The Essex class carrier had three types of aircraft on board by 1943: the American Grumman F6F Hellcat, the American Curtiss SB2C Helldiver and the American Grumman TBF Avenger (When made by General Motors the plan was designated a TBM). All were attack oriented planes. The F6F Hellcat was designed as a carrier based fighter and became operational in the Pacific by September of 1943. Its primary opposition came from the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The Hellcat, though not as fast, was far more durable than the Zero. Its armor plating protected the pilot and plane from multiple hits. The rubber lined self-sealing fuel tanks also were instrumental in keeping |
 F6F Hellcat VF 15 |
 SB2C Helldiver VB 83 |
the fighter in the air. The maneuverability gave the F6F another advantage over the superior speed of the Zero. Hellcat pilots could climb as high as their counterparts and were able to out dive them. The flaps of the Zero tended to freeze in extended steep dives. Air Group 9 would be the first to fly the F6F off the Essex. Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a dive bomber. It first appeared in the raids on Rabual in November of 1943. It required a pilot and a rear gunner. The SB2C was used to attack Japanese ports and was very successful sinking enemy shipping. |
| The Grumman TBF Avenger first appeared in June of 1942 in the Battle of Midway. The torpedo bomber was replacing the Douglas Devastator. The TBF (TBM) was used to torpedo enemy surface shipping. It was also very successful in hunting destroying enemy submarines. The aircraft had a crew of three, the pilot, a rear gunner, and a radio/gunner photographer. The radio/gunner photographer was positioned in a small area in the rear belly of the plane. |  TBF Avengers in Formation |
 F4U Corsair on the Deck |
A fourth aircraft, the Chance Vought F4U Corsair, appeared in the Pacific with the Marines in 1942. It was the premiere fighter/bomber at the time and continued to be produced through the Korean War until 1953. The Corsair would not be assigned to the carrier fleet until two Marine groups VM 124 and VM 213 began flying off the U.S.S. Essex in November of 1944. An inverted style wing was required to create ground clearance for the large propeller. From a distance the plane was easily identified by its resemblance to sea gull. |
| Aug. 1 | Launched air strikes air Guam. | * 50-100 miles E of Guam - (13-00 N 145-57 E) |
| Aug. 2 | Washington1 is relieving New Jersey2.Belleau Wood3 relieved Princeton4 today. Launched two strikes on Guam. 4 VT5 & 4 VF6. | 1. U.S.S. Washington BB-56 2. U.S.S. New Jersey BB-62 3. U.S.S. Belleau Wood CVL-24 4. U.S.S. Princeton CVL-23 5. VT - U.S. Navy Torpedo Bomber 6. VF -U.S. Navy Fighter |
| Aug. 3 | Launched 3 strikes air strikes on Guam. |  |
| Aug. 5 | Strikes on Guam. | |
| Aug. 6 | Air support for Guam. Refueled. Changed disposition - Now Irwin1, Callaghan2, Cassin Young3, Harrison4, Porterfield5, Laws6, San Diego7. |
1. U.S.S. Irwin DD-794 2. U.S.S. Callaghan DD-792 3. U.S.S. Cassin Young DD-793 4. U.S.S. Harrison DD-573 5. U.S.S. Porterfield DD-682 6. U.S.S. Laws DD-558 7. U.S.S. San Diego CL-53 |
| Aug.7, 8, 9 | Air support for Guam. | |
| Aug. 10 | Routine patrols. Captain Ofstie, left for states. Replaced by Captain Weiber1. Ofstie2 now holds rank of rear admiral. Marshall2 also left. Good riddance. Enroute for Eniwetok. | 1. Captain Ralph.A. Ofsite, U.S.N. Commanding Officer 2. Captain C.W. Weiber, U.S.N. Commanding Officer 3. Frank Marshal - Naval Officer |
| Aug.11 | Had assimilated attack on disposition. Saw TBF1 blow up. | 1. TBF - U.S. "Avenger" - Torpedo Bomber |
| Aug. 12 | Assimilated attacks. | |
| Aug. 13 | Arrived Eniwetok. | * Berth 401, Eniwetok, Atoll, Marshall Islands |
| Aug. 21 | Went on recreation party. Got sick on hat here. |  |
| Aug. 24 | Departed Eniwetok. Destination unknown. | |
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