Reformed Squadron
Oct 1944 to Oct 1945

The original squadron disbanded September 1944 and was "reformed" in October 1944

TBM-3E Avenger, serial number #69472, on display at the Pima Air Museum. This aircraft saw combat with VT-1 (reformed squadron) aboard USS Bennington in July and August of 1945. Note the Air Group One tail markings.

This plane now located at the Pima Air Museum, serial number #69472, was flown by VT-1 (reformed squadron) in wartime while deployed aboard the USS Bennington

Black and white photograph of VT-1 Officers (Reformed squadron) possibly taken at NAS Kahului (Maui) Hawaii in March or April of 1945.
Black and white photograph of VT-1 Enlisted Men (Reformed squadron) possibly taken at NAS Kahului (Maui) Hawaii in March or April of 1945.

Squadron group photos (reformed squadron) possibly taken at NAS Kahului (Maui) Hawaii in March or April of 1945

Squadron history (reformed squadron)

Oct 1, 1944 Alameda NAS, Ca VT-1 is reformed (recommissioned)

Oct 21 Alameda NAS, Ca Flight training begins

Nov 1944 - Jan 1945 Fallon NAAS Training

Jan 17 - Mar 2 Alameda NAS, Ca Training

Mar 2-8 USS Bergen (APA 150) Transport (Oakland to Pearl Harbor)

Mar - May 21 Kahului NAS, Hawaii (Maui)        Training (with Air Group One)

May 23 - June 2 USS Breton (CVE-23) Transport (Pearl Harbor to Guam)

June 12-16 USS White Plains (CVE-66) Transport (Guam to Leyte Philippines)

July 1 - Aug 15 USS Bennington (CV-20) Deployed War Time

Aug 25 - Sept 2 USS Bennington (CV-20) “POW” hops, Surrender Ceremony

Sept 24 - Oct 8 Saipan Await transport home

Oct 8-22 USS Kwajalein (CVE-98) Transport (Saipan to Alameda NAS)

Oct 25 Alameda NAS, Ca Squadron decommissioned

USS Bennington July 1945

Air Group One (reformed) tail markings

Deployed aboard USS Bennington (CV-20)

June 17, 1945 “Reformed” Air Group One (VF-1, VT- 1, VB-1) reports aboard for duty

July 1 Departs San Pedro Bay Philippines with new air group (Air Group One)

July 10 Strikes on Tokyo

July 14-15 Strikes on Hokkaido airfields

July 17-18 Strikes Honshu area, battleship Nagato

July 24 - Aug 15 Strikes Honshu area, Kure Naval Base

Aug 26 - Sept 8 VT-1 locates and drops supplies to POW camps

Sept 2 Air Group One leads mass flight over Tokyo Bay Surrender Ceremony

Sept 24 Air Group One disembarks at Saipan

USS Bennington 1945

Massive formation of U.S. aircraft overfly the formal surrender signing on Sep 2, 1945. Torpedo Squadron One (VT-1) led all the planes of TF38 in this “show-of-power” over Tokyo Bay.

Torpedo One (VT-1) led all the planes of TF38 in the “show-of-power” over Tokyo Bay when the formal surrender was being signed on Sep 2, 1945

Casualties

Apr 23 1945 Ens Stanley Bernard Kobielski

AOM3c William Roy Edlin

ARM3c John Gene Garabadian

July 10 1945 Ens Robert J. Haughton

AMM3c Joseph Charles Ciccarelli

                                  ARM3c George Albert Clegg, Jr

July 20 1945          ARM3c Joseph Correll Dortsch

July 24 1945          Ltjg George Addison Gustin, Jr

Aircraft losses

Mar 27 1945 Lt Long TBM-1C #73444 Hawaii

Apr 23 1945 Ens Kobielski TBM-3 #69074 Kahului Hawaii, training accident

July 10 1945 Ens Haughton TBM-3 #68129 #107 Tokyo Japan

July 15 1945 Ens Mehelich TBM-3E #86132 #108 Rumoi Japan

July 18 1945 Lt Eddins TBM-3E #53206 Kure Japan

July 18 1945 Ltjg Paget TBM-3E #86110 Kure Japan

July 24 1945 Ltjg Gustin TBM-3 #69397 #111 SE of Kure Japan

Aug 13 1945 Ltjg Pasley TBM-3E #69272 Tokyo Japan