"Eleven" The Movie

A story about the Pacific war experiences of 11 veterans of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 11

Carrier Air Group 11 was commissioned on 10 October 1942, and during two combat tours established its place as one of the U.S. Navy’s top World War II aviation groups. Flying from Guadalcanal, CVG-11 supported Admiral William “Bull” Halsey’s advance up the chain of Solomon Islands while protecting Henderson Field. During its second combat tour, the air group participated in operations over Leyte Gulf and the Philippines, French Indochina, Formosa, and China, while flying off the deck of the USS Hornet (CV-12).

Film director George Retelas’ late grandfather, also named George Retelas, was an aircrewman in a CVG-11 Avenger torpedo plane during the Pacific war. But it was only after the filmmaker discovered journals that his grandfather had kept during the conflict that he learned of Aviation Machinist Mate Retelas’ wartime experiences. Inspired by his grandfather’s war stories, the filmmaker set about capturing the history of the air group as recollected by the 11 surviving CVG-11 veterans.

For more information about the film and the director, visit www.eleventhemovie.com.

From the Magazines

Learn more about the Pacific War in Proceedings and Naval History Magazine.

Carrier Air Group (CVG) 11 planes are arrayed on the flight deck of the USS Hornet (CV-12)

The Tale of Eleven

By Barrett Tillman

August 2019

They flew into legend in combat over the Pacific, eventually becoming the heroes of the Hornet; here is the story of Carrier Air Group 11.

Aerial view of the Japanese Fleet under attack at the Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle for Leyte Gulf

By Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., U.S. Navy (Retired)

May 1952

Fleet Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey describes the October 1944 battle as he saw it develop aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey (BB-62).

“Eleven” The Movie

A story about the Pacific war experiences of 11 veterans of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 11

The Tale of Eleven

The Battle for Leyte Gulf

Quicklinks

“Eleven” The Movie

A story about the Pacific war experiences of 11 veterans of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 11

The Tale of Eleven

The Battle for Leyte Gulf

Quicklinks

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