132

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

1943-

Continued

I

Flight deck

crew prepar-

ing to release

SB2C from

arresting gear

and clear the

deck for

approaching

aircraft

469432

...-

Army troops on Tarawa and Makin Atolls (20 Nov)

and on Abemama (21 Nov), and supported their oper-

ations ashore (21-24 Nov). Eight escort carriers, oper-

ating with the Attack Forces, covered the approach of

assault shipping (10-18 Nov), flew antisubmarine and

combat air patrols in the area, and close support mis-

sions on call (19-24 Nov). After the islands were

secure (24 Nov), one carrier group remained in the

area for another week as a protective measure. The

first unit of the garrison air force, VF-1, took off from

escort carriers Barnes and Nassau (25 Nov) and land-

ed on Tarawa airstrip. One escort carrier, Liscome Bay

was lost (24 Nov) to submarine attack, and the light

carrier Independence was damaged (20 Nov) by air

attack. The first attempts at night interception from

carriers were made during the campaign by a team of

two Hellcats and one radar-equipped Avenger operat-

ing from Enterprise and led by the Air Group

Commander, Lieutenant Commander Edward H.

(Butch) O'Hare. In operation the fighters flew wing on

the Avenger and after being vectored to the vicinity of

the enemy aircraft by the ship's fighter director relied

on the Avenger's radar to get within visual range. On

the first occasion (24 Nov) no intercepts were made

but on the second (26 Nov) the enemy was engaged

in the first aerial battle of its type which so disrupted

the attack that the flight was credited with saving the

task group from damage.

O'Hare, Ace and night

fighter 1061488