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USS Valley Forge CV-45

Sailor:

Bob Hudson

 

Submitted by:

The first "Vertical Invelopment" exercise was carried out during 1952 by HMR-161 (MAG-36) with a contingent or approx 2,000 Marine "ground pounders" on a similated assult at Camp Pendelton. The opperation was the first successful transportion of ground troops by helicopter from an aircraft carrier to support the beach landing assult by "vertical invelopment" behind enemy lines...I was there. Bob Hudson

 

Ensign Elmer McCullam

=Ensign Elmer McCullam whilst flying a sortie in his Corsair from the attack carrier Valley Forge was attacking enemy installations over Inchon when he received damage to his Corsair from enemy ground fire.Attempting to return to his base he had to ditch and after exiting from his sinking craft did see a rock sticking out of the water. Reaching the rock safely.After spending some time on this rock acouple of enemy armed boats looking for him arrived. Unknown to Elmer another US pilot saw him ditch and radioed his position .Elmer sitting on his rock with the advancing gun-boats coming towards him thought this it. Then out of the mist came this Grey shape ,Elmer thinking it was another enemy boat.But no it was H.M.S Cockade a British Destroyer ,firing has she approached the enemy gun-boats blowing one of them out of the water. The other gun-boat turned and scarpered. Cockade lowered a rescue boat and recovered Elmer from his rock.Taking Elmer inboard and making sure he was ok ,he received his first tot of Navy Rum. Elmer was returned to his Unit safe and sound. On return to his unit Elmer continued to carry out further flying sorties over enemy territory and on one occassion did fly over Cockade and gave her a victory salute at the same time taking a photograph of the ship . 50 years later after much searching by the men of the Cockade Elmer was found safe and well living in Virginia as a retired Captain. The ex-crew of the Cockade had formed an Association way back in 85' and have annual re-unions. Needless to say Elmer was invited to meet again the men who 50 years ago saved his bacon. And also to have his Rum ration again. We all spliced the main-brace in Brish naval tradition not once but several times.Elmer or Mac has we call him hasvisited us twice so far and health permitting will be with us to draw his tot of rum this coming November. Me I was one of the crew onboard the Cockade. My name is Mick Wyer ,to mac he calls me "the big guy" . I thought this story to be well worth mentioned and kept in your files. There is another story to be told about saving another US aviator but he was USAF not navy. If you are interested in it give me a call and Iwill relate it to you. Take care .SubmitButtonName=Submit QueryReaching the rock safely.After spending some time on this rock acouple of enemy armed boats looking for him arrived. Unknown to Elmer another US pilot saw him ditch and radioed his position .Elmer sitting on his rock with the advancing gun-boats coming towards him thought this it. Then out of the mist came this Grey shape ,Elmer thinking it was another enemy boat.But no it was H.M.S Cockade a British Destroyer ,firing has she approached the enemy gun-boats blowing one of them out of the water. The other gun-boat turned and scarpered. Cockade lowered a rescue boat and recovered Elmer from his rock.Taking Elmer inboard and making sure he was ok ,he received his first tot of Navy Rum. Elmer was returned to his Unit safe and sound. On return to his unit Elmer continued to carry out further flying sorties over enemy territory and on one occassion did fly over Cockade and gave her a victory salute at the same time taking a photograph of the ship . 50 years later after much searching by the men of the Cockade Elmer was found safe and well living in Virginia as a retired Captain. The ex-crew of the Cockade had formed an Association way back in 85' and have annual re-unions. Needless to say Elmer was invited to meet again the men who 50 years ago saved his bacon. And also to have his Rum ration again. We all spliced the main-brace in Brish naval tradition not once but several times.Elmer or Mac has we call him hasvisited us twice so far and health permitting will be with us to draw his tot of rum this coming November. Me I was one of the crew onboard the C

mick wyer

Sailor:

John W. Flanagan

I remember sitting in the cockpit of those AD Skyraiders for hours and missing chow. A fellow plane captain would bring me some hydrox cookies and a can of beans. I can't find anything about my squadron - VC35 out of North Island. We had planes on every carrier in the 7th fleet. Spent 18 months in Crash Crew , USNAS, Agana,Guam and have heard of no one there.

 

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