146

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

1944-Contin ued

Carrier Strike on Tokyo, and Task Force 38 (now

under Vice Admiral John S. McCain) sortied from Ulithi

to hit Luzon and Mindoro airfields and strike shipping

in Manila Bay (5-6 Nov), sinking a heavy cruiser and

other ships; hit a reinforcement convoy of four trans-

ports and five destroyers in Ormoc Bay (11 Nov) sink-

ing all but one destroyer; shifted to Luzon and the

Manila area (13-14 Nov) and sank a light cruiser, four

destroyers, and 20 merchant and auxiliary ships; hit

the same areas again (19 and 25 Nov), sinking another

heavy cruiser and several auxiliaries; and wound up

the month's operations with an aerial score of 770

enemy aircraft destroyed. During these actions, the

force was under several Kamikaze attacks which dam-

aged the carriers Intrepid (29 Oct), Franklin and

Belleau Wood (30 Oct), Lexington (5 Nov), Essex,

Intrepid, and Cabot (25 Nov)-two seriously enough

to require Navy Yard repairs.

14 October The Amphibious Forces Training

Command, Pacific, was directed to form mobile Air

Support Training Units to train Carrier Air Groups and

Marine Corps squadrons in the technique of close air

support operations.

17 October Commander, Fleet Air Wing 10, on

Currituck, arrived in Philippine waters and directed

patrol plane operations in support of the occupation

of Leyte.

19 October Commander, Fleet Air Wing 17 moved

to Morotai, N.E.1., to support Southwest Pacific opera-

tions against the Philippines.

21 October A new command, Marine Carrier Air

Groups, was established under Aircraft, Fleet Marine

Force, Pacific to direct the formation and training of

Marine Corps squadrons destined to operate from air

support escort carriers. Current plans called for the

formation of six Marine Carrier Air Groups, each com-

posed of a fighter and a torpedo squadron, four of

them to be assigned to escort carriers and two to func-

tion as replacement and training groups.

25 October In recognition of the difference in func-

tions performed, Carrier Aircraft Service Units and Patrol

Aircraft Service Units, operating at advanced bases, were

redesignated Combat Aircraft Service Units (Forward),

short title CASU(F), while those in the continental United

States and Hawaii retained the original title.

26 October The last attack in a month long demon-

stration of the TDR assault drone was made by Special

Task Air Group, thereby concluding the first use of the

guided missile in the Pacific. During the demonstration

a total of 46 drones were expended, of which 29

TDR-l, assault drone,

being prepared for attack

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