'In 1954 alone, in working to master jet aviation off carriers, the U.S.
Navy lost nearly eight hundred aircraft'


USN started operating jet squadrons from carriers in 1947.

From Quonset Scout (Poop sheet for the NAS), October 27, 1948, Page 3

Quote:

First Jet Aircraft Squadron to Operate on Carrier, VF-171

All Jet Fighter Squadron 171 Housed at NAS Marked a New Era in Naval
Aviation

By John F. Lambert, AMC.

Jets are in the navy to stay!

Have you ever wondered who chills your spine when a formation of
Phantom Jet aircraft streaks the sky past the Station with just a blur
of speed?

It's Fighter Squadron 171, housed here in hangar 2, that holds the
singular honor in Naval Aviation history for being the first jet
squadron to successfully operate from an aircraft carrier.

With a compliment of 24 highly trained jet pilots and a versatile crew
of 102 skilled maintenance men, Fighter Squadron 171 is commanded by
Commander WN Leonard, a World War II pilot who received two Navy
Crosses during the war years.

A new era began for Naval Aviation in July 1947 when VF-171 boarded
the aircraft carrier Saipan. Some doubters said the jet would require
too long a deck run. Others predicted the fiery jet exhaust would
burn crewmen and damage planes parked near them. Aviation experts
weren't so sure that jet aircraft were practical on "flat-tops".

It remained for VF-171 pilots to demonstrate and dispel any doubts
that jets not only could operate in quantity from a flight deck, but
could do it just as easily as any propellered plane.

It seemed that every pilot in the Navy was trying to get assignment to
VF-171 - the Navy's first jet squadron. Not all pilots could meet all
the rigid requirements. Minimum flight time per pilot was set for
1,000 hours in the air and 50 previous carrier landings, before pilots
could fly the "hot-rod".

Pilots and mechanics of fighter squadron 171 began a period of
intensive training and traveling for this thoroughly new type carrier
operation.

Several Phantoms of the new formed squadrons put on the first show, on
the carrier Saipan, being catapulted in rapid order. They came in for
landings. The third plane caught a wire Just as the first was
catapulted for the second time. Eight planes flew the next phase of
the show, making firing runs and then a 500 m.p.h. high speed run
past the ship.

Climax of the jet demonstration was the catapulting of eight Phantoms
and the deck fly-off of eight more in rapid succession. In tight
formation, led by Commander Ralph A. Fuoss, former skipper of VF-171,
the 16 Phantoms made a close pass on the Saipan and headed for Quonset
Point. While making a landing circle, Commander Fuoss' plane lost its
tail section through mid-air collision and he was killed when the
aircraft dived into the bay from 700 feet up. His death was the first
Navy fatality in jets and the only casualty since VF-171 adopted the
high speed jet aircraft.

The Saipan air show given by the Station's most deadly squadron proved
conclusively that carrier and jet aircraft were wedded into a strong
fighting force.

The history of VF-171 is over four years old, and like a strip-teaser
or show girl, it changed names several times.

Officially commissioned 1 April 1944 at NAS Atlantic City, New Jersey,
VF-171 was originally designated VF-82 and commanded by Lieut. Cdr. EW
Hessel as it began a colorful career.

After several months of training exercises and a shakedown cruise
aboard the U.S.S. Bennington, the squadron was ready to meet their
baptism by fire. This was it.

On New Years Day in 1945, the squadron composed of seasoned war
veterans and a majority of new sailors eager for action, left San
Diego to join Admiral Mitscher's powerful Task Force 58.

As part of the fast spearheading task force, squadron 82 moved into
quick action when assigned to make round the clock raids on Tokyo and
adjacent areas. It subsequently supported the Marine invasion of Iwo
Jima and participated in softening-up operations during the bloody
invasion of Okinawa.

After numerous aerial strikes on Kyushu and Kure the squadron
concentrated their hitting power on enemy shipping. The Japanese
Battleship Yamato and smaller supporting ships were destroyed during
this operation.

As the Japanese war drew to a close the battle scarred squadron
returned to Leyte Gulf to board the U.S.S. White Plains for
transportation to Alameda, California and recommissioning in 1945.

Upon recommissioning in August 1945 the squadron was transferred here
in Feb. 1946 to Quonset Point to be part of the U.S.S. Randolph Air
Group. At that time, the squadron was equipped with F4U-4 Corsairs.

On November 15, 1946, while engaged in a Mediterranean cruise,
Fighting Squadron 82 was redesignated VF-17 Able, becoming one of the
four squadrons of Attack Carrier Air Group 17.

With regard to its high record of efficiency, this squadron was one of
the first to receive a full compliment of the finest reciprocating
engine fighters, the F8F Grumman Bearcat.

The first two FH-I "Phantoms" were delivered to the squadron at
Quonset Point on July 24, 1947. They were followed by other new
FH-1's, with an F8F being turned in for each "Phantom" delivered until
the current squadron jet aircraft complement of 24 planes was
attained.

After a period of jet indoctrination and familiarization in the
"Phantom", which is powered by two Westinghouse jet engines, the |
squadron entered its transitional phase of operations. Squadron
pilots j investigated high speed, high altitude flight - singly and in
tactical formation work. Constant studies were made of the best
flight procedures for range and endurance, fuel consumption being high
in all jet aircraft.

In anticipation of the fact that tomorrow's air battles will be fought
at very high altitudes over the top of weather and out of sight of the
earth, much emphasis has been placed on jet instrument flying,
including the Ground Controlled Approach blind landing system, and
radio navigation. In all this work the FH-1 has the admiration of all
VF-171 pilots and the men who keep the Phantom flying.

End Quote

Maybe these guys, Erickson and Wilson, ought to check their history
before setting pen to paper.

Regards,

Rich