A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Memories (NAS Inyokern, California and CASU-45F)..." Contributed by MOSER, Lawrence E. nein9moe@yahoo.com [02JUN2007]

I can add a little to the saga of "Life in the Desert".

The incidents as I relate them are not in any order as there happenings, just ramblings.

There was the night that the driver of a load of fuel tried to make a shortcut across the sand area to the fuel dump, not wanting to take the long way on the road. Needless to say that the heavy truck was not made for "off road" driving and he got stuck. The Boatswain called out all of use who could drive our bigger trucks to come and help pull him out. Using the "6x" hooked together using the winches , about 6 of us were able to get him back on the roadway.

And then another night that one of the men "jumped ship' by stealing our 750 gallon oil truck and cutting across the desert and the next day having to go pull it back to the motor pool.

We had a man who's wife was living in Inyokerrn that used to bring sandwiches to the fence for him sell.

The information about the crash of the plane that killed the pilot for whom the base was named is not as I remember it.

As I recall it was an SB2C that was carrying 2 Tiny Tim (11 3/4") rockets. One attached to the bomb shackles under the wings, This was before we started using the "rail" system. when he fired the rockets they failed to release from the bomb racks and he did a power dive at a low altitude into the ground. They called out some of the personnel to go out to the target to search for remains. I was not among the group but was told that it was a rather gruesome sight.

One of the more interesting things that occurred was the testing of the firing of the Tiny Tim rocket from the torpedo bay of an TBF. I had worked on the release mechanism to drop the rocket below the "prop arc' before it was fired. I had welded the framework of tubing and also the clip on the end of the cable that was attached to a reel that when the rocket was clear it triggered the switch that fired the rocket. We had the TBF setting on a built-up stand similar to an old fashion grease rack. This was tested out in a dry lake bed. When the rocket fire, it was almost like in slow motion and when it landed it tumbled end over end.

On one of our test sites we had some large concrete blocks about 10 feet hight and 10 feet wide with about 5 feet into the ground. There were about 6 of these about 4 feet apart in 2 rows about 10 feet apart. These wee use to test the the fuses of the High Explosive heads. Beyond the rows of concrete block was a simulated "Tarawa Pill Box, standing vertically and consisting of 3 layers of cocoa logs and about 3 feet of sand.The rockets were fired into this to see if the fusing was able to fire after penetrating the cover of the Japanese entrenchments. While doing this test I was standing between 2 of the concrete block shrapnel landed about 2 feet in front of me. The fuse was a success.

Later we were to have a test of the Tiny Tim air-fired at the concrete blocks to test penetration. On this test I was driving the jeep with the range security officer. Our job was to be sure the range was clear before the firing took place.

For this test we had a lot of Allied brass witnessing the action. Commander Vossler of the Aviation Ordnance Testing Unit Was flying an F4U. The rocket was fired and went through the first block and into the bottom of the second block blowing it out of the ground. A very impressive test.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Memories (NAS Inyokern, California and CASU-45F)..." Contributed by MOSER, Lawrence E. nein9moe@yahoo.com [07APR2007]

In Febuary 1943 I left NAS North Island, San Diego, California in the morning for NAS Inyokern, California by way of Los Anglele. We arrived at NAS Inyokern, California some time after dark. I was in charge of a draft of 25 men which was to be the formation of Ships Company and was assigned to Transportation. As a result I was able to witness the first of many activities before the base was commissioned. I spent 13 months there before being transferred to 29 Palm assigned to CASU-45F.

After a short time in transportation I was assigned to the Aircraft Metal Shop as I was a an Aviation Metalsmith stricker. During my assignment as drive I was assigned to drive the cook to Mohave Marine Corp base for mess supplies. This was a one way trip of about 54 miles and was a welcome relief from the duties on base. Also we always had to sample some of the food like cheese and crackers. Getting on good terms with the cook also allowed me free acess to the mess hall when he was on duty.

One of the things that stands out in my memroy is the first time we picked up beef quaters. We were to get aboout six quartes of bothfront and hind quarters. Noticed the when we started to take the beef off the hooks that he held back so that I had to grab the first one. I didn't realize that he was making me grab a quarter that weighed about 225 pounds. He liked to laugh his head off as I almost collapsed under the weight. We would grasp the beef by walking up to it and throw our arms around the quarte and heave it up off the hook, and ofcourse I was not prepared for that much weight. Then he told me how much it weighed.

My first work assingment was to to take a work party and gater large rocks to take to the rocket target areas to outline the target rings. As we were returning from one of the targets we had to cross the firing line of one of the targets where ther were doing strafing runs. I waited for the plane to make his pass so I could try to cross the dive line, not seeing the next plane, I started across the line about the time he started firing. I floor boarded the 6x and hit a rut that knock the air breather off the carburator spilling oil over the hot manifold causing it to smoke. Thinking that the engine was on fire and knowing that the fire exstinguisher was empty, I started throwing sand on the smoking area. With the air breather off the carburator this let sand get down in the intake. A contractor party came by and I sent the work party back to the base with them with instrution to have a wrecker come tow me back to the base. I would not turn the engine over for fear of damaging the engine. The motor Mech at the garage want to courtmartial me but the Transportation Officer questioned me about my report and said that "I was either very quick and smart or very clever" and let me of with just the warning that they would be watching me.

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Location of U. S. Naval Aircraft - Dated 31 May 1943..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [02OCT2006]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Location of U. S. Naval Aircraft - Dated 16 Jan 1943..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [01OCT2006]

VP SQUADRONS MENTIONED

CASU and PATSU

VJ-1, VJ-2, VJ-3, VJ-4, VJ-5, VJ-6, VJ-7 and VJ-8

VP-6 Coast Guard

VP-3

VP-11 and VP-12

VP-23 and VP-24

VP-31, VP-32, VP-33 and VP-34

VP-41, VP-42, VP-43 and VP-44

VP-51, VP-52, VP-53 and VP-54

VP-61, VP-62 and VP-63

VP-71, VP-72, VP-73 and VP-74

VP-81, VP-82, VP-83 and VP-84

VP-91, VP-92VP-93, and VP-94

VP-101, VP-102, VP-103, VP-104, VP-105, VP-106, VP-107, VP-108 and VP-109

VP-110

VP-127, VP-128 and VP-129

VP-131, VP-132, VP-133 and VP-134

VP-200, VP-201, VP-202, VP-203, VP-204, VP-205, VP-206, VP-207, VP-208 and VP-209

VP-210, VP-211, VP-210, and VP-216

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Location of U. S. Naval Aircraft - Dated 09 Nov 1943..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/ [01OCT2006]

VP SQUADRONS MENTIONED

CASU and PATSU

VD-1, VD-2, VD-3 and VD-4

VJ-1, VJ-2, VJ-3, VJ-4, VJ-5, VJ-15, and VJ-16

VP-6 Coast Guard

VP-1

VP-11, VP-12, VP-13, VP-14, VP-15 and VP-16

VP-23 and VP-24

VP-32, VP-33 and VP-34

VP-43, VP-44 and VP-45

VP-52, VP-53 and VP-54

VP-61, VP-62 and VP-63

VP-71, VP-72, VP-73 and VP-74

VP-81 and VP-84

VP-91, VP-92 and VP-94

VP-101, VP-102, VP-103, VP-104, VP-105, VP-106, VP-107, VP-108 and VP-109

VP-110, VP-111, VP-112, VP-113, VP-114, VP-115 and VP-116

VP-125, VP-126, VP-127, VP-128 and VP-129

VP-130, VP-131, VP-132, VP-133, VP-134, VP-135, VP-136, VP-137, VP-138 and VP-139

VP-140, VP-141, VP-142, VP-143, VP-144, VP-145, VP-146, VP-147, VP-148 and VP-149

VP-150

VP-201, VP-202, VP-203, VP-204, VP-205, VP-206, VP-207, VP-208 and VP-209

VP-210, VP-211, VP-212, VP-213, VP-214, VP-215 and VP-216

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...16 AUG 1943 - CASU-24 arrived for duty with Lt. Comdr. E. C. Asman, USN, as Commanding Officer..." WebSite: Naval Air Station Wildwood http://www.usnasw.org/Chron.htm [07NOV2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...23 AUG 1943 - CASU-23 Detachment transferredred to NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey..." WebSite: Naval Air Station Wildwood http://www.usnasw.org/Chron.htm [07NOV2005]

A BIT OF HISTORY: NAAS Crows Landing "...Historic California Posts - Naval Auxilary Air Station, Crows Landing - History..." WebSite: The California State Military Museum http://www.militarymuseum.org/NAASCrowsLanding.html [06NOV2005]

Photograph: Title: Crows Landing - Image Number: A92-0471-4 - Date: 1992 - Keywords: aerial - Crows Landing - historical - Description: Aerial photo, NAAS Crows Landing; Photographer: US Navy; Date: August 5, 1947 WebSite: http://ails.arc.nasa.gov/Images/Historical/A92-0471-4.html

NAAS Crows Landing, located 2-1/2 miles northwest of the town of the same name, began in late 1942 as an auxiliary air station to NAS Alameda, California. It was used to train Navy fighter pilots. Pilots of F4F Wildcats, TBF and TBM Avengers trained here first in Link and Panoramic trainers then eventually in actual planes. Later, pilots in R4D Skytrains and R5D Skymasters (Navy versions of the Army's C-47 and C-54) trained here. After the war the station was placed in caretaker status.

History
by M.L. Shettle, Jr.
Historical works by M. L. Shettle, Jr.

In late 1942, the Navy chose a site in the San Joaquin Valley, 71 miles southeast of Alameda, for an auxiliary air station. An 804-acre parcel of land was purchased for $86,708 and ground broken on December 1, 1942. The site was located near the agricultural community of Crows Landing, 1940 population of 363, that consisted of a gas station, country store, and a freight train stop. During con struction, the project was known as NAAF Patterson for the nearest post office, six miles to the north. After the Navy decided to include a post office on the station, the base commissioned on May 25, 1943, as NAAF Crows Landing.

On June 18, 1943, VC-36 became the first unit assigned. A detachment of Alameda's CASU 6 also arrived in support. For the next nine months, Crows Landing hosted various carrier units. These units included VC-65, and elements of CAG 28, CAG 18, and CAG 11. In the meantime, a detachment of CASU 37 replaced CASU 6 and Crows Landing was upgraded to an NAAS. Up to the spring of 1944, multi-engine patrol aircraft were based at NAAS Vernalis, 18 miles to the northwest. The Navy real ized that Crows Landing's 7,000-ft. concrete run ways would be better suited for the heavier weight multi-engine aircraft than Vernalis's asphalt run ways; thereafter, Vernalis was designated for carrier units and Crows Landing for multi-engine types.

In March 1944, the first multi-engine squadron, VPB-137 arrived from Alameda with PVs. From June to November, the station embarked on an expansion project that added housing, a hangar, and other improvements. The runways were widened from 150 to 200 ft. The station's ramp that initially was 200 x 400 ft. was enlarged by a 1200 x 200-ft. and a 1890 x 260-ft. section. In August 1944, the first PB4Y-2 Privateer squadron, VPB-118, arrived from NAAS Camp Kearny, California. In January 1945, Crows Landing added six enlisted barracks, a warehouse, and a 100-man ground training building. From February 2, to March 27, 1945, a VRE-1 Detach ment with 12 R4Ds was based at the station. VRE-1 was one of the Navy's three evacuation squadrons that transported wounded men from combat areas in the South Pacific to the various Naval Hospitals in the U.S. In addition, Oakland's VR-4 and VR-11 used Crows Landing for training throughout the sta tion's existence.

Crows Landing's isolated location prompted the Navy to run 10 liberty buses a day to Modesto and Patterson. Navy men were allowed to use the swim ming pool at Patterson High School. In June 1945, the station's complement stood at 27 officers and 185 men -- squadron personnel added an additional 245 officers and 1220 enlisted men. Available billeting accommodated 268 officers and 2116 men. Patrol squadrons that passed thought the station during the war included VPB-115, VPB-122, VPB-101, VPB-103, VPB-107, VPB-133, VPB-140, VPB-118, and VPB-108. The PV operational training squadron, VPB-198, also spent time aboard. Patrol squadrons were supported by PATSUs 8-2, 8-4, 8-5, and 8-7. Other units that operated and trained at Crows Landing were VJ-12 and ABATU 105. By war's end, the station was valued at $4 million.

Crows Landing decommissioned on July 6, 1946, becoming an OLF to NAS Alameda, California and later NAS Moffett Field, California. In recent years, the Navy maintained a perma nent detachment at the field that supplied crash equipment and refueling services for Naval aircraft from the stations in the area. With the closing of Moffett, the Navy turned Crows Landing over to NASA's Ames Research Center in 1993.

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Circa 1942

A BIT OF HISTORY: NAS ALANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY History Contributed by Tom Melley tomadr2@aol.com

This information was obtained thru :
Emil Buehler Naval Aviation Libary
National Museum of Naval Aviation
1750 Radford Blvd., Sutie C
Pensacola, Fl.
32508-5402
(850)452-3604
NAS ALANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY

In the fall of 1942, the CAA began buliding a new municipal airport, 12 miles northwest of Alantic City, in the township of Egg Harbor. The Navy took an interest in the site and announced the intention of establishing an air station at the airport.The CAA completed construction of the airfield and the Navy commissioned NAS Alantic City on April 24, 1943. With the forming of CAG 31 (VF-31 and VC-17) on May 1,under the command of Cmdr. W. J. Junkerman. Meanwhile, Carrier Air Support Unit 24 had come on board followed by bombing, fighters, and torpedo squadrons. Shortly thereafter the Navy designated Alantic City excusively as a fighter base.

Lt. S. W. Vejtasa, who had eighteen months of fighter combat expirience in the Pacific, designed and organized a fighter training program. This program consisted of ground school, gunnery, rocket training, tactics, and aircraft dummy deck landings (ADDLs). The Navy requisitioned the Brigantine Hotel, at Brigantine, N. J. and formed a Fighter Directors School. Additional support came from CASU-25. The hotel had radar installed on the roof and its upper two floors converted to a CIC unit. The vast majority of fighters based at Alantic City were F6F's and the station ultimately had over 200 on hand. In December 1944, the Navy commissioned the first ofthree Observation Fighter Squadrons, VOF-1. The Navy intended the VOF units for use in European Operations. By the spring of 1945, over 50 fighter squadrons had passed through the station and the number of aircraft on board had peaked at over 275. CASU 23, present during most of the war, supported the carrier squadrons. A detachment of Utility Squadron VJ-4 from Norfolk, also stationed here, provided target towing service with Martin JM Marauders.

Alantic City had four 5280 ft. concrete runways. Station complement in March 1944, consisted of 326 officers, 2073 enlisted, and 448 civilians with billeting capacity for 315 officers and 2348 enlisted. Alantic City had two outlying fields. The one at Woodbine, shared and supported by Wildwood, had three 2500 ft. runways and two catapults and arresting systems. The station's second OLF was Alantic City's municipal airport, Bader Field, that had been first used by the Navy before completion of the main station. CASU 23 stationed its 29 SNJs at Bader and the fighter squadron's pilots conducted all proficiency instrument flying from here. The Navy also set up a rocket target at Coyle, N.J., at a former State Fire Warden airfield; when weather was favorable, as many as 3,000 bombs were dropped per week. In Alantic City's Harbor, the station maintained a crash boat facility. Station aircraft numbered about 10 and included rescue amphibians, light transport, and utility aircraft.

After the war, Alantic City was the base for Composite Squadrons, an Air Development Squadron, and a Fleet Electronic Traing Unit. Reserve squadrons also served their two weeks summer crusies here. On July 15, 1958, NAS Alantic City closed. After the Navy departed, the Federal Aviation Agency created a technical and testing facility in former Navy spaces. In 1994, the 177 Fighter Group of the New Jersey Air National Guard is stationed here with F-16s.

Bibliography

A: " History of United States Naval Air Station, Alantic Ciry, July 1942- May 1945" and supplements ( Washington Naval Historical Center, Operational Archives Branch); U.S. Navy Bureau of Yards and Docks, Buliding the navy's Bases in World War II, 2 vols. (Washington: GPO, 1947), I:237

B : "Four Stations Will Close," Naval Aviation News

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"CASU History Summary Page"

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