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UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995
1943-Contin ued
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K-class airship on escort duty in Atlantic protects a convoy of mer-
chantmen against German submarines 428465
18 August To give Naval Aviation authority com-
mensurate with its World War II responsibility, the
Secretary of the Navy established the Office of the
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), charging it
with responsibility for "the preparation, readiness and
logistic support of the naval aeronautic operating
forces." By other orders issued the same day, five divi-
sions were transferred from the Bureau of Aeronautics
to form the nucleus of the new office and Vice
Admiral John S. McCain took command as the first
DCNO (Air).
21 August Headquarters, Fleet Air Wing 7 was
established at Plymouth, England, to direct patrol
plane operations against submarines in the Bay of
Biscay, the English Channel and the southwest
approaches to England.
29 August The formation of combat units for the
employment of assault drone aircraft began within the
Training Task Force Command as the first of three
Special Task Air Groups was established. The compo-
nent squadrons, designated VK, began establishing on
23 October.
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VAdm. John S. McCain, USN 236837

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