130

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

1943-Contin ued

Brisbane, Australia, for operations in the Southwest

Pacific area.

15 September French Patrol Squadron 1 (VFP-l),

manned by "Fighting French" naval personnel trained

under U.S. Navy control, was established at NAS

Norfolk, Va.

18 September A three-carrier task force (Rear

Admiral Charles A. Pownall), attacked Tarawa, Makin,

and Abemama Atolls in the Gilbert Islands.

18 September Training was assigned as a primary

mission to Fleet Air Wing 5 at Norfolk, Va., and Fleet

Air Wing 9 assumed responsibility for all patrol plane

operations in the Eastern Sea Frontier.

27 September The beginning of airship operations

in the South Atlantic was marked by the arrival of the

K-84, of Blimp Squadron 41, at Fortaleza, Brazil.

30 September An advance detachment of Bombing

Squadron 107, equipped with PB4 Y Liberators, arrived

at Ascension Island to join AAF units on antisubmarine

barriers and sweeps across the narrows of the South

Atlantic.

1 October Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, was reorganized

and Fleet Air, Norfolk, and Fleet Airships, Atlantic,

were established as additional subordinate commands.

1 October The authorized complement of fighters

in Essex Class carrier air groups was raised, increas-

ing the total aircraft normally on board to 36 VF, 36

VB and 18 VT. The authorized complement for CVL

groups was established at the same time as 12 VF, 9

VB and 9 VT and revised in November 1943 to 24

VF and 9 VT and remained at that level through

the war.

4 October In conjunction with her duties in protect-

ing North Atlantic convoy routes to Russia, Ranger

launched two strikes against German shipping in

Norway-one in and around Bodo Harbor; the other

along the coast from Alter Fjord to Kunna Head.

5 October Coast Guard Patrol Squadron 6 was

established at Argentia, Newfoundland, Commander