• The Men of Torpedo Squadron Seventeen

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      14th Oct 09
      Administrator

    What was to become the FIST of the FLEET was conceived on September 15, 1941, when the keel of the USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17) was laid. On January 1 1943, VT-17 was formed under the command of LCDR Frank W. “Silver Fox” Whitaker. In those previous fifteen months, the US Navy was busy recruiting, training, and purchasing the aircraft and thousands of items the squadron would need when the USS Bunker Hill was commissioned on May 24, 1943.

    CVG-17 was also formed on January 1, 1943. This air group became CVBG-17, then CVBG-5 in 1946 and redesignated CVG-6 in 1948. It became CVW-6 in 1963 and was disestablished on April 1, 1992. Numerical designation of air groups began in 1942, many numbered according to their assigned ship (CV-17 .. CVG-17) and each ship had a distinctive graphic design for its aircraft. Aircraft assigned to USS Bunker Hill were identified with a vertical arrow on the tail.

    The “Fist of the Fleet” began as Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) at NAS Norfolk (Virginia), initially assigned TBF-1 then TBM-1C aircraft as part of Air Group 17 (CVG-17). The TBM Avenger was the same as the Grumman designed TBF, but built by Eastern Aircraft, a division of General Motors. The squadron moved to NAAS Chincoteague (Virginia) for training, away from the flight activity and intense scrutiny at Norfolk (Virginia).

    The Men of Torpedo Squadron Seventeen (VT-17)

    As of September 1944 — updates noted next to entry when known.

    Officers

    • Lt. Cmdr. William M. Romberger – Coronado, California
    • Lt. Cmdr. Thomas C. Durkin – New York, New York
    • Lt. Charles D. Livengood – Hardin, Montana
    • Lt. James A. Tew – Sanford, Florida
    • Lt. Henry E. Clark – Billings, Montana
    • Lt. Steven G. Sullivan – Tulare, California
    • Lt. Richard C. Reed – Des Moines, Iowa
    • Lt. John E. Murphy – Covington, Kentucky
    • Lt. (jg) George A. Hill – Concord, Massachusetts
    • Lt. (jg) William H. Morrissey – Santa Barbara, California
    • Lt. (jg) Arnold C. Traxler – Oakland, California
    • Lt. (jg) Harland W. Foote – Ventura, California
    • Lt. (jg) Francis M. Smith – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
    • Lt. (jg) Thomas J. Coghlan – Kankakee, Illinois
    • Lt. (jg) John S. Cooke – Glen Ridge, New Jersey
    • Lt. (jg) Kenneth B. C. McCubbins – Dallas, Oregon
    • Lt. (jg) Hugh C. Johnson – Waupaca, Wisconsin
    • Lt. (jg) Talmadge Westmoreland – Berkeley, California
    • Lt. (jg) James F. Monaghan – Whitestone, Long Island, New York
    • Lt. (jg) Walter D. Nielson – Hollywood, California
    • Lt. (jg) Jules J. Bundgus – New York, New York
    • Lt. (jg) John E. Strickland – Warsaw, North Carolina
    • Lt. (jg) Ralph V. Johnson – Benton City, Missouri
    • Ensign Joseph Behl – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Ensign Harry D. Jones – Carlisle, Pennsylvania (updated 2009)
    • Ensign Robert S. Hanlon – Detroit, Michigan
    • Ensign Walter F. Nickel – Dinuba, California
    • Ensign Harold Rogers – Bonners Ferry, Idaho
    • Ensign Fred Tschuden – Saint Louis, Missouri

    Transferred

    • Lt. John A. Martin – Chicago, Illinois
    • Lt. Raymond M. Roland, Jr. – Detriot, Michigan
    • Lt. (jg) Ivan R. Beisel – Inglewood, California

    Missing

    • Ensign William E. Hooton – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    Support Crew

    • Charles N. Akers, ARM 3/c – Lubbock, Texas
    • Vern K. Bell, ACMM – Reno, Nevada
    • James H. Berryhill, ARM 1/c – Sheffield, Alabama
    • Paul M. Bobbitt, AMM 1/c – Fort Worth, Texas
    • Paul Brauch, AOM 1/c – Wichita, Kansas
    • Philip S. Brezovsky, AMM 1/c – Chicago, Illinois

    (remaining list is still to be transcribed)

      General

    • Ted Hibbard

      December 23rd, 2012 at 16:02

      Hello
      I am with a Church here in Oklahoma City that is named after William Hooton, one of the men of VT-17 that went missing in action in WWII and if you would I wouls like maybe to send some photos and information about Ensg. Hooton to publish on your web site.
      Let me know if you would like to do that and I will forward that information your way.
      Ted Hibbard

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    • Administrator

      February 22nd, 2013 at 21:55

      Ted, Thank you for your comment. I apologize for the delay. Please send to me directly with VT-17 in the message subject area.

      Dave Schubert
      VT17.com webmaster

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    • Administrator

      December 11th, 2013 at 21:25

      Ted,

      Hard to believe it is already a year since you posted your message. I would be very interested to receive any photographs of VT-17 or related photographs for the web site. If in digital form, you can email to dave@vt17.com or through the mail to Dave Schubert, PO Box 220126, Chantilly VA 20153.

      Seasons Greetings!
      Dave Schubert

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    • Robin TRAXLER

      June 15th, 2014 at 07:33

      Dave,
      Not sure if I have contacted you before, sorry if I have.
      My dad was a torpedo bomber pilot on the hornet. His name was arnold traxler. Sadly he died in 1961. I had his cruise book which I leant to a friend dying of cancer and it became lost after his death.
      I would give anything to be able to find another one, or even a cd that had some of the pictures that were in that book. I feel sick about losing my dads!!
      Thank you so much,
      Robin c traxler

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    • Administrator

      September 1st, 2014 at 21:08

      Robin, Sorry for the delay as I don’t read the comments very often here on vt17.com .. If I come upon a digital copy of the book, I will have a link on the home page and save your message indefinately so I can get back to you. Dave.

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