Former squadron member

Comments:

Keywords: I joined VMF-115 on July 4, 1952 at K-3 Korea.

MAJ. Merlin

Comments: My Grandfather's name is Merlin "Gus" Dake And he was a Marine pilot that flew with VMF 115 as well as VMF 222, VMF 214, VMF 212, H&MS-33 (Mag 33) and a lot of others. I have a Plethora of Photos and archives from all of these squadrons and I might be able to help out anyone that might be looking for information. I also would love to hear if anyone has any information on Him. Thanks, -M. Dake-

Keywords: MAJ. Merlin "Gus" Dake Marines Pilot VMF 115,VMF 212, VMF 222, VMF 214, Mag 33, VMF 232

MAJ. Merlin

Comments: My Grandfather's name is Merlin "Gus" Dake And he was a Marine pilot that flew with VMF 115 as well as VMF 222, VMF 214, VMF 212, H&MS-33 (Mag 33) and a lot of others. I have a Plethora of Photos and archives from all of these squadrons and I might be able to help out anyone that might be looking for information.

Keywords: MAJ. Merlin "Gus" Dake Marines Pilot VMF 115,VMF 212, VMF 222, VMF 214, Mag 33, VMF 232

Able Eagles 1952

Comments: My grandfather was Master-Sgt. Peter Abcunas. My mother recently found a little article behind his Marine photo saying he served with the "Able Eagles" squadron of the First Marine Air Wing in Korea. She had absolutely no idea about his history in Korea. The article is from October 1952. I was curious if anybody knew him or knows more about the Able Eagles that they wouldn't mind sharing with me. Thanks in advance.

Keywords: able eagles, first air marine wing, north korea

Comments:

Keywords: VMF 115 MAG 33 1stMAW Pohang K-3 1953-1954

K-3 Korea Feb 1953 - Apr 1954

Comments:

Keywords: I was Sgt Cline S-3 Operations VMF 115 K-3 PoHang Dong korea. I have hundreds of pictures of people, terrrain and planes. I have pictures of 33 Pilots and 26 NCOs who served during my duty there. I witnessed several forced landing and especially the USAF B-29 that crashed July 7,1953at around 4am during a light rain. There was only one survivor out of 14on board, an airman Huffman with one cut over his eye and a few minor injuries. I have the incident report. Pictures of Col Stewart's plane that landed short of the runway due to fuel exaustion. Also a picture of Lt. Fords plane that crashed on the mountain side near the base. I have pictures of Col Warren's party turning the squadron over to Col. Stewart.Etc, etc.

Anything that I have could be made available at no cost. Would like to hear from some of the Marines who served with me. jccline@verizon.net

able egales

Comments:

Keywords: uss Batan,po-hang --PANTHERS,========HOUSTON ,KEESUCKER,GARCIA,ROGOZINSKI, PATERSON,NELSON,UBANKS,GARDNER,BROWN AND MORE?

VMF 115 Able Eagles 1953-54

Comments: I served Oct 53 and returned in Dec 54 in Korea. I have some photos available. Col. White was commanding officer. D. L. Hartley was Exec. Officer. Claude P. Miller was Sgt. Mgr.

Keywords: Jim Doty Able Eagle Office Clerk

VMF 115 1955 to 1956

Comments:

Keywords:

Comments: date of service:

USMC 1954 to 1958 El Toro CA USA Iwahuni Japan

Keywords: f9f fighter

Seeking material

Comments: I am in the beginning stages of material gathering and researching for a vibrant history of VMF / VMFA 115. I am interested in not only writing the combat history of the Eagles, but also a personal history of the men (and later women) who have made the Silver Eagles what they are.

Any stories, pictures, historical facts that you would be willing to share with me would be greatly appreciated. Proper credit will be given in every example.

I was a Silver Eagle in 1982/ 1983 as a Sergeant of Marines in the Electric Shop.

Semper Fi,

Neil Baxley

Keywords: VMF 115 VMFA 115

VMF 115 patch Joe's Jokers WWII - rare?

Comments: When I was a kid, I collected military patches. About 26 years ago, an older gentleman at a garage sale GAVE me an old worn patch when I explained that I collected military patches - Deck of cards "Joe's Jokers VMF 115" Before computers, I did some library research on VMF 115 and Joe Foss. Being from Nebraska, I thought it was pretty cool that he was from an ajoining state - South Dakota. Recently, I've gone through some of my old stuff and came across the patch. It has been tattered and worn since I received it. Don't know if the threading is silk or cotton, but the red backround is cotton. It looks hand sown, but I am certainly no expert. So checking the web, I've now seen replicas but this is too old to be one - The white color is all but gone from the cards... Anyway, Does anyone know if this old patch is rare? I'm not looking for a $ amount as #1, it was given to me and #2 If it is rare it would, in my opinion, belong in a museum where it could be preserved in - at least the condition it is in presently. I believe I read that there is a museum dedicated to Joe Foss in South Dakota, maybe I should be trying to find it instead of typing this! Anyway, I would appreciate any info/opinions. Thanks for serving. FYI - My pathetic military career was 3 weeks in Marine Bootcamp before pinching a nerve - no big deal, but when X-rayed, they found that I had been living with a broken neak - between c1 and c2 - for what I am told was at least a year prior to enlistment. 15 years later, I had it c1 - c2 fused as my wife, a former NE National Guard member, told me that she kind of wanted me to be around for a while. Anyway, thanks for reading. Chris Morfeld cmorfeld@co.douglas.ne.us

Keywords:

MPHILIPS

Comments:

Keywords:

i have lost contact with group

Comments:

Keywords: soupy. would like to get in touch with someone

Squadron History help

Comments: I found this site browsing the web and would like to offer any assistance I can from the ready room of the Silver Eagles. I'm a Silver Eagle currently and I have access to old cruise books, pictures, and HQMC squadron history articles if it would help any of you in your endeavors. Please be advised you are welcome to call the ready room at 843 228 7733 and ask for Capt Jindrich "Stich" or Capt Fowler "Clifford" Also, due to limited coffee mess sales and aggressive deployment schedules we've had to resort to an ebay store. You can see it here http://stores.ebay.com/Silver-Eagle-12s-dump_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

I also noticed that Capt Franklin Hooks posted here back in 2003 to organize the 60th aniv. reunion. I thought I'd pass the word that Capt "Puj" Hooks was killed during a deployment aboard the USS Harry S. Truman Last year. You can read the full story here http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/593F0DACFB89D67C85256FEA005FDECC?opendocument

He is dearly missed, Semper Fi

Keywords: VMF-115 VMFA(AW)-115 VMFA-115 Joe's Jokers Able Eagles Silver Eagles

VMF-115 Korea 1952

Comments: Change of address and email. Still looking for fellow pilots, VMF-115, K-3 Korea, 1952.

Keywords: VMF-115

Foss, not "Doss"

Comments: In the post below I made a typo. The squadron was led by ace Joe Foss ("Joe's Jokers") and the name listed is Foss, with one bombing mission logged in this plane.

Keywords:

VMF-115 pilots (WWII combat)

Comments: I recently obtained a copy of the log book from FG-1D Corsair BuNo.88303 which served in combat with VMF-115 from July 5th to September 7th, 1945. The pilots names listed during those combat sorties are listed below, followed by the number of missions logged, and mission descriptions:

Aegerter (1) - Bomb Bero (1) - Bomb Benson (2) - Bomb Black - CAP Caldwell (1) - CAP Chamber (2) - Bomb Colbert (12) - Bomb / Strike / CAP / Weather Creahan (2) - CAP / Rocket Dake (2) - Bomb Dakkaert (1) - CAP Dawson (1) - Bomb Doss (1) - Bomb Eastman (2) - Bomb Foster (4) - Bomb / Zamboanga to Panay / Panay to Zamboanga Glessner (4) - CAP/ Zamboanga to Malabang / Malabang to Zamboanga McDonald (1) - CAP Rogers (1) - Ferrying Time Venturoni (1) - CAP Wells (2) - CAP Wildman (1) - Bomb

This plane is still in existence and is currently being restored for the Flying Heritage Collection in Washington state. If anyone recalls any of these pilots, or if anyone has any photos of VMF-115 pilots or aircraft during July - September 1945, please contct me at SkyChrgr1@aol.com. Thanks :)

Rob

Keywords: VMF-115, Corsair

Email address correction

Comments: The email address in my VMF 115 website entry of 2-12-02 is incorrect. The correct address is as indicated herein

Keywords:

Looking For Information

Comments: I have just gotten my father's flight jacket out of lost storage and I am seeking as much information on his military service as possible. There are 2 patches on the jacket, one is Joe's Jokers, VMF 115 and the other is the Fighting Bulldog's VMF 223. If you have any information you can share with me on "Bill Lepper" I would be very happy. He passed away in 1989 shortly after attending one of his unit's reunions and we are now trying to piece together his pilot history for his grandchildren to remember. Thank you.

Keywords: William Bloor Lepper (Bill Lepper) VMF 115 - Joe's Jokers VMF 223 Fighting Bulldogs

Captain Kelly Flew For the Eagles

Comments: Just found the web site. I wanted to pass on a great resource who has an extensive collection of photos and slides. Captain Thomas R. Kelly a/k/a Russ Kelly flew with the eagles in WW ll and Korea. He is my uncle and is 83 living just outside of Chicago. He has been a model role model for all of us. He doesn't talk much about his service but I read in some old newspaper articles that he received the medal of honor for being the only pilot in his squad to sucessfully bomb their target. The other pilots didn't make it. I'm not clear if they aborted or crashed. Anyway, he served the entire time in Korea and has an extensive collection of photos and slides of fellow marines, planes and other base activities. He told me Ted Williams tried to fly for the able eagles in Korea but Ted had alot of ear pressure problems.He is doing OK now but his health is up and down. Sufered a stroke in early 2001 but he's a marine so he battled back. If you're interested he probably can tell you alot and the conversation would be good for him. His phone phone number is 708-442-9194. I'm his nephew Bob Kelly. Good look with your efforts and thank you for all the sacrifices you all made for my generation.

Keywords:

Looking for Able Eagles Patch

Comments: Still have flight jacket, looking for patch.

Keywords:

VMF115 WWII unit commendations?

Comments: I am assembling the awards of a deceased World War II Corsair pilot of VMF115, and need to know any unit commmendations he would have been awarded by 1945. I am working from a fuzzy photograph of him in his uniform, and there is one ribbon to the right of the Air Medal(s) that I cannot identify. I think it may be a Navy Unit or Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. I would be most appreciative of your assistance on this. Sincerely, Connie McDonnell, Call to Colors Inc.

Keywords:

VMF (AW) 115 Reunion

Comments: ichi-ichi-go is having (59-61)their reunion in Pensacola, FL October 8-11, 2003. e-mail gunny@sos.net for details.

Keywords: