TBM “Avenger” of Lt (Cdr) Edward J. (Hux) Huxtable, USN
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VC-10 Pilots March 28, 1944 Brown Field: Otay Mesa, California
Naval Auxiliary Air Field to NAS, San Diego, California
Back Row – L to R: Ens. Lee C. Gieger USNR, Lt. Charles. R. Ellwood USNR, Lt., Herman J. Harders USNR, Ens. Willaim Gallagher USNR, Lt (jg). Charles J. Dugan USNR, Lt. Vereen Bell USNR, Ens. Dan Selders USNR, Lt (jg). James F. Lischer USNR, Lt. James F. Oliver USNR, Lt. Charles A. Wickersham USNR, Lt (Cdr). William McLendon USN, Lt (jg). William W. Abercrombie USNR.
Middle Row – L to R: Ens. Nick Carter USNR, Lt. John P. (Sandy) Sanderson USNR, Lt. William F. Cordner USNR, Lt. Henry B. (Burt) Basset USNR, Lt (Cdr). Edward J.(Hux) Huxtable USN, Lt (Cdr). Dr. Wayne. H. Stewart USNR, Lt. Richard. W. Roby USNR, Lt. George Bisbee USNR, Lt (jg). Owen H. Wheeler USNR, Ens. Robert L. Crocker USNR, Lt (jg). Robert. E. Weatherholt USNR.
Front Row – L to R: Lt (jg) Alvin K. (Bucky) Dahlen USNR, Lt (jg) Ernest H. Courtney Jr. USNR, Ens. Keith H. Cruse USNR, Lt (jg) Rockford L. Phillips USNR, Lt. Eugene W. Seitz USNR, Ens. Joseph D. McGraw USNR, Lt (jg) Dean W. Gilliatt USNR, Lt (jg) James F. Lischer USNR, Lt (jg) Henry A. (PYZ) Pyzdrowski USNR, Ens. Berham F. Dillard USNR, Lt. John R. Stewart USNR.
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VC-10 VT Torpedo Pilots at NAAS Brown Field
Otay Mesa, CA – 1944
Back Row – L to R: Lt. George Bisbee, Ens. Robert L. Crocker, Ens. William Gallager, Lt.Henry A. Pyzdrowski, Lt(jg) Bucky Dahlen.
Front Row – L to R: Lt. Herbert B. Basset, Lt(jg) Robert E. Weatherholt, TBD, Ens. Mick Carter, Lt. John P. Sanderson, Lt(jg) Owen E. Wheeler.
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VC-10 Aircrewmen March 28, 1944 Brown Field: Otay Mesa, California Naval Auxiliary Air Field to NAS, San Diego, California
Back Row – L to R: Fred E. (Luke) Luker AOM3c, Robert Jensen AMM 3/c, Gerry P. Fauls ARM3c, Jack W. Houlihan ARM3c, Richard S. (Dixie) Martin AOM1c, Jack H. (Oiley) Orewyler AMM3c, William F. Bounds ARM3c, Larry Merwin (L.M.) Austin ARM3c, Jack Bacon AOM3c (KIA – Siapan), Leonard Holley AMM3c, (KIA – Leyte Gulf), Bill Zanon AOM3c (KIA – enroute Tinian), Jack Richards ARM3c (KIA – Leyte Gulf).
Front Row – L to R: William H. (Billy) Ketcham AOM2/c, Charles (Charlie) M. Westbrook AMM2c, Richard D. (Dud) Dudley ARM3c, Art F. Jennings AMM2c, Howard (Red) Rivers ARM3c (KIA – Siapan) Paul E. (Chum) Collins ARM3c (KIA – Saipan), Donald R. Blaney ARM1c, James G. (Blackie) DeBerardinis ARM3c, Donald A. Blanford AMM2c.
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VC-10 Grand Order of Salty Dunkers “Dunkers Club” August 9, 1944 Aircraft -TBM B10
Back Row – L to R: A. H. Sparrow CPhom, USNR, Ens. Jack T. Turner USNR, Ens. Joseph D. McGraw USNR, Ens. William C. Shroyer USNR, Jt(jg) Henry A. (PYZ) Pyzdrowski USNR, Lt. John R. Stewart USNR, Lt(jg) James F. Lischer USNR, Lt(jg) Lee C. Giger USNR, Lt(jg) Robert. E. Weatherholt USNR, Lt(jg) Charles. A. Dugan USNR. Ens. Leo P. Zeola USNR.
(Not Shown – Lt (Cdr). Edward J (Hux) Huxtable USN, Lt(jg). Alvin K. (Bucky) Dahlen USNR and Ens. B.H. Porter USNR)
Front Row – L to R: William F. Bounds ARM3c, Jack H. (Oiley) Orewyler AMM3c, Art F. Jennings AMM2c, Fred E. (Luke) Luker AOM3c, William H. (Billy) Ketcham AOM2/c, Grover C. Phillips ARM3c, Larry Merwin (L.M.) Austin ARM3c, James D. Britt AM1c, Gerry P. Fauls Jr. ARM3c
(Not Shown – Charles (Charlie) M. Westbrook AMM2c, C. J. Jungman AMM2c and M. A. Curtin AOM1c)
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U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)
“SALTY DUNKERS”
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W. H. Sparow – CPhoM, USNR (King Fish) C. C. Phillips ARM3c, USNR (Salty Scribe)
Wednesday, August 9, 1944
Charter Meeting of the GRAND ORDER OF SALTY DUNKERS was held this date. The meeting commenced at 1930 Love and was opened by Chief Photographer’s Mate SPARROW. First business of the meeting was to elect King Fish. Chief SPARROW was unanimously elected to the position of KING FISH and immediately called the meeting to order.
Meeting was opened to motions as to the rules and regulations governing this organization.
Motion made: GRAND ORDER OF SALTY DUNKERS shall be for the Aviation Branch of the Naval service only. Motion seconded and carried.
Motion made: All new members must be potential Dunkees who have abandoned an aircraft, as an EMERGENCY measure, at sea. Potential Dunkers must buy a round of drinks for all members, and if at any time he is found without his Dunkers membership card on his person after becoming a Dunkee, he must buy all members present a drink or undergo some displeasure that may seem fitting by either members, which however, will not be to such a degree as to break any existing Naval Regulations. Naval rank or rate will have no bearing in this organization. Motion seconded and carried.
Motion made: All Potential Dunkees aboard the U.S.S. GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73) at this instant (Time 1940; Date: 9 August 1944) shall be Charter Members. Exceptions to be made by a vote of “Yea” from the majority of Charter members present. Motion seconded and carried.
All signatures of Charter Members shall be written into the Roped Scroll around the outer edge of the Membership card and diploma.
Motion made: That G.C. PHILLIPS, ARM3c, be retained as permanent SALTY SCRIBE. Motion seconded and carried.
The following personnel are designated CHARTER MEMBERS:
Pilots Lieutenant J. R. STEWART, A-V(N), USNR., Lieut. (jg) O. E. WHEELER, A-V(N), USNR., Lieut. (jg) R.E. WEATHERHOLT, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign W. C. SHROYER, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign H. A. PYZDROWSKI, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign J. F. LISCHER, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign L. C. GIGER, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign J. D. MC GRAW, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign LEO P. ZEOLA, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign J. T. TURNER, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign C. J. DUGAN, A-V(N), USNR., Ensign B. H. PORTER, A-V(E), USNR.
Crewman W. H. SPARROW, CPhoM, USNR., W. F. BOUNDS, ARM3c, USNR., J. H. OREMYLER, AMM3c, USNR., A. F. JENNINGS, AMM2c, USNR., G. C. PHILLIPS, ARM3c, USNR., J. D. BRITT, AM1c, USNR., G. P. FAULS, ARM3c, USN., C. M. WESTBROOK, AMM2c, USNR., L. M. AUSTIN, ARM3c, USNR., C. J. JUNGMAN, ARM2c, USNR., M. A. CURTIN, AOM1c, USN., F. E. LUKER, AMM2c, USNR., B. F. KETCHAM, ARM3c, USNR.
Motion made: That this meeting be adjourned. Motion seconded and carried.
Meeting declared adjourned by KING FISH.
G. C. Phillips, ARM3C, U.S.N.R., SALTY SCRIBE
W.H. Sparrow, cPhoM, U.S.N.R., KING FISH
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Ensign Darrell Bennett Beside his FM-2 Wildcat
“Smokey’s Lucky Witch”
August 1, 1944
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The Association would like to thank Mike Pyzdrowski for his assistance in providing photos and information for the VC-10 Composite Squadron.
