Reminiscences of Rear Adm. George van Deurs, USN (Ret.), Vol. I

Designated a naval aviator in 1924, Admiral Van Deurs served as a pilot with Torpedo Squadron Four, then Observation Squadron Three, the first squadron to operate regularly from catapults, based in the USS Memphis (CL-13). After four months with Observation Squadron One, he served as flight instructor, later test pilot, at Naval Air Station Pensacola. In 1929 he reported to the Asiatic Station and had three years’ duty in Scouting Squadron Eight, based in the USS Jason (AV-2), with temporary additional duty as aviator observer at Singapore and in the Netherlands East Indies. Returning from the Far East in 1932, he served as test pilot at Naval Air Station San Diego. He then was flight officer of Scouting Squadron One, based in the USS Ranger (CV-4), and additionally CO of the experimental Cold Weather Test Detachment of planes in that ship. His account of his duty in the USS Saratoga (CV-3) completes Volume I. Volume II takes up his career with his assignment to Naval Air Station Norfolk. He was then CO of Patrol Squadron 23 at Pearl Harbor. He was superintendent of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi and handled rapid expansion of training occasioned by the outbreak of World War II. In 1943 he became Chief of Staff, Commander Air Force, South Pacific, contributing to operations in New Georgia and Bougainville. He then had duty as CO of the USS Chenango (CVE-28), providing air support for seizure of Morotai and Leyte. In 1945 he served as chief of staff to Commander, Battleship Squadron One on board the USS Tennessee (BB-43), participating in bombardment of Okinawa. After the war he was Commander Task Force Group 55.2 and Commander Naval Forces, Kyushu, Japan, during the occupation. In 1947 he was CO of the USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) and then, until his retirement in 1951, served in aviation planning with the Chief of Naval Operations.