USS Wasp's aircraft

I ran across something curious in the DANFS entry on Wasp. Her air group originally comprised two scouting and two fighter squadrons. By the time she went into action in the Pacific, August 1942 at Guadalcanal, this had been changed to a conventional organization including a squadron of Avenger torpedo bombers. I had thought this happened around the time she transferred from the Atlantic to the Pacific Fleet, but DANFS includes this comment from when she was in Britain preparing to ferry Spitfires to Malta:

"Having landed her torpedo planes and dive bombers, Wasp loaded 47 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. V fighter planes at the King George V Dock, Glasgow, on 13 April [1942]"

i.e. that her complement already included torpedo bombers.

Then when Wasp was transferring to the Pacific we see:

"Arriving at San Diego on 19 June 1942, Wasp embarked the remainder of her complement of aircraft, Grumman TBF-1s and Douglas SBD-3s. 10 of the former and 12 of the latter conducting their carrier qualification on 22 and 23 June, respectively, the latter replacing the old Vindicators." (my underlining)

That is, the TBFs were not considered replacements for Vindicators; does that mean there was already a torpedo squadron in the air group? 10 and 12 are less than the normal complement of a squadron; does that mean there were already some TBFs or SBDs on board, or was Wasp simply understrength at this point?

The article also has Wasp launching 13 TBFs on August 7 at Guadalcanal, 12 armed with bombs and one (carrying extra fuel) for the group commander.

Does anyone have more detail on when Wasp's air group was brought up to standard? Thanks.

 

Wasp had 6 to 9 TBDs in VT-7 as early as February 1942. The scout bombers aboard were VS-71 and VS-72, both operating in the neighborhood of 15 SB2Us each. Wasp was so equipped when she was detached from the Atlantic Fleet for duty in the Pacific. Upon arrival at San Diego, we see according to the Aircraft Location Reports, beginning with the 25 June report, Wasp slowly shedding the SB2Us for SBDs and TBDs for TBFs and operating all four types at sea. Some of that was car-quals for the now new SBD and TBF drivers. By the 25th report (which actually portrays the status for about the 20th) VS-71 had 7 SB2Us & 5 SBDs, VS-72 had 6 SB2Us & 7 SBDs, and VT-7 had 1 TBD and 7 TBF. Regretfully, subsequent location reports never reflect a complete replacement of the SB2Us and TBD even up to Sept 25th, after the ship was lost. Sometimes those reports make it look like the Navy was trying to fool itself during that back half of 1942. Best bet would be around the last few days of July. In one photo I've seen of TBFs on Wasp I can count 11 or 12.

Rich

 

Thanks, might have guessed you'd have the information. One of my pet speculations is Wasp at Midway, had she not been occupied in the Atlantic/Med. Another squadron of dive bombers in the morning attack could have had a significant impact. The old Vindicators might have gone out with a bang!

 

I apologize for the threat resurrection. LantFlt Weekly Ops Sheet shows the first addition of “1 Sqd (6 TBD-1)” to the WAG located at Norfolk on 26 Dec 41. Same entry for 2 Jan 42. Finally identified as VT-7 on 8 Jan. Notes WASP to leave NOB Norfolk to relieve LONG ISLAND in Argentia 14 Jan. 15 Jan report has WASP enroute with WAG embarked: VF-5 from YORKTOWN (18 F4F-3), VS-71 and 72 (15 SB2U-2 each) and VT-7.

 

No need to apologize; this is exactly the sort of information I was looking for when I started the thread, thanks!

 

Nice catch! Where did you get your hands on the LantFlt Weekly Ops Sheet?

 

I joined over here when OpanaPointer mentioned it somewhere on Tully’s board. Rmiller’s OBB thread sent me down the rabbit hole…again. It took NARA months to find them. They’re stamped “Command File WW2, File in Fleets.” It mentions they should be destroyed by burning (without report) when they served their purpose. I don’t even think they’re CINCLANT originals, but copies sent to the 3rd Naval District and saved in the commandant’s personal library. Speculating, but they may have found their way back when all the records were stored. I was able to get 4 Dec 41 from Atlanta NARA files of the 6th Naval District (used that and as many logbooks and war diaries I could dig up to build the LantFlt dispositions on 7 Dec 41 on NavWeps) and 18 Dec 41 - 29 Jan 42 from CP. These probably are the source for the NHHC aircraft location reports which start 2 Feb 42. It does complete the picture from just before PH until the war diaries get going, especially for the Atlantic. As an aside, the LanFlt War Diary starts to include the first one of the month starting in Apr 42.

Unfortunately, they’re too large to post. But they do fill in a ton of detail on the special TFs created in the Atlantic and the hodge podge of ODDs, DMSs and AMs pressed into service as escorts, especially for TF-17 (WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA and HORNET) sent down to Key West, Dry Tortugas and the GOM for shakedown.

 

Gents,

Finally got this to work. I-pad was being a pain even after converting from 3m JPGs to 250k PNGs, so switched to my PC. Here are the AirLant portions for 4,18 and 26 December 1941. The week after PHA can’t be found. In the chaos, it may never have been promulgated. I'll post January 1942 separately.

On 7 Dec, LantFlt was operating under Oplan 7-41, revision C, I believe. LantFlt Oplan's at that time reflected the Hemisphere Defense Plans in effect, WPL-52 at the time, all based upon RAINBOW-5 (WPL-46) and quick transition to it upon entry into the war. Once TF-18 was formed (YORKTOWN, BatDiv-3 and DesRon-2) - and along with 3 PatRons designated for transfer to the PacFlt - Oplan 8-41 was issued officially adding BatDiv-6 and HORNET to TF-1 and the Atlantic Fleet. They were designated TF-17 under ComBatShipsLant/BatDiv-6 and sent for shakedown to Key West and the Gulf of Mexico, as mentioned previously.

 

AirLant January 1942:

 

Oh, baby, oh baby!

I have the BuAer monthly status reports 1940-1943, but they're way too big, even just at the monthly size, to post here.

Rich

 

Small correction, checking the files I actually have the BuAer Monthly Status of Naval Aircraft reports from 1940 -1945, not just through 1943 as noted above.

Not sure where I got them from, downloaded from somewhere, but damned if I can find a source now. 1940-1942 are monthly, 1943-1945 are the monthly reports rolled up for each year as one document.

And on a happier note, just came in from wiping out the yellowjacket nest alongside my front walkway which I discovered while cutting the yard today (note, I say "yard" not "grass"). I'll check them in the morning, but the foam stuff I have usually does the job overnight when they're all home and and think they're safely tucked in.

 

Sir,
I'd be interested in looking at them. I think I've seen them referenced in Lundstrom's notes. I've got to knock off a few wasp nests around here too. Fun times in the Texas summer.