| General Motors FM-2 Wildcat fighter Prepares to take off from USS Charger (CVE-30) during training operations. Another FM-2 is passing overhead with its tail hook down, apparently having received a wave-off due to the carrier’s fouled flight deck. Note the light Atlantic area paint schemes worn by these planes. USS Charger conducted day and night flight operations on May 8, 1944. A total of 60 day landings were made, and 24 pilots were qualified. 66 night landings were made, and 22 pilots were qualified. The pilots that qualified were from squadrons VF(N)-79 and VC-8. USS Charger Anchored in the operating area at 0602 Hours on May 9, 1944. VF(N)-41 was established originally as VF(N)-79 on January 20, 1944, commanded by Commander Turner Caldwell Jr. (November 17, 1913 – October 12, 1991) It was redesignated as VF(N)-41 on August 25, 1944, and entered combat on September 12, 1944, operating Grumman F6F-5N Hellcats off USS Independence (CVL-22). 1st score was split between Ensign George W. Obenour (April 6, 1922 – October 13, 1944) and Ensign Robert W. Klock (October 28, 1921 – May 18, 1971) who were each credited with half of a Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber. This engagement occurred at 0755 Hours roughly 200 miles northeast of Leyte, Philippines. Last score reported for VF(N)-41 was at 1845 Hours on January 16, 1945, when Lieutenant William E. Henry (January 20, 1920 – June 24, 1995) was credited with shooting down a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa “Oscar” about 20 miles southwest of Canton, China. Total score for VF(N)-41 was 46 destroyed, 3 probables, and 3 destroyed on the ground; 29 were destroyed, and 1 probable were at night. Composite Squadron 8 (VC-8) was established on September 9, 1943. They flew FM-1 Wildcats and Grumman TBF-1 Avengers. After training, VC-8 deployed on USS Mission Bay (CVE-59) on December 26, 1943, for their 1st deployment to the Atlantic, were they flew escort missions for a convoy to Casablanca, Morocco. VC-8 returned to the United States with USS Mission Bay on February 8, 1944. After training new pilots on USS Charger, VC-8 deployed 2nd time in May 1945 on USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74) flying FM-2 Wildcats and General Motors TBM Avengers during the Battle of Okinawa. That deployment ended on September 24, 1945. VC-8 was disestablished on October 8, 1945. VC-8 became the “Redtails” aggressor squadron after World War II. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1915.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.88 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4370 x 5633 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 8, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Chesapeake Bay |
| Country | Atlantic Ocean |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-1601 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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