VF-8 "Ghost Cats" Divisions

A show of strength

 

 

Tough pilots for a tough war.

Six pilots from VF-17 "The Jolly Rogers" pose in front of the squadron scoreboard in January 1944. From the Roger Hedrick Collection of photos.


Divisions

 

 

Cheeze

The Old Chaps

Division Commander 


..CPT Merm..
Division Executive Officer
 


..CMDR Doc.
Division 1st Element 


LCDR Vector
Division 1st Element 


.LCDR Metal

 

New tactics for a new year.

Lieutenant Commander J.S. "Jimmy" Thach uses his hands to teach fighter tactics to new Navy pilots at Pearl Harbor in 1942. Commander Thach originated the famous "Thach weave" technique that allowed the less nimble U.S. fighters to defend themselves against the agile Japanese Zero fighter.

 

 

A trio of aces

Three Corsair aces from VF-17 "The Jolly Rogers": Roger Hedrick, Tom Blackburn, and Ira Kepford. Hedrick later commanded VF-84 in 1945.

 

 

Reserves/Unassigned Pilot evaluations

Reserve


VN-D8
 
 

Pre-mission briefing

"Get the planes ready for a run up!..."

"Fill her up and clean the windshield !..."

..........

"All set !..."

................

..........

"Go!.."

.......................................................

LSO

On final !

 

 

A successful mission.

Pilots leaning across F6F on board the USS Lexington (CV-16) after shooting down 17 out of 20 Japanese planes heading for Tarawa. L - R:

Ens. William J. Seyfferle; Ltjg. Alfred L. Frendberg; Lcdr. Paul D. Buie; Ens. John W. Bartol; Ltjg. Dean D. Whitmore; Ltjg. Francis M. Fleming; Ltjg. Eugene R. Hanks; Ens. E.J. Rucinski; Ltjg. R.G. Johnson and Ltjg. Sven Rolfsen

 

 

 

Home

Updated: Thursday, 29-Sep-2005 21:56