VC-35/VA(AW)-35
COMPOSITE SQUADRON THIRTY-FIVE MEMBER INDUCTED INTO THE ENLISTED COMBAT AIRCREWMAN ROLL OF HONOR
Dedication ceremonies on board the USS Yorktown (CV-10) on 9 November 2001 featured the addition of 80 veteran aircrewman to the Enlisted Combat Aircrewman Hall of Honor. The shrine, established through an endowment by RADM James D. Ramage, memorializes the contribution of the "guys in back" who contributed so much to Naval Aviation's success in combat, especially during World War II. More than 480 combat veterans are now enshrined in the Roll of Honor. The Roll of Honor was established in 1995 and emphasizes that the Roll is a permanent reminder that "freedom has never been free". The Enlisted Aircrew exhibit is featured in the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, Mt Pleasant, SC. It is the only memorial that honors enlisted men who have been in aerial combat with an armed enemy flying dangerous missions during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. Well over 90 percent of the inductees saw combat in World War II. After the war, enlisted crewman were assigned only to patrol, composite, and helicopter squadrons. HOWEVER, among those inducted this past year was one from our own Composite Squadron Thirty-five. JESS R. McELROY of VAN Team 10 and VAN Team 64. Jess joined the Navy in Aug 1943 and during WWII flew as a combat aircrewman in TBF's with VC-20 aboard USS Kadashan Bay (CVE-76). In October 1944, the carrier was part of the LUZON invasion force. While steaming through the Mindanao straits, a Japanese suicide plane crashed into the carrier putting it out of action. The carrier survived and so did Jess. During the Korean War, Jess was an aircrewman with VAN-10, USS Valley Forge (CV-45). While flying a combat mission in December 1951 his AD-4NL was hit by AAA, and on fire. He helped a second wounded crewman with his parachute, jettisoned both doors, and pushed out the wounded crewman. He then jumped himself and was captured. He remained a POW until released in Aug 1953. During the Cold War he flew in AD-5Ns as a crewman with the last VA(AW)-35 VAN team, VAN-64 on USS Lexington (CVA-16) in 1959.

  [ Home | Squadron History | Deployment History | Van Team Patches 1 | Van Team Patches 2 ]
[ Combat Losses | Sea Stories | POWs | With Honors | Reunion Info | Reunion Photos ]
[ Board of Directors | Photo Gallery | Gear Locker | Guestbook | Related Links | Newsletter ]

This web site is maintained by the VC-35/VA(AW)-35 web team. Comments or questions
regarding this web site may be directed to admin@vc-35andvaaw-35.org.

This site is best viewed at a screen resolution of 800 by 600.