some weeks ago at Ebay a VB-89 patch and decals...

[jerry_k]

and the patch.

[jerry_k]

Here is another one shot of VB-89 - SB2C-5 over Tsingtao (now Qingdao) on the east coast of China, taken 29 Sept. 1945. Photo was scanned by a employee of Naval Aviation Museum Org. Thanks a lot for that.

 

Regards,

Jerry

 

[jerry_k]

Some weeks ago I was able to find a VB-89 decal.

 

Regards,

Jerry

[jerry_k]

If look closer at photo of VB-89 at USS Antietam (CV-36) we can see that first Helldiver have a decal on his right side.