Dan Echard's 200th carrier landing, FDR 1952.

 

 

Another jacket from the squadron gifted from the family.

Unfortunately, the collar, cuffs, and wait band were replaced years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

I was recently able to locate an original 8mm film from the USS Wasp world cruise and had it digitized.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

I've had this for several years but but now posting photos of my AD-4 Skyraider aviator's seat. It appears to be NOS.

 

 

Foot Pedals

 

 

Tail hook, Skyraider.

The shipping was expensive...but what the heck, who has one? It is over 5' and heavy.

 

 

 

 

Wow, that is epic, especially the hook!

Here's officers and chiefs of VA-175 while on USS Coral Sea for the 1950-1951 Med Cruise.   Only one I remember is the squadron CO, "Blackie" Kennedy, seated center, first row of officers.

 

 

 

The cruise book write up reads:

"  The personnel of Attack Squadron ONE SEVEN FIVE are no strangers to the U.S.S. CORAL SEA having been aboard for the 'Middy' Cruise of 1948 and again on the recent Shakedown Cruise.  No stranger to sea duty either, the Skyraiders of ONE SEVEN FIVE have ranged the sea lanes from Greenland to Panama, in the past year spending seven months aboard the 'Flat-Tops'.

"  Re-commissioned as VT-82 in September 1945 at NAS Alameda, California, the squadron was transferred to the East Coast in February of 1946, based at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island.  Seeing extensive sea duty in 1946 and 1947 aboard the carriers Randolph and Kearsarge, in the summer of 1948 the squadrons venerable TBM torpedo bombers were operating from the CORAL SEA, that July flying a record 1001 hours while providing Midshipman passengers a close-up of carrier aviation.

"  In January 1949, the TBM's were loaded to the 'green-house' and the squadron flew south for a new home base at Jacksonville, Florida.  Shortly thereafter the Avengers were traded in for brand new Douglas 'Skyraiders', and with these new aircraft the squadron participated in in the Cold Weather Cruise of November 1949 aboard the U.S.S Midway, joining the 'Royal Order of the Blue Noses' when the Arctic Circle was crossed on the 12th of November.

"  In February of 1950, VA-175 was plastering Viegues Island, flying from the U.S.S. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT during Operation Portex.  After a short breather back in Jacksonville the squadron was in the Caribbean once more for the CORAL SEA Shakedown.  During this period a new high mark for flight time was achieved, the dependable Wright Cyclones grinding out 1464.6 hours worth of training flights in three weeks of the month of May.

"  The squadron, presently commanded by Lieutenant Commander John E. Kennedy returned to the CORAL SEA on 21 August 1950 for operations in and about the Norfolk area before beginning the present Mediterranean Cruise."

19 hours ago, frank2far said:

Foot Pedals

 

 

Hello.

Similar as a 4 skyhawk rudders pedals i believe 

Thanks for sharing.

Arnaud 

6 hours ago, R Leonard said:

Here's officers and chiefs of VA-175 while on USS Coral Sea for the 1950-1951 Med Cruise.   Only one I remember is the squadron CO, "Blackie" Kennedy, seated center, first row of officers.

 

 

 

The cruise book write up reads:

"  The personnel of Attack Squadron ONE SEVEN FIVE are no strangers to the U.S.S. CORAL SEA having been aboard for the 'Middy' Cruise of 1948 and again on the recent Shakedown Cruise.  No stranger to sea duty either, the Skyraiders of ONE SEVEN FIVE have ranged the sea lanes from Greenland to Panama, in the past year spending seven months aboard the 'Flat-Tops'.

"  Re-commissioned as VT-82 in September 1945 at NAS Alameda, California, the squadron was transferred to the East Coast in February of 1946, based at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island.  Seeing extensive sea duty in 1946 and 1947 aboard the carriers Randolph and Kearsarge, in the summer of 1948 the squadrons venerable TBM torpedo bombers were operating from the CORAL SEA, that July flying a record 1001 hours while providing Midshipman passengers a close-up of carrier aviation.

"  In January 1949, the TBM's were loaded to the 'green-house' and the squadron flew south for a new home base at Jacksonville, Florida.  Shortly thereafter the Avengers were traded in for brand new Douglas 'Skyraiders', and with these new aircraft the squadron participated in in the Cold Weather Cruise of November 1949 aboard the U.S.S Midway, joining the 'Royal Order of the Blue Noses' when the Arctic Circle was crossed on the 12th of November.

"  In February of 1950, VA-175 was plastering Viegues Island, flying from the U.S.S. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT during Operation Portex.  After a short breather back in Jacksonville the squadron was in the Caribbean once more for the CORAL SEA Shakedown.  During this period a new high mark for flight time was achieved, the dependable Wright Cyclones grinding out 1464.6 hours worth of training flights in three weeks of the month of May.

"  The squadron, presently commanded by Lieutenant Commander John E. Kennedy returned to the CORAL SEA on 21 August 1950 for operations in and about the Norfolk area before beginning the present Mediterranean Cruise."

 

R. Leonard, yes sir. I have been communicating with several families from this cruise, to include "Blackie's son. Another veterans family sent a poem to me written by Bob Pelton (Back row, far right). I'll post it later.  Thanks

 

 

R. Leonard, Here is a reunion photo during the 1990's:

 

L to R:

Americo Vescovi, Blackie Kennedy, Bob Alexander, Bob Sample, and Tom Alexander (LSO).

 

My father commanded VF-171 during that 1950-1951 USS Coral Sea Med cruise before moving up to CAG-17 to replace Bruce Weber who had moved up to Ops Officer.

I remember a dark rainy night in around 1955 while my father had VX-5 at Moffett Field.  He was at sea and my mother was taking the brood somewhere when the car died.  To the rescue came Blackie Kennedy, with wife Cookie, making sure all got home safe and sound and the car to the shop.

Located a nice large size cruise patch. Roughly 6.5 inches tall and wide.