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Notebook POLICY: Please submit notices five months in advance of your reunion. Reunions with specific dates "’ll! be given preference. Notices will be published only once and as space Permits. Pass-Down-The-Line notices are published on a space-available basis, and non-members are charged $40.00 per notice. There is no fee for reunion notices.
Reunions 22d Marine Assn., WWII and North China,
6'10 Aug. 95, Las Vegas, NV. Contact: L. Rose, 8408 White Eagle Ave., #101, Las Vegas, NV 89128. 314-822-4870, 800-822-4870.
ACORN-28, CASU 13 and CASU 42, 13- Sept. 95, Louisville, KY. Contact: W. Lathan, P.O. Box 51, Le Roy, NY 14482. 716-768-7258.
*"4 Phantom II Society, 13-15 Jul. 95, Boise, 117- Contact: J. Jacobs. 619-689-9227.
R-T. Boats, Bases, Tenders, 7-11 Sept. 95, Charlotte, NC. Contact: A. Balsdon, P.O. Box 38070, Memphis, TN 38183-0070. 901755-8440.
SLCU 34, Ulithi Atoll, Falalop, Asor, Sorlen, and MogMog Islands, WWII, 5-9 Sept. 95, Cloucester, MA. Contact: L. Curcuru, 291 Washington St., Gloucester, MA 01930. 508283-4598.
CSS Adirondack (AGC-15), USS Auburn (AGC-10), USS Catoctin (AGC-5), USS ^dorado (AGC-11), 20-24 Sept.95, Covington, KY. Contact: T. Branthoover, 5336 High- grove Rd„ Pittsburgh, PA 15236-1629. 412884-2650.
CSS Amesbury (DE-66/APD-46), 29 Sept.-l Cot. 95, Dawson, PA. Contact: A. Rainaldi, 1804 Beaver Road, Ambridge, PA 15003. 412-266-3760.
CSS Antietam (CV/CVA/CVS-36/CG-54) Crews, Sqdns., and MarDet., 20-24 Sept. 95, Hagerstown, MD. Contact: B. Hiebert, 7901 Candlewood Dr., Alexandria, VA 22306. 703768-6419.
CSS Arctic (AF-7), 14-17 Sept. 95, Va. Beach, ^A. Contact: A. Kent, 17637 Victory Blvd., van Nuys, CA 91406. 818-345-3897.
USS Bagley (DD-386), 26-28 Sept. 95, Las ^egas, NV. Contact: W. Morley, P.O. Box 608, West Dennis, MA 02670-0608. 508298-8553.
Css Biscayne (AVP-ll/AGC-18), USS Blue
Ridge (AGC-2), USS Catoctin (AGC-5), USS Wasatch (AGC-9), 20-24 Sept. 95, Covington, KY. Contact: J. Thomspon, 505 E. Henry Clay St., #104, Milwaukee, WI 53217. 414332-2065.
USS Callaway (APA-35), 12-14 Sept. 95, Mystic, CT. Contact: R. Stambach, 4283-B Island Cr., Fort Myers, FL 33919-4427. 813481-0359.
USS Charles Lawrence (DE-53/APD-37),
Sept. 95, Portsmouth, NH. Contact: H. Cranford, 2463 Bear Den Rd., Frederick, MD ■21701. 301-620-4045.
USS Chilton (APA/LPA-38), 29 Sept. 95, Miami, FL. Contact: J. H. Donald, 263 Pearl St., Reading, MA 01867. 617-944-3107.
USS Concord (CL-10), 26 Sept.-l Oct. 95. Contact: C. Velten, 8029 Montrose Ave., Brooksville, FL 34613. 904-597-0544.
USS Cubera (SS-347), 24 Aug. 95, Manitowoc, WI. Contact: F. Colucci, 49 Elmont Rd., Trenton, NJ 08610-1215. 609-585-8306.
USS Custer (APA-40), 14-16 Sept. 95, Tulsa, OK. Contact: W. Mead, Jr., 7315 S. College Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136. 918-492-0504.
USS DeGrasse (AK-223/AP-164), 30 Sept.-3 Oct. 95, Pittsburgh, PA. Contact: G. Nichols, 1546 N. William Wells Cr., Bluffton, IN 46714-9355. 219-824-5207.
USS Eberle (DD-430), 25-27 Sept. 95, Atlantic City, NJ. Contact: R. McKenzie, 309 Catawba Ave., Newfield, NJ 08344. 609-697-1587.
USS English (DD-696), 7-10 Sept. 95, Lib- ertyville. IL. Contact: J. Sammon. 18490 W. Gages Lake Rd., Gages Lake, IL 60030. 708223-2903.
USS Eugene A. Green (DD/DDR-711), 2124 Sept. 95, Charleston, SC. Contact: J. Ri- ordan, 137 Virginia Rd., Waltham, MA 021547615. 617-891-9441.
USS Fitch (DMS-25/DD-462), 17-21 Sept. 95, Hilton Head Island, SC. Contact: J. Minor, 224 Angelus Dr., Salinas, CA 93906. 408-449-5352.
USS Flusser (DD-368), 13 Sept. 95, Jackson, MS. Contact: E. B. Dennis, 113 Coachman’s Road, Madison, MS 39110. 601-856-4367.
USS Fort Marion (LSD-22), 30 Sept.-1 Oct, 95 San Diego, CA. Contact: C. Olmsted, P.O. Box 577, Arapahoe, NE 68922. 308-962-7975.
USS Greenftsh (SS-351), 14-17 Sept. 95, San Diego, CA. Contact: L. O. Jones, 5691 Bri- arwood Dr, Walls, MS 38680. 704-322-5445.
USS Guam (CB-2), 14-17 Sept. 95, Memphis, TN. Contact: J. Curd, 3766 Westwood Cove, Memphis, TN 38128-4319. 901-386-0942.
USS Harris (DE-447) and USS Taylor (DE- 415), 15-19 Sept. 95, Boston, MA. Contact: R. Mitchell, P.O. Box 36833, Tucson, AR 85740-6833. 520-292-0453.
USS Huntington (CL-107), 21-24 Sept. 95, Huntington, WV. Contact: B. Bolton, 117 Wisconsin Ave., Viroqua, WI 54665. 704322-5445.
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11), Crew and Sqdns., 1943-74, 2 Sept. 95, New York, NY. Contact: L. Blackburn, Jr., 22 Watercrest Dr., Doylestown, PA 18901-3240. 215-345-5690.
USS James C. Owens (DD-776), 20-23 Sept. 95, Providence, RI. Contact: J. Ward, P.O. Box 1749, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. 803651-8511.
USS Jupiter (AKA-43), 7-9 Sept. 95, Seattle, WA. Contact: R. Peterson, 221 SW Normandy Rd., Seattle, WA 98166. 206-243-5190.
USS Kanawha (AOG-31), 21-24 Sept. 95, St. Louis, MO. Contact: F. Peterson, 20 Williams St., Kensington, CT 06037. 203-828-5346.
USS Kawishiwi (AO-146), 8-10 Sept. 95, Golden, CO. Contact: S. Hobbs, 17003 W. 11th Dr., Golden, CO 80401. 303-279-3613.
USS Kenton (APA-122), 28 Sept.-l Oct. 95, San Antonio, TX. Contact: H. Stroud, 3778 W. Pacific Coast Hwy., Ventura, CA 93001. 704-322-5445.
USS Kimberly (DD-521), 28 Sept.-l Oct. 95, Va. Beach, VA. Contact: A. C. Forster, 2312 Nela Ave., Orlando, FL 32809-6133. 407855-5625.
USS Unsing (DE/DER-388AVDE-488), 2124 Sept. 95, Nashville, TN. Contact: C. Parker, 4101 Huckleberry Dr., Raleigh, NC 27612. 704-322-5445.
USS LST-720, 26-28 Sept. 95, Ocean City, MD. Contact: L. Bullock, 184 Floral Dr., Kissimmee, FL 34743. 407-348-4619.
USS LST-937, 7-9 Sept. 95, Lexington, KY. Contact: B. Finck, 25 McCoy Ave., Metuchen, NJ 08840. 908-549-6128.
USS LST-I027 and USS LST-569, 20-24 Sept. 95, Portland, OR. Contact: N. Collura, 437 N. MacQuesten Pkwy., Mt. Vernon, NY 10552-2608. 914-667-0220.
USS LST-1146, 1-3 Sept. 95, Cincinnati, OH. Contact: A. Jones, 4335 Lytle Rd., Way- nesville, OH 45068. 513-897-6705.
USS Ludlow (DD-438), 17-21 Sept. 95, Myrtle Beach, SC. Contact: B. Javins, 537 Clark’s Run Rd., La Plata, MD 20646. 301-934-8955.
USS Makin Island (CVE-93) with VC-41/- 84/-91, 24-28 Sept. 95, Las Vegas, NV. Contact: G. Youngkrist, 1400 S. Valley View, Apt. 1067, Las Vegas, NV 89102. 702-870-6285.
USS McKee (DD-57S), 23 Sept. 95, San An-
For brochures on the Action Series and Ceremonial Certificates and Ship and Aircraft Photographs, send a self-addressed, stamped, business- size envelope to: U.S. Naval Institute, Photo Library, 118 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21402-5035. Quantity discounts available.
87
Proceedings/June 1995
tonio, TX. Contact: B. Coburn, 15434 North 17th Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85023-3408. 602942-6168.
USS Mellette (APA-156), 21-23 Sept. 95, Davenport, 1A. Contact: C. Sale, 28 Sleepy Hollow Ln., Swannanoa, NC 28778. 704299-3333.
USS Mobile (CL-63), 17-20 Aug. 95, St. Paul, MN. Contact: G. Trenchard, 12 Sunfield Dr.. Calabash, NC 28467. 910-579-9433.
USS Montague (AKA-98), Sept. 95, Nashville, TN. Contact: P. C. Machado, 5445 S. Blythe Ave., Fresno, CA 93706. 209-266-2978.
USS Mount McKinley (AGC/LCC-7), 30 Aug.-4 Sept. 95, Chicago. IL. Contact: D. Armstrong, P.O. Box 655, Salome, AZ 853489520. 520-859-3617.
USS Mullinnix (DD-944), Sept. 95, Norfolk, VA. Contact: J. Hart, 414 Knells Ridge Dr, Chesapeake, VA 23320. 704-322-5445.
USS New Jersey (BB-62), 28 Sept.-2 Oct. 95, Norfolk, VA. Contact: E. Fogelson, 281 Autumn Tr., Port Orange, FL 32119. 904788-1459.
USS New Mexico (BB-40), 28 Sept.-l Oct. 95, Louisville, KY. Contact: V. Dascher, 10513 Repose Dr., St. Louis, MO 63137. 314867-2747.
USS Nicholson (DD-442), Sept. 95, Norfolk, VA. Contact: C. Scott, 26 S. Lincoln Ave., Newtown, PA 18940. 215-968-3078.
USS Norris (DDE-859), Sept. 95. Baltimore, MD. Contact: E. Mehl, 1404 Langford Rd., Baltimore, MD 21207. 410-744-5189.
USS Odax (SS-484), 24 Aug. 95. Manitowoc, WI. Contact: R. Gibson, 640 Gennessee St.,
San Francisco, CA 94127-2333. 415-239-5490.
USS PCEIO-873, 27 Sept.-4 Oct. 95, Valley Forge, PA. Contact: G. Chaisson, 250 West St., Ware, MA 01082. 413-967-3680.
USS Poole (DE-151), USCG, and USS Gandy (DE-764), USN, 21-24 Sept. 95, Burlington, VT. Contact: D. Macchia, 256 Spruce St., Bloomfield, NJ 07003-3644. 201-748-0731.
USS Portland (CA-33), 22-26 Sept. 95, Seattle, WA. Contact: T. Waller, P.O. Box 38549, Dallas, TX 75238-0549. 214-341-7152.
USS Reeves (DE-156/APD-52) and USS Donnell (DE-56/IX-182), 20-24 Sept. 95, Tampa, FL. Contact: L. Grasek, 5027 Sthwy 30A, Fultonville, NY 12072. 518-875-6052.
USS Richard B. Anderson (DD-786), 17-20 Sept. 95, Annapolis, MD. Contact: R. Dunkerly, #3 San Pablo Circle So., Jacksonville Bch., FL 32250. 904-246-1437.
USS Roper (DD-147/APD-20), 13-16 Sept. 95, Charleston, SC. Contact: R. Chamberlin, 6000 Athens Ct„ El Paso, TX 79905. 915772-6980.
USS Schroeder (DD-501), 11-15 Sept. 95, Newport, RI. Contact: N. Hazell. 11 Hilltop Rd., Freehold, NJ 07728. 908-462-3681.
USS Shea (DM-30), 28 Sept.-l Oct. 95, Burlington, MA. Contact: R. Fowler, 97 Gray- field Ave., West Roxbury, MA 04124. 704322-5445.
USS Sibley (APA-206), 7-9 Sept. 95. Lincoln, NE. Contact: H. Hartman, 1009 Butler Ave., Lincoln, NE 68521-2245. 402-435-5862.
USS Spector (AM-306), 17-21 Sept. 95, Annapolis, MD. Contact: M. Mead, 710 Capri Estate Ct. #C, Arnold, MD 21012. 410-544-6021.
USS Spencer (W-36/WMEC-905), USCG, 46 Sept. 95, Newport, RI. Contact: J. Tierney Jr.. 100 Cambridge St., Manchester, CT 06040. 203-649-1317.
USS Thomaston (LSD-28), 14-16 Sept. 95, Fort Wayne, IN. Contact: D. Gavin. 121- Vance Ave., Fort Wayne, IN 46805. 219483-8894.
USS Trinity (AO-13), 18-21 Sept. 95, Las Vegas, NV. Contact: C. Wills, 11415 S. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, IL 60655. 312-779-4727.
USS Wasp (CV-7) and Air Groups, 13-19 Aug. 95, Everett, WA. Contact: R. VanOver, 6584 Bunting Road, Orchard Park, NY 14127. 716-649-9053.
USS Wheatear (AM-390), 13-17 Sept. 95, Navarre Beach, FL. Contact: R. Mitchell. Rt- 1, Box 646, Dunnsville, VA 22454. 804443-9335.
USS Willard Keith (DD-775), Sept. 95, Norfolk, VA. Contact: J. Gritton, 910 Sussex Lane, Cary, NC 27511. 704-322-5445.
USS Woolsey (DD-437), 6-10 Sept. 95, Tim- onium, MD. Contact: T. Cooley, R.D. #1, Box 240A, Smithfield, PA 15478. 412-564-9256-
USS Worcester (CL-144), USN, Flag members, aviation personnel, and MarDet., 28
Sept.-2 Oct. 95, St. Louis, MO. Contact: P- Harter, 24 Jansen Rd., New Paltz, NY 12561914-255-2603.
USS Wrangell (AE-12), 13-14 Sept. 95, Providence, RI. Contact: R. Gaul, Box 32, Mif' flintown, PA 17059. 714-436-6814.
VF-S3, 1-5 Oct. 95, Charleston, SC. Contact: C. Darrow, 2 Weldon Ct., Pinehurst, NC 28374. 910-215-0157.
Lest We Forget
The career of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Thirty-three (VAQ-33) came to a close 1 October 1993 as Commander Roger A.
Arrowood presided over the disestablishment ceremony at NAS Key West, Florida. The Firebirds’ history had begun 44 years before at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, under Commander Robin M. Lindsay.
The Navy expanded its ASW forces after World War II in response to a growing Soviet submarine threat, resulting in the formation of several new units in the mid- to-late 1940s. One of these new squadrons was Composite Squadron (VC) Thirty-three, established 13 May 1949 flying Eastern Aircraft-built TBM-3E/-3Q and -3N Grumman Avengers. However, the even greater need for carrier-based electronic-warfare and night-fighting squadrons prompted the change in May 1950 of VC-33’s mission from ASW to night attack. VC-33 also provided airborne electronic warfare services to carrier task groups.
Transferring to NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey, 5 June 1950, VC-33 became the Atlantic Fleet’s only night-attack squadron. During the Korean War, it supplied detachments to Atlantic Fleet carriers deploying to the combat zone and to the Mediterranean. Previously, in May 1950, the squadron acquired Douglas AD-3N/-
3Q Skyraiders—versions of which it would fly throughout the Korean and Vietnam wars—to become the last squadron to fly the Spad operationally. The last Skyraider launch occurred 20 December 1967, when an EA-1F Firebird 752 flew from the USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), returning from the Mediterranean.
VAQ-33 had different names, homes, and designations during its career and flew many aircraft types. VC-33 became VA(AW)-33 on 2 July 1956, then VAW-33 on 30 June 1959. It was finally designated VAQ-33 on 1 February 1968, when it became a part of Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group and assumed an electronic warfare training role for fleet units. It was home ported at Norfolk (1949-50), Atlantic City (1950-58), Quonset Point (1958-69), Norfolk again (1969-80), and finally Key West.
In October 1952, VC-33’s nickname “Night Hawks” was approved but changed to “Firebirds” 16 September 1970, to reflect VAQ-33’s new mission. The squadron Hew at least 35 different models of 13 aircraft types, including such exotic versions as the EF-4B/J, EC-1A, NC- 121K (last unit to fly the Connie), and ERA-3B.
—Bob Lawson
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Proceedings / June 1995