Jeffrey Ethell Collection
Airman
- 72
- Jun 2, 2020
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Hi James,
Good job! I'm glad the collection ended up in such capable hands - looks like you're going to do great things with it.
I wanted to be sure you had a legit claim to the title before offering you a hand. Right now the National Archives are still closed, but when they reopen I'll pull the VS-64 war diary for you and get the list of assigned pilots for you. It looks like that will take a bit longer.
In the meantime, here's my artwork of the squadron insignia from my OS2U book:
View attachment 597312
Cheers,
Dana
VS-64 was not a Marine squadron. VS-64 was one of quite a few Inshore Patrol Squadrons, U S Navy, which came about in March 1943 when the District Patrol Squadrons were redesignated, removed from district control and assigned to fleet air wings.
That being said, here's a couple of VS-64 rosters.
View attachment 597314View attachment 597315
VS-64 shows up lumped together with all the other 38 VS squadrons world-wide under the heading "Inshore Patrol Squadrons" until February 1944 when assigned to FAW-1.
VS-61, operating out of Perth, was assigned to FAW-10 at the same time.
Guys,
Located the VS-64 War Diaries at Fold3.com : War Diary, 5/1-31/44 › Page 1 - Fold3.com
No pilot roster there. Might have to seek some help to do a thorough NARA search and that will cost a bit as a researcher can charge upwards of $70 per hour. Of course no point in doing that now as NARA is closed due to COVID.
Thanks for your help.
James
My Dad was a member of Scouting Squadron Detachment, Ringbolt, later Scouting Squadron 64. US Navy. It was formed on Dec 5, 1942 from the orphaned catapult seaplanes after the Battle of Tassafaronga. Initially they flew SOC Seagulls, and were based briefly at Gavitu-Tanambogo and then on Florida Island. Dad was a PhM3c from the USS New Orleans. They lost a lot of aircrew, so he volunteered to fly in the 2nd seat on combat missions. One of the pilots was giving him flying lesson, but the pilot, on a mission, hit the trees at the end of Henderson Field and died. Dad strafed enemy troops on Guadalcanal and they bombed a submarine and spotted an oil slick.. There is a book about the squadron called "Slingshot Warbirds".I need to track down a pilot roster for VS-64 flying SBD-5 Dauntless on anti-sub patrols in the Solomons at Segi Point and Vella Lavella, 1943 - 1944.
View attachment 597266
The only pilot I have a name for is "Audie" pictured above at the bottom of the "V" and below:
View attachment 597267
Note the Turtle emblem of VS-64 below the cockpit.:
View attachment 597268
Thanks for any help
Jeffrey Ethell Collection