Warbird Information Exchange

These photos are from the collection of my late grandfather Robert "Red" Hannaway, VF-83(N).

Taken between March 10, and September 13, 1945, they depict the men and equipment of CVG-83 (predominantly VF-83), and life aboard the USS Essex.

I will make every effort to provide correct captions where possible, using my Grandfather's cruise book as a reference. It is obvious to me that these images are prints of photos taken by an official photographer. Many appear in the cruise book and prints of some of these photos are on display at the Olympic Flight Museum (from the collection Jack Cook's late friend, Ed Schiess 'VTB-83').

I present them here in memory of my grandfather and to honor those depicted, as well as those who are not.










Harold K. Brewer, ART1c, VF-83.


David L, Smith ACM1c, and Salvatore A. Gencarelle AOM1c. VF-83




Hellcats of VF-83


More to come.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Wonderful peek into the past! Thanx so much for posting them-

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Those are great!

Thanks for sharing them with us. Love to see the personal collections!

Thanks!

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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VF-83 Divisions

Numbered Wonder 1 through Wonder 15, plus Wonder 01 VF(N), my grandfathers division.

Here are the few official group photos I have of the VF-83 Divisions.





Wonder 3: Lt. (jg) Billie L. Wilson, Lt. (jg) Max F. Lowe Jr., Lt. David F. Weaver, Lt. (jg)Emmett B. Boutwell.



Wonder 4: Lt. (jg) Beeman N. Fallwell, Lt. Max D. Mohr, Lt. (jg) William S. Heretig, Ens. Raymond A. Wiesner.



Wonder 6: Lt. Thomas L. Conder Jr., Lt. (jg) Lawrence A. Clark, Lt. (jg) John R. Larkin Jr., Lt. (jg) John K. Titus.



Wonder 12: Lt. (jg) Samuel J. Brocato, Lt. (jg) Hugh N. Batten, Lt. (jg) George Minar, Ens. Owen R. Roth.



Wonder 13: Lt. (jg) Thomas B. Crowther, Lt. (jg) Samual E. Commella, Lt (jg) Rosser L. Clark Jr., Ens. Tarlton.



Wonder 14: Ens. Robert H. Brewer, Lt. (jg) Paul D. Davidson, Lt. (jg) Daniel V. Waldoch, Lt. (jg) Myron E. Kolbe.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Outstanding photos, thank you very much. I have similar, If I can ever get them sent to me by my sister ... UGH!!!!

They get better.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

So why aren't they here yet? (tap...tap...tap...)



Robbie

Unfortunately, I've still got to make a living somehow.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

VF-83 Ground Crew.
Front to back, left to right.
Front Row: ACRM Durward M. Blue, ACMM John J. Horvath, ACOM Clifford D. Catchings
2nd Row: ART1c Harold K. Brewer, ART1c Jacob G. Haft Jr., ART1c John M. Pope, AMM2c Edward H. Bugbee II, AOM1c Salvatore A. Gencarelle, AEM1c John C, Wighaman, AMM1c George F. Buchanan
3rd Row: Gary, ACM1c David L, Smith , AMM1c David A. Patton, AOM1c Douglas Draper, Y1c Donald A. Deetjen, AMM1c Henry L. Gerken, ARM3c Carl L. Parker, ART1c Richard T. Posh, PhoM2c Eugene D. O'Neill,
4th Row: AEM1c Jack B. McKibben, AM1c Joseph W. Young.


ART1c Richard T. Posh, ARM3c Carl L. Parker, AEM1c John C, Wighaman, AMM2c Robert J. Murphy Jr.



AMM2c Robert J. Murphy Jr.





Name this Tin Can?



AEM1c John C, Wighaman, and McGarell

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

DD-644 is the Stembel I've got the same photo

VF-83

F6F-5 VF-83 launch

F4U-1D VBF-83 crash on deck after the CDP failed.

LTjg Ed Schiess VBF-83

Ens Len Plog VB-83

F4U VBF-83 parking

F4U VBF-83 after landing accident

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Don't touch my junk!!

I see how it is Jack.

You're trying to show me up (and succeeding). I guess if your going to be beat, it's good to be beat by the best.

I think I still have a few tricks up my sleeve though. I just wont bother to post the two Helldivers in flight (dang).

If you have anything to add on the photos I'm posting, please do.

Thanks for posting Jack.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

I just sent some VF-83 stuff to Jim Sullivan who's redoing
the F6F in Action for Squadron-Signal

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Don't touch my junk!!

Jack,

Do you (or anyone else for that matter) happen to know the story behind Hellcat 111 , that everyone is posing next to. I have a few more shots that still need to be scanned, with people on or in front of it..

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

The squadron picked the a/c with the most kills to have the divsion photos taken by. If you note the VBF-83 pilots section the pilots photos are grouped by kills. They started with a blank Corsair then added kill flags with everyone in the same pose by a correct amount of kills.
Len Plog BTW was from Hood River and later scored the first Navy kill in Korean while flying F9Fs with VF-53. He lives now in TX.

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Don't touch my junk!!

So you have a copy of the cruise book as well?

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."