VCS Detachment Ringbolt

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sonofsamphm1c
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VCS Detachment Ringbolt

#1

Post by sonofsamphm1c » 27 Feb 2009, 00:40

In the aftermath of the Battle of Tassafaronga, Halsey ordered the surviving SOC Seagulls, catapult floatplanes, from the torpedo-damaged cruisers to be formed into an island-based scouting squadron. The commander of the squadron was a little-experienced lieutenant. My father became the corpsman for the squadron.

3 damaged cruisers, and survivors of the sunken USS North Hampton:

USS Minneapolis:


Image



USS New Orleans:


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(The vast majority of the men who were at battle stations forward of my father's were killed in action.)


USS Northampton survivors being transported on a PT boat:


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USS Pensacola:


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You can watch videos of catapult float planes here:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discove ... -video.htm


SOC Seagull catapulting off a heavy cruiser:


Image


VCS Detachment 64 was initially based at the Japanese seaplane base on Tanambogo, photographed here after the Marines captured the island:


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(One of my father's best friends on Iwo Jima was the recipient of the Navy Cross for his actions in the capture of Gavutu-Tanambogo. His friend was KIA on Iwo).


SOC Seagull:


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The following are excerpts from the US Navy's chronology of WW2, starting in November, 1942:

November 30, Mon.
Pacific
Battle of Tassafaronga: TF 67, comprising four heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, and six destroyers (Rear Admiral Carlton H. Wright) surprises Japanese destroyers (Captain Sato Torajiro) off Tassafaronga Point, Guadalcanal. The enemy presses on to jettison supply containers to sustain Japanese troops on Guadalcanal, while torpedoes launched from destroyers Kagero, Makinami, Kuroshio, Oyashio, Kawakaze and Naganami wreak havoc on Wright's ships, damaging heavy cruisers Pensacola (CA-24), Northampton (CA-26), New Orleans (CA-32), and Minneapolis (CA-36). Japanese destroyer Takanami is damaged by cruiser and destroyer gunfire off Tassafaronga (see 1 December).

December 1, Tue.
Pacific
As a result of damage received in the Battle of Tassafaronga, heavy cruiser Northampton (CA-26) sinks at 09°12'S, 159°50'E; Japanese destroyer Takanami goes down about 10 miles south-southwest of Savo Island, 09°18'S, 159°56'E.

December 5, Sat.
Pacific

VCS Detachment RINGBOLT is established at Tanambogo, B.S.I., composed of planes (SOCs) from heavy cruisers Pensacola (CA-24), Northampton (CA-26), New Orleans (CA-32), Minneapolis (CA-36), and light cruiser Honolulu (CL-48). Operations of the new unit commence immediately, taking precedence over setting up camp. Two SOCs patrol this night with PT boats. Lack of equipment and communication difficulties handicap operations that are carried out on moonless nights in rain squalls. Only facilities provided being a flashlight on the beach to guide returning plane through reef passage after landing.

3 January, Sun.
Pacific
SOCs (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) bomb footbridge and probable Japanese bivouac near Kukumbona, Guadalcanal.


14 January, Thu.
Pacific

SOCs (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) locate and illuminate Japanese destroyers for PT-boats; the planes also bomb and strafe the enemy ships.

17 January, Sun.
Pacific

SOC (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) on night patrol locates Japanese submarine by lightning flash and attacks her, but the bomb fails to detonate.

1 February, Mon.
Pacific
High speed transport Stringham (APD-6) and five tank landing craft (LCT) land Army 2d Battalion, 132d Infantry, at Verahue, Guadalcanal, covered by four destroyers. After unloading, three LCTs, escorted by destroyers Nicholas (DD-449) and DeHaven (DD-469), come under attack from Japanese planes about three miles south of Savo Island. DeHaven is sunk by three bombs, 09°09'S, 159°52'E, while Nicholas is damaged by near-misses. Tank landing craft LCT-63 and LCT-181, aided by SOCs (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT), rescue 146 DeHaven sailors, including 38 wounded.

4 February, Thu.
Pacific
SBDs, TBFs, F4Fs, and USAAF P-40s from Henderson Field attack Japanese destroyer force (Rear Admiral Hashimoto Shintaro) en route to evacuate Japanese troops from Guadalcanal, damaging Shirayuki (Hashimoto's flagship), Maikaze, Kuroshio, and Kawakaze. Hashimoto's force, however, extracts 3,921 soldiers. SOC (VCS Detachment RINGBOLT) sights, tracks, and illuminates the Japanese ships.

...


The original squadron had eleven pilots. By the end of their first month and a half in operation, the squadron had lost 36% of its pilots. The following were casualties:

12/15/1942 - LTJG POLK

1/14/1943 - LT HAUGE

1/14/1943 - LT BRACKETT

1/30/1943 - LT DOBLER
...

4/15/1943 - ENS MCGEORGE

In addition, you can probably add one unnamed spotter to each pilot. Because of the losses, my father volunteered to fly as a spotter.

Near the end of April the squadron ended its missions. In final briefing an Admiral asked the young lieutenant if any of his men had been decorated. He responded that since they had not sunk any enemy ships or shot down any enemy airplanes, he did not think decorations were in order.

Eventually the United States issued a Navy Unit Commendation to VCS Detachment Ringbolt (Scouting Squadron 64).

Navy Unit Commendation:


"For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from 5 December 1942, to 12 February 1943. Although untrained for shore-based operations and seriously handicapped by a lack of operating facilities at its primary base in the Florida Island Area, Scouting Squadron Detachment, Ringbolt (later re-designated Scouting Squadron SIXTY FOUR) ingeniously and determinedly surmounted numerous obstacles and complex problems relative to the efficient combat operations of the unit. Ready and eager to undertake any possible assignment, the pilots and air crewmen of this squadron successfully executed daring daylight and night bombing and strafing attacks against numerically superior enemy forces during the early phases of the Solomon Island Campaign. Conducting nightly search missions from a totally unlighted seaplane base, the squadron provided invaluable information to friendly motor torpedo boats concerning the course and disposition of enemy surface craft destined for Guadalcanal which led to several successful attacks against hostile surface forces. In addition to inflicting extensive damage upon enemy ships, the personnel of this squadron carried out hazardous anti-submarine patrols, artillery spotting assignments and search and rescue missions for survivors of sunken ships and downed aircraft. Despite heavy combat losses sustained during this period, the officers and men of Scouting Squadron Detachment, Ringbolt (Scouting Squadron SIXTY FOUR) worked together as an indomitable and efficient team, achieving a gallant combat record in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Services."

Despite heavy combat losses sustained throughout this period, the officers and men of Scouting Squadron Detachment (Ringbolt Scouting Squadron SIXTY FOUR) worked together as an indomitable and efficient team, achieving a gallant combat record in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Dan A. Kimball

Secretary of the Navy

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Peter H
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Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

Re: VCS Detachment Ringbolt

#2

Post by Peter H » 27 Feb 2009, 23:35

Thanks for that great information.


Edward L. Hsiao
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Posts: 2102
Joined: 01 Aug 2003, 09:43
Location: Flagstaff,Arizona

Re: VCS Detachment Ringbolt

#3

Post by Edward L. Hsiao » 25 Jun 2019, 00:12

Yes thank you so much for the report of a little known unit that contribute in defeating the Japanese Empire in WWII. I never heard of bombing Japanese positions by SOC Seagulls floatplanes before in all of my life.

Edward L. Hsiao

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