January 1945 until September 1945
Attached to Air Group 85 on the USS Shangri-La, CV-38
VBF-85 Awards These awards are in no way comprehensive. The Navy Cross is a very high award, below the Medal of Honor. As such, all recipients are posted on line. Below in ranking is the Distinguished Flying Cross, or DFC, and the Air Medal, as well as all the other myriad of decorations and awards possible. However, I have not gained access to information on how to find out who was awarded those many lesser ranking awards. DFC Presentation, R.T. Schaeffer Lt. Richard T. Schaeffer was awarded an Air Medal for action on 25 April, a DFC for action against a battleship 18 July, a gold star for a second Air Medal for action in Kure Harbor on 24 July, and Purple Heart after his death 30 July, 1945. At least the last three and perhaps all of them were awarded posthumously, as the administrative machinery ground slower than the length of his life. |
VBF-85 Personnel
Name |
Nickname |
Rank |
Position |
Squadron |
Reported |
Notes |
Photo in VBF-85 Cruise book |
| Baker, Meyer E. | AOM2/c | Aviation Ordinanceman 2nd class | VBF-85 | 3-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Bartschat, Walter Joseph Jr. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Mid-air 27-Feb-45 | Page 9 | |
| Bean, Roy N. | Judge | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | |
| Black, James B. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | ||
| Budge, James R. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 16-Feb-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Cave, Clark N. | ACEM(AA) | Aviation Chief Electrician's Mate | VBF-85 | 3-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Chapman, John H. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 16-Feb-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Chappell, Glen M. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | ||
| Chorak, Anton (no middle) | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 3-Aug-45 | Page 19 | ||
| Dahl, Robert B. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | ||
| Davis, Richard M. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | ||
| DeCarlo, Vincent J. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 3-Aug-45 | Page 19 | ||
| DeMott, Richard W. | Dirt | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | |
| Dixon, Edward, Jr. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Dok, Douglas J. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 18-Feb-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Dunn, John C. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | ||
| Edwards, William H. | Pappy | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | |
| Fanjoy, Earl R. | Y1c | Yeoman 1st class | VBF-85 | 6-Feb-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Feeley, Jerome L., Jr. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | ||
| Flowers, James C. | AMM1/c | Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st class | VBF-85 | 9-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 | |
| Foltz, Robert R. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 18-Feb-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Fox, Charles W. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | ||
| Fox, Donald R., Jr. | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | ||
| Fuller, Howell L. | Curley | Lt. | Pilot, ACI Officer | VBF-85 | 13-Jan-45 | Page 7 | |
| Gardner, William H. | AMM1/c | Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st class | VBF-85 | 3-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| George, Milton (no middle) | ARM1/c | Aviation Radioman 1st class | VBF-85 | 6-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 | |
| Glaize, Olen D. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 3-Aug-45 | Page 19 | ||
| Gordon, Harry L. | AMM1/c | Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st class | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 | |
| Grabill, Rex W. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Gustavus, Jack A. | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 23-Jun-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Heller, Bernard I. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 3-Aug-45 | Page 19 | ||
| Hembree, J. D. | "J.D." | 2nd.Lt. USMC | Pilot | VBF-85 | 6-Jun-45 | 25-Jun-45 | no pic |
| Hill, Harry E., Jr. | Lt. | Admin. Officer | VBF-85 | 3-Apr-45 | Page 7 | ||
| Hite, Robert, W. | Bob | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | |
| Hitson, Morris W. | 1st Lt. USMC | Pilot | VBF-85 | 6-Jun-45 | 6-Jun-45 | no pic | |
| Hjelstrom, Joseph G. | Gill | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | MIA 28-Jul-45 | Page 13 |
| Hopkins, Peter J. | Hoppy | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | |
| Horne, Hugh R. | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | ||
| Horne, Joseph S. | Joe | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | |
| Hulland, Charles Wilbern S. | Chuck | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | MIA 23-Apr-45 | Page 9 |
| Januszewski, Joseph | 1st.Lt. USMC | Pilot | VBF-85 | 6-Jun-45 | 25-Jun-45 | no pic | |
| Johnson, Claude W., Jr. | PR1/c | Parachute Rigger 1st class | VBF-85 | 10-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Jones, William E. | AM1/c | Aviation Metalsmith 1st class | VBF-85 | 9-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Karge, Gustave R. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 25-Jun-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Kastler, William V. | Lt. | Pilot, Maintenance Officer | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | ||
| Kelley, Clarence H., Jr. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Kirkland, Ralph (no middle) | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Koenig, Virgil V. | 2nd.Lt. USMC | Pilot | VBF-85 | 6-Jun-45 | 25-Jun-45 | no pic | |
| Lear, Everett A. | AMM3/c | Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd class | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Feb-45 | Page 21 | |
| Lee, Charles R. | ACMM(T) | Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Lindley, Kenneth E. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Loeffler, John D. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | ||
| Lovdal, Sigurd (no middle) | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | KIA 3-Jun-45 | Page 15 | |
| MacKenzie, Kenigh | 2nd.Lt. USMC | Pilot | VBF-85 | 6-Jun-45 | 25-Jun-45 | no pic | |
| Marr, William H. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | KIA 2-Jun-45 | Page 9 | |
| Martin, David M. | Gramps | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | |
| Matthews, John R. | Ens. | Ordinance Officer, Pilot | VBF-85 | 12-Mar-45 | Page 7 | ||
| McCracken, Billie R. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| McGrath, Robert P. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 25-Jun-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Moessmer, Wallace, C. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 18-Feb-45 | Page 13 | ||
| Moore, Cecil W. | Blackfoot | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | |
| Myers, Samuel E. | Mole | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | |
| Nichols, James B. | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | ||
| O'Neill, John T. | Tex | Lt. Cdr | Executive Officer (X.O.) | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | x-fer 23-Aug-45 | Page 5 |
| Parker, Milo Gaines | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | ? | Mid-air 18-Jan-45 | Page 15 | |
| Payne, Owen (no middle) | "O" | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | |
| Perdue, Daniel R., Jr. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | ||
| Philipp, Allen O. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 16-Feb-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Phillips, John C. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 16-Feb-45 | Page 13 | ||
| Piveral, Verlin W. | AOM1/c | Aviation Ordinanceman 1st class | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Redmon, William E. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 18-Feb-45 | x-fer 18-Jul-45 | Page 13 | |
| Reed, Robert L. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Reichling, Harry W. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 25-Jun-45 | Page 17 | ||
| Richardson, William L. | ACOM(AA) | Aviation Chief Ordinanceman | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 | |
| Sabin, Donald G. | Deacon | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | |
| Sandidge, Falvey M., Jr. | Sandy | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Mar-45 | Page 13 | |
| Schaeffer, Richard Tague | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 16-Feb-45 | KIA Ditch 30-Jul-45 | Page 17 | |
| Sherman, Robert S. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 15 | ||
| Shinn, William G. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | ||
| Shroff, John H. | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | MIA 3-Jun-45 | Page 9 | |
| Slates, Leslie N. | Slats | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 11 | |
| Smith, Warren P. | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 3-Aug-45 | Page 19 | ||
| Strong, Stockton Birney | Skipper | Lt. Cdr | Commanding Officer (C.O.) | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 5 | |
| Stubbs, William S. | PhoM1/c | Photographer's Mate 1st class | VBF-85 | 5-Feb-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Thompson, Claud W. | AMM2/c | Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd class | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 | |
| Tuxhorn, George W. | ACRT(AA) | Aviation Chief Radio Technician | VBF-85 | 6-Feb-45 | Page 21 | ||
| Watkins, James N., Jr. | AOM3/c | Aviation Ordinanceman 3rd class | VBF-85 | 16-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 | |
| Webster, Bayard (no middle) | Lt. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 9 | ||
| Weeks, John S. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 25-Jun-45 | MIA 14-Ju;-45 | Page 17 | |
| Welch, Leonard D. | Lt. Jg. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | Page 13 | ||
| Wilbern, Howard, F. | Ens. | Pilot | VBF-85 | 2-Mar-45 | Page 9 | ||
| Wyss, John E. | AMM2/c | Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd class | VBF-85 | 2-Jan-45 | x-fer 2-Sep-45 | Page 21 |