Death Rattlers: Marine Squadron VMF-323 over Okinawa

216 Pages·1999·158.828 MB·English

by  William Wolf

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MarinI SquadronIMF·323 OVer Okinawa
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Willialll ,Wolf
SchifferMilitary History
Atglen, PA
Dedication
Iwishtodedicatethisbooktomywife,Nancy,andmygoodfriend, partner,andfellow
historian,JimLansdale. ButmostofallIwishtodedicateittothebravemenofVMF-323,
whogaveuppreciousyearsoftheiryouth-andsometimestheirlives-todefendAmerica.
BookDesignbyIanRobertson.
Copyright© 1999byWilliamWolf.
LibraryofCongressCatalogNumber: 99-62987
All rights reserved. No part ofthis work may be reproduced or used in any forms or by
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PrintedinChina.
ISBN: 0-7643-0953-6
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Contents
Acknowledgments 6
Forward: Gen. GeorgeAxtell 7
CHAPTER 1: PioneerDays:1August 1943 to 11 January 1944 8
CHAPTER2: ElCentro: DesertInterlude 19
CHAPTER3: CampPendleton: Fun,Fun,Funin theCaliforniaSun ; 22
CHAPTER4: LongIsland (CY-l): 21 July to 26July 1944 37
CHAPTERS: Ewa: HawaiianHoliday 38
!r:
,,-' CHAPTER6: USS Breton(CYE-23): 7Septemberto 18September 1944 41
J CHAPTER7: Erniru: TropicalSojourn 44
CHAPTER8: OdysseyoftheSeaPike: 8Octoberto 29 November 1944 49
CHAPTER9: Espiritu Santo: JungleHumdrum 50
CHAPTER 10: Espiritu Santoto Pityilu 65
CHAPTER11: WhitePlains (CYE-66): 26Marchto 9April 1944 66
CHAPTER 12: Ulithi: PacificSpringboard : 67
CHAPTER 13: Okinawa: FinallyintoBattle 68
CHAPTER 14: LST-744: We'll MeetYouThere 69
CHAPTER 15: SeaBass: Another Epic SeaOdyssey 75
CHAPTER 16: Okinawa: TheFinalBattle,ABackground 77
CHAPTER 17: OkinawaAirWar: TheEnemy 82
CHAPTER 18: PicketShipCAP 86
CHAPTER 19: CloseAirSupport: TAFBackground 87
CHAPTER20: TheWeapon: F4U-lD/FG-lDDescribed 91
CHAPTER21: FlyingtheF4U-IDCorsair 99
CHAPTER22: F4UArmaments andTactics 102
CHAPTER23: DeathRattlers BoardofDirectors: Photogallery 106
CHAPTER24: April: TheDeathRattlersGo IntoCombat 109
CHAPTER25: May:AMagnificentMonth 149
CHAPTER26: June: ClosingDown 175
CHAPTER27: Anti-climax: July,August, September 190
CHAPTER28: Victory: TheCost andWorth 194
CHAPTER29: DeathRattlerLegacy: 195
CHAPTER30: DeathRattlerAces: Biographies andphotos, Completeclaimlist : 196
CHAPTER31: EnlistedMen: CompleteRoster, photogallery 204
CHAPTER32: RattlerEpilogue: Korea andVietnam,YMF-323 Song 212
Bibliography 213
IndexofPersonnelandPhotographs 215
Acknowledgments
Duringthecourseofwriting this bookIconductednumerous into everyday life during training and combat. Brandon, James
telephone and personal interviews and incorporated them into the Ban-ett,AlWells, GeorgeAxtell andJohnRuhsam contributedex
frameworkoftheofficialhistories.Itmustberememberedthatmore tensive personal/telephone/E-mail interviews and other material.
than 50 years have passed, and each man had a different vantage Dorothy Spangler,thedaughterofpilot,CharlesSpangler,lentme
point in observing the course of events. Each was limited in his 22audio taperecordingsshehadmadeintheearlyandmid-1990's
observationsbyhisrankandtheroleheplayed,andthereforecon atvariousreunions andviathetelephone. HarleyBrockdidexten
tributedapersonaltiletotheVMF-323mosaic.Itisoftenforgotten sive work in constructing a comprehensive enlisted man's roster,
in the praise ofpilots in air combat that their success could only and put me in contact with the enlisted men who contributed so
happenthroughextensiveandcomprehensivetrainingand,mostof muchto thesuccessofVMF-323.Theextensivebibliographycon
all, through the unheralded, behind-the-scenes efforts of the en fers tothereadersomeideaoftheassistanceIwasgivenby squad
listedmenonthe ground. Unlikemany aviation unithistories that ronmembersinwritingthehistoryandthereasonforitscomplete
concentrate on combat, I also tried to underscore the role of the ness andauthenticity.
men on the ground and Major Axtell's extensive training for the By mid-1944 the restrictions on personal photography were
DeathRattlers'success.Throughoutmyresearchbothofficersand relaxed, and consequently, members ofthe squadron took a large
enlistedmenofVMF-323emphasizedthecamaraderieinthesquad numberofphotoswhichthey contributedtothis history.Allphoto
ron. This was nurtured by the fun, boredom, discipline, and hard contributorsarecreditedafterthecaption.SpecialthankstoWhitey
workofeverydaysquadronlifeduringthelongtrainingperiod,and Miller, Henry Brandon, Jody O'Keefe and Bill Drake, who each
ledto thesuccess ofthesquadronoverOkinawa. supplied a substantial number ofphotos. Hank Brandon, with his
EveryVMF-323 memberIcontactedduring my research was great memory, contributed to the identification, writing, and cor
helpful andexceptionallyfriendly, butseveralmembers were out rection ofmany photo captions. As with the success ofVMF-323
standingintheirassistance. HenryBrandoncontributedhiscollec during the war, the success ofthis book camefrom the friendship
tionofalmostdailyletterstohisnewbridethatgavemeaninsight and cooperation ofall membersofthesquadron.
6 DeathRattlers: MarineSquadronVMF-323 OverOkinawa
Foreword
This book by Bill Wolf is a tribute to the young Americans
whoselives weredisrupted byWorldWarIIbutmetthechallenge
itpresented.Theyquicklyutilizedtheinitialskillstheyacquiredin
basic training at flight and technical schools when they were as
signed to my squadron. Compared to the standards oftoday, our
doctrine was limited, supervision was minimal, and the technical
trainingofthepilotsandgroundsupportwasprimitive.LittledidI
andthoseother"kids"realizewhatcouldbeaccomplishedthrough
hardwork,determination, dedication and alittleluck. Needless to
say, we were "gung ho" and acquired the "can do" attitude and
confidencethatalwaysprevailedthroughoutthehistoryofthesquad
ron.Mymissionwas totrain theyoung Marines assignedto me to
become a competent and cohesive fighter squadron within six
months.Ihadtodothis twice,asmyfirstgroupofpilotswastrans
ferred outasreplacementpilots.
My second group of pilots, which I took into combat at
Okinawa, worked hard to excel. The unit quickly developed pro
fessionally, and its camaraderie was outstanding due to ourrecre
ational and social environment. We were by-passedin receiving a
combat assignment and were forced into another training cycle.
Aftertheinitialdisappointmentwe wenton to honeour skills and
maintained our high spirits and brotherhood. In combat over
Okinawatheresultofourextensivetrainingbecameevident,aswe
werethetop-scoringsquadronofany service. Ifeel itisimportant
thatDr.Wolfbrings outthefact that the squadron was a "family,"
and thatits success was due not only to its pilots, but also to the
effortsofthemenonthe ground.
The fondest memories ofmy military career and my present
bestand loyal friends·come from this period and my association
withthesewonderfulMarines.Eachofthemwasprofessional,loyal
and dedicated. The opportunity to be connected with this highly
successful squadron forged my character and made me a profes
sional,andultimatelyshapedmy successfulmilitarycareer.
GeneralGeorgeAxtell.CourtesyGeorgeAxtell.
SemperFidelis,
Lt.Gen. GeorgeAxtell
Foreword 7
CHAPTER 1
Pioneer Days
1August 1943 to 11 January 1944
Formation MajorGeorgeAxtell
Marine Fighting Squadron 323 was commissioned on 1August GeorgeCliftonAxtellwasbornon29November1920,inAmbridge,
1943,attheMarineCorpsAirStation(MACS),CherryPoint,North Pennsylvania.Aftergraduatingfromhighschool,Axtelldecidedto
Carolina. The squadron was assigned to Marine Air Group 32 escapeworking inindustrialwesternPennsylvaniaand enrolledin
(MAG-32) under Lt.Col. John Smith as part ofthe Third Marine aeronautical engineering at the University ofAlabama. Here he
AirWing(3MAW)underBrig.Gen. ClaudeLarkin.Thefirstcom participatedin the gliderclub and was acceptedinto the PFTPro
manderofVMF-323wasGeorgeAxtell,ayoungmajorwhowould gram, in which he earned his pilot's license. In May 1940, at the
become the heart and soul ofthe squadron. Axtell, at 22 years, 8 endofhissecondyearatAlabamaheappliedtotheArmyAirCorps
months,wastheyoungestSquadroncommanderintheMarineCorps tobecomeafighterpilot,butwasrefusedbecausehewasunderage
aviation branch. This, despite thefact he hadonly servedwith the at 19. The Navy also turned him down because ofhis age, so he
FleetMarineForceforfourmonthsandhadneverbeenincombat. hitchhikedtoAnacostiaNavalAirStation,outsideWashingtonD.c.,
totrytheMarineCorpsReserveAviationunitthere.AMarineCap
tain interviewed him and said he would-be in touch in a month.
WithlittleexpectationAxtell wentbackhomeand took ajob as a
MajorGeorgeAxtellassumedcommandofnewlyformedVMF-323in Major John Smith, CO ofMAG-32, gaveAxtell command ofVMF·
July 1943. Without combat experience and three months shy ofhis 323.Smithscored19victorieswithVMF-223overGuadalcanalinthe
twenty-third birthday,Axtell was the youngest squadron CO in the fall of1942 and was awarded the Medal ofHonor. He was the only
MarineCorps.CourtesyofGeorgeAxtell. MarineacetocommandanAirGroupinWW-2.Author'scollection.
8 DeathRattlers: MarineSquadronVMF-323 OverOkinawa
OfficersatCherryPointinSeptember1943.Notetherudimentaryinsigniaatthebottomofthephoto.Ithasthecoiledsnakeand gullwing
Corsairfighter.CourtesyorGeorgeAxtell/USMC.
PioneerDays -1August1943to 11January1944 9
me to take command ofVMF-323. I told him that Ididn't think I
was qualifiedbecausethere were alotofmajors seniorto me that
had served in combat in the South Pacific. He gave me a cup of
coffeeandtoldmethat 'Ididn'tknowwhatthehellIwasqualified
for andthattheMarineCorpsknew. Thatmystatusrightthen was
theCOof323.'Thenand thereIdecided that323 wasgoing to be
thebest.Atfirstwedidn'tknowwhatthehellweweredoing, butit
wasn'tbeforelong thatwedecided wecouldwhip anybody."
"I had to form a squadron from scratch with personnel who
just completed basic and advanced training courses. My assign
mentwastobereadytodeploytocombatinsixto eightmonths.A
fighter squadron's mission is first to control the air in the tactical
area of operations, then to support the infantry in its attack, and
when necessary to defend the tactical position. Our squadron
achieved this mission, and was deployed to Californiain January
1944."
Sgt. James Barrettobserves: "MajorAxtell was very intellec
tual, andhis officewas lituntil lateevery night, reading and writ
ing. He followed the book to the letter. I never saw him smile. I
finally sawaphotoofhimafterthewarinColliersmagazinewhere
hehadsemi-smile.Wehadalotof'hotrocks'inthesquadrondur
ingcombatwhotookunnecessarychancestobecomeaces.Henever
took any chances, andhebecamean ace. He had to bevery strict,
buthe was fair and was respected, and it paid off." Harley Brock
adds,"MajorAxtellgaveeachofthemenenoughropeto eitherdo
thejoborto hang themselves."
Cherry Point
MCAS Cherry Point was established in August 1941, near ew
MajorArthurThroerwastheExecutiveOfficer.CourtesyofDelDavis. Bern,NorthCarolina,andbeganairoperationsinmid-March1942,
underthecommandofLt.Col. Raymond Conroy.
draftsman in a steel plant. At the end ofJune he received a call The squadron stayed at Cherry Point only a short time, and
directinghimtoreporttoAnacostiaon5July 1940,toattendflight sharedthe basewith othernewly formed units. Sgt. James Barrett
elimination training. He successfully completed the month long remembersthestateofinexperiencerampantatthebase:"AF6For
programandreturnedtoAmbridgeandhisjob,awaitinghisorders. F4Ufrom anothersquadroncameinforalandingoneday, andthe
On4November1940,hereportedtoPensacolaas anAviationCa
detandcompletedflighttraininginMay1941.Hecompletedfighter
trainingatMiami andwas informedthat, sincehe was only20,he
wouldnotbecommissioneduntilhereached21 andwouldremain
as aflight instructorin the rank ofAviation Cadet. Several weeks
laterawaiverwas granted andAxtellwascommissionedas aSec
ondLieutenantUSMCRandorderedtoPensacolatojoinaninstru
menttrainingsquadron. In November 1941,Axtell was orderedto
attend the U.S. NavalAcademyPostgraduateSchoolfor meteoro
logicalengineeringandcompletedthecourseinanabbreviated 15
months.WhileattheNavalAcademyhemarriedhometownsweet
heart, PhylisCrafton, inMarch 1942.
He reported to Cherry Point, North Carolina, and was given
commandofaservice squadron (maintenancesquadron) for three
monthsasajuniorMajor.HeconductedinstrumenttraininginSNJs.
Axtellrecalls:
"My commanding officer at Cherry Point and MAG-32 was
Lt. Col. John Smith (19 victories and the CongressionalMedal of
HonoratGuadalcanal,editor).Weflewtogetherandbecamefriends.
On thefirst ofJuly '43, I was calledin by Col. Smith and he told
Capt.WilliamCoxwastheFlightOfficer.Courtesyoflody O'Keefe.
10 DeathRattlers: MarineSquadronVMF-323OverOkinawa
inexperienced pilot folded his wings instead of letting down his knee.IhadtightenedtheshoulderharnesssotightthatIwasunable
landing gear, with dire consequences to himself and the plane." toreachthehandle.ImusthaveflowntwentymilesbeforeIgotthe
Young2Lt.DelDavisdescribeshisearlydaysthere: "InJuly 1943, gearup andcanopyclosed."
when I joined VMF-323 at Cherry Point, the squadron was just Training was briefly interrupted by ahurricane warning. The
forming and had only four orfive F4U-ls. The operations officer men spentaday tyingeverythingdown from airplanes to garbage
gave me the F4U pilot's handbook and said, 'I've only flown it a cans. The stormdidn'tmaterialize, and anotherday was spentun
couple ofhops; read thebookand you'll be ontheflight schedule tyingeverything.
tomorrow morning.' Until thenI hadonlyflown the250 HP SNJ,
andsoIdecidedIhadbetterstartmakingfriends withthis2000HP Cherry PointRoster
aircraftsoasnottoembarrassmyselfasthe'newguy'thenextday. August1943
Istarted off by walking around the aircraft, not just sure how to
mount the cockpit. I discovered that the Corsair was much like a Officers
horse, you got on from the left side. Iread the handbook, and the MajorAxtell, George Turner,Arthur
nextmorningIwalkedrightuptotheportsideandconfidentlygot CaptainAllen, Reid Lippoth,Robert
intothecockpit.TheearlyF4U-lswerestartedbyashotgunshell Crozier,William Moore, Clarence
starter, which was notorious for its multiple failures. As ifIknew ILl. Comstock,Byron
what I was doing, the engine fired up on the first pop. At Cherry 2Lt. Baldwin, Charles Martin, Charles
Pointthe takeoffs were all out and away from acenterhub, while Barnett, Dean McDonald, Douglas
all the landings were into the center, thus, luckily, little time was Bowen,Ralph Mitchell, Donald
spenttaxiing,andImanagedtotaxioutdespitethehugenosestick Broderick,William 0'Hara, Harry
ingoutin front ofme. Thefield was very busy in those days, and Brown,Russell Peterson, Conrad
alltakeoffsandlandings werecontrolledbyalduslights.I'llnever Carpenter,Burson Powers,Edward
forgetthetakeoffthatday.Imovedthethrottleforward, notknow Date,John Rogga,Thomas
ing what to expect. I got off the ground and wanted'to raise the Davis, Dellwyn Salmon,Robert
gear. In the early F4Us the gear handle was down below the left Duskin,Barnard Sankey, Sylvester
."
~.
•
Aveteran ofthe Guadalcanal Campaign, Capt. Charles Moore was
oneofthe original squadron officers at both Cherry Point and Oak CaptainJeffersonDorrohwasassignedtothesquadronatCherryPoint
Grove.MoorewouldlaterbecomesquadronOperationsOfficer.Cour andwouldandwouldremainwithituntilrelievedinJune1945.Cour
tesyofHenryBrandon. tesyofHenryBrandon.
PioneerDays-1August1943to 11January1944 11