Dano,

My dad was aircrew on Kearsarge at that time.

Which outfit?

Dad was OINC of VC-3's DET FOX on the MIGHTY KAY's 1952 - 53 cruise.

*****

Somewhat-related rap on early night / all-wx attack operations:

During Korea, the Navy realized that effective prosecution of the war
required a specialized night / all-wx capability for each carrier air group.
This need was driven by North Korea's use of the night and the Korean
Peninsula's notoriously foul wx as cover for the movement of troops and
supplies.

The Navy met this need in a stopgap fashion through dets of 4 to 5
Chance-Vought F4U-5Ns (and later -5NLs) with pilots specially trained for
this role. The -5N had a very primitive radar and instrument capability,
and was also a carrier-proven platform by that time. VC-3 and (I think)
VC-4 were tasked with developing the doctrine and tactics required, and
taking these to the fleet in dets to each deploying air group. This
development work was similar to that performed by VC-3 for night / all-wx
fighter work using the Douglas F3D-2 (F-10B, "Drut"). The in-theater F3Ds
however were land-based and flown by the Marines (VMF(N)-513) during Korea.

The lessons of Korea concerning night / all-wx attack capability led
directly to the development of the Grumman A2F-1 (A-6A). In our family this
led to several father-son discussions of how well (or poorly) the A-6
program built upon the lessons learned by the VC-3 Night Hecklers during
Korea.

--
Mike Kanze

"You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? You're right, we don't. Sign
here."

- Anonymous cop, to woman driver.



"dano" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Mike Kanze" wrote:

Korean War traps on KEARSARGE (CVA-33).

My dad was aircrew on Kearsarge at that time.