{"id":4,"date":"2009-10-14T00:24:56","date_gmt":"2009-10-14T00:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vt17.com\/blog\/?p=4"},"modified":"2009-11-11T08:01:49","modified_gmt":"2009-11-11T13:01:49","slug":"torpedo-squadron-seventeen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vt17.com\/blog\/archives\/4","title":{"rendered":"The Men of Torpedo Squadron Seventeen"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

The Men of Torpedo Squadron Seventeen (VT-17)<\/h2>\n
As of September 1944 — updates noted next to entry when known.
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Officers<\/h2>\n