VF-53 Fighter Squadron

Unit Casualty List By Last Name

Unit Casualty List By Date

Navy BBS

Legacy Messages - 1995-1999

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Ryan King wrote on December 8, 2021

Send Email To RYAN KING

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City and State: COLUMBUS OH

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: I (Ryan King) am one of Lieutenant Franz 25 Grandchildren and son of his daughter Denise Franz King. Lieutenant Franz wife, Ellen Franz, passed away November 23rd 2021.
The family was together the weekend of December 3rd 2021 for her funeral. The family, especially daughter Denise, continues to remember Lieutenant Franz, praying for hope and peace regarding his status.

Anyone with information regarding Lt. Franz or stories of service, please contact the Air Force Historical Research Agency. (information below)

Survived by Mrs. Franz is survived by her brothers-in law Leo Bernard of Mexico City, MX; Leonard (Lorita) of Wichita, KS; and Maurice (Martha) of Washington, IL; and by nine children: Karen Franz-Cohen (Jeffrey Cohen) of St. Louis, MO; Denise Franz King of Dublin, OH; Stephen (Pamela) of Metairie, LA; Patrick (Michelle) of Portland, OR; Paul (Beth) of Post Falls, ID; Mary Franz Conrath of Bayview, ID; Basil (Laura) of San Antonio, TX; Louis (Cheryl Cesarz Layne) of Lake Oswego, OR; and Elaine (Paul Sykes) of Portland, OR. Ellen’s life is also celebrated by 25 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

AFHRA.News@us.af.mil Telephone: (334) 953-569 (334) 953-2240

AFHRA
600 Chennault Circle Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
Please include your name, email address, subject of the inquiry, and explanatory matter.

Keywords: VF-53 Fighter Squadron Lt. Franz LTJG Eugene Leo Franz MIA Korean War

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Roger Fast wrote on November 29, 2020

Send Email To ROGER FAST

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: Good day, I am seeking the identity of a VF-53 pilot who was shot down twice during his time. I found a copy of Squadron Signal's USN/USMC Over Korea that had been annotated by him. The gent lists his birthday as being 11/23, turning 22 in 1950. Any information would help!

Keywords: VF-53 Pilot

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Thomas E. (T.E.) Moore wrote on June 10, 2014

Send Email To THOMAS E. (T.E.) MOORE

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments: On 4, Sept. 1950, Ens. Edward V. Laney and Richard E. Downs, of VF-53, Iron Angels,
were flying their F4U-4 Corsairs aircraft over the Yellow Sea, near the Soviet Port Arthur
Naval Base,flying CAP, for the USS Valley Forge-CV-45, when they encountered a Soviet
Navy 2-engine A-20 Havoc Light Bomber, that fired on them. Downs and Laney made passes on the Soviet A-20 aircraft, and Ens. Edward V. Laney fired his guns, and shot down the
Soviet A-20 Light Bomber. The Soviet A-20 Havoc was of the 36th. Mine-Torpedo Aviation
Regiment of the Soviet Red Banner Pacific Fleet. The U.S. recovered the body of co-pilot
Genhddiy Mishin. The bodies of the plane commander, Senior Lt. Karpol, and gunner, Sgt.
A. Makaganov, were never found. Mishin's body was returned to the Soviets, in 1956.

Keywords: F4U-4 Corsair VF-53 Iron Angels Tail Code-S USS Valley Forge-CV-45 TF-77
Yellow Sea Korean War Near Soviet Port Arthur 4,Sept. 1950 CAP
36th. Mine-Torpedo Aviation Regiment Of The Soviet Red Banner Pacific Fleet
Soviet Navy AVMF Havoc A-20 Two Engine Light Bomber Richard E. Downs, USN
CVG-5

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Jerry Thomson wrote on May 19, 2014

Send Email To JERRY THOMSON

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City and State: WHITE BEAR LAKE MN

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My uncle Keith E. Thomson was a Navy fighter pilot and member of Fighter Squadron 53
which flew off the USS Valley Forge. His plane was hit by small arms fire and he had to
ditch his plane July 25th 1950 in south east Korea. He was captured with minimal
injuries and was one of the prisoners that survived the horrific Tiger March. My uncle
was a prisoner at Camp Apex until his death around January 22nd 1951. If anyone from
the Apex Camp, or members from Navy Fighter Squadron 53 that may have known my uncle we
would appreciate any thing at all that you can share with our family.
We are hoping that with the help of DNA on record, that with a recovery we can someday
bring our uncle home and give him the honorable burial he deserves.

Jerry Thomson
651-336-4383

Keywords: Fighter Squadron 53, Apex Camp, Tiger March,
USS Valley Forge, Keith Thomson

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Warren Thompson wrote on September 8, 2012

Send Email To WARREN THOMPSON

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City and State: GERMANTOWN TN

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Other

Comments: I just had another book published entitled NAVAL
AVIATION IN THE KOREAN WAR. Currently, I am writing a
book on Grumman F9F Panther operations in the Korean
War. I would like to hear from anyone that served in
VF-53 during the war.

Sincerely,

Warren Thompson

Keywords: Navy F9F Squadrons in the Korean War

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David Wolf wrote on July 22, 2008

Send Email To DAVID WOLF

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My Dad flew with VF 53 in F9F-2s. He was a CAG5 LSO as well. I have
his cruise books but they are not handy at the moment. Does any of this
sound familiar?

Keywords: Paddles for CAG 5 - VF 53 and VF 51.

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James E. Smith wrote on February 24, 2008

Send Email To JAMES E. SMITH

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City and State: YUMA AZ

Unit: VF 53

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: STILL LOOKING FOR FELLOW SHIPMATES. FOUND DUDLEY KELLER
HERE IN YUMA LAST YEAR!

HAVE FOUR ON MY LIST

JIM

Keywords: FIGHTER SQUADRON VF 53 1956-57

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Vernon Dixon wrote on September 13, 2007

Send Email To VERNON DIXON

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City and State: PINELLAS PARK FL

Unit: VF-53 1956-57

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I want to thank the Korean War Project for this web-site. Through it, I
was brought in contact with two of my old ship mates that I have not
heard from for about 51 years. Even more than that, I found that we all
now live in the same state, Florida, and we are going to get together
sometime in the near future. We were Aircraft Electricians in VF-53 and
made a cruise on the USS Shangri-La CVA-38 in 1957.

Keywords: VF 53

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Richard K. Tresher wrote on May 14, 2007

Email Update Needed

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City and State: WEST MELBOURNE FL

Unit: VF 53 1955-1956

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: After being told that there was no VF 53 prior to 1966 findly found this Web Site, was in the Squadron 1955-1956 . Got out of the Navy after the Cruise to the Far East and have my Cruise Book still today to prove it. They were a very Proffesional Group and was honored to be associated with them.Does anybody know when the Presidential Unit Citation was presented to them? We had F9F-8s when I was in the Squadron. Noticed that they went to FJ-3s 1956-58. can anyone conferm this? Best of luck to All. R.Tresher

Keywords: Blue Knights VF53

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James E. Smith wrote on September 10, 2006

Send Email To JAMES E. SMITH

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City and State: GRAND CANYON AZ

Unit: VF_53 PLANE CAPTIAN

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I am still looking for anyone who served with me when I was with VF-53 at Moffett Field -USS Kearsarge CVA 33
in 56-57.
I still have that cuise book (put away) and slides (put Away) of that group.

Love to contace you. Have known three of them so far.

Email me... Jim

Nose No. 102... not me... the airplane!

Keywords: VF_53 Moffet Field Plane Captian FJ-3s

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Robert Tafolla wrote on September 20, 2005

Send Email To ROBERT TAFOLLA

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City and State: GARY IN

Unit: 1/17TH AIR CAV 82ND ABN DIV

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: My Son and I are looking for the Navy Pilot of the F4U Corsair marked 302 (Tail Letter "S")from VF-53. Any information would be appreciated.

Keywords:

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Darrel Beatty wrote on March 5, 2004

Send Email To DARREL BEATTY

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City and State:

Unit: VF52

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: I remeber that Lt. Leonard Plog shot down a Russian Yag bomber that got to close just after we entered the yellow sea in 1950

Keywords: lt. Plog

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Robert Wilcox wrote on August 13, 2003

Send Email To ROBERT WILCOX

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City and State: LOS ANGELES CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Interested Person

Comments: Dear Mr. Pittman:

I am author writing a book about Butch Voris who started the Blue Angels. Butch mentioned you in connection with his return to the Blues in 1951 and I'd like to talk to you about it. Would appreciate an email or telephone call.

Sincerely,

Robert K. Wilcox
818 7845254
robkwilcox@aol.com
www.robertkwilcox.com

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Theodore (Ted) Helm wrote on July 29, 2003

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: -

Comments: I am looking for a sailor who served with me on the Shangri La (CVA 38) attached to squadron VF 53 in CIRCA 1956. Any information regarding Ronnie Barrett would be appreciated.

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Joe Brennan wrote on December 18, 2002

Send Email To JOE BRENNAN

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Interested Person

Comments: I am trying to gather information about the air combat operations of USN squadrons in Korea. In case of VF-53 I am especially interested in encounters with MiG’s during the November 1950 strikes on the Yalu bridges. Official archival information briefly mentions VF-52’s victory over a MiG 18 November; sightings or encounters by VF-53’s F4U’s also seem possible but VF-53’s Historical Report is silent. Any information on this or other MiG encounters by any sdn in Valley Forge/CVG-5 at that time, first hand or not, would be helpful.

Keywords: units, aircraft

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Denise Franz King wrote on October 29, 2002

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit: DAUGHTER OF NAVY MIA

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Lt.Eugene Franz was a Kitty Hawk and Valley Forge Cosair pilot lost just north of DMZ along the east coast of Korea August 23, 1951, six weeks before I was born.

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