Welcome to the
VF-88
Hangar Bay

The CO of Air Group 88 was CMDR Seth "Pete" Searcy. The Leader of VF-88 was LT COMDR Dick Commelin (KIA on 7/13/45) and then LCDR Malcom "Cris" Cagle.

They had 37 Corsair and the remaining planes from Air Group 9, which included Hellcats, Helldivers, and Avengers.

VF-88 fought the last dogfight of WW2. Four pilots were lost in that fight.
“Return of the Fighting Lady”.

A 52 minute Home Movie of VF88 during those final war days made by LT Maury Proctor. He made it with a small movie camera he took with him in the cockpit of his Hellcat. It started as 8mm color movie film. Then in the 90s, Proctor converted it to VHS tape and gave it to reunion attendees .

Info & images were submitted by, John A. Haag, the son of LT(jg) John Haag of VF-88.


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NEW STORY
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THE BOOK
 

USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) 14 July 1945

Tragedy struck 'The Fighting Lady' today. Captain Walter F. Boone's carrier was launching aircraft of Commander Seth S. Searcy, Junior's Carrier AirGroup 88 for a strike against the Japanese home islands.

During the mission, a midair collision killed the skipper of VF-88, LCDR Richard Crommelin. One of five Navy brothers, four of whom were aviators, Dick Crommelin was the second to die in a midair collision. His older brother Charlie had been lost in similar circumstances just three months previously.

Links
VF-88's ready room with his CO Malcolm Cagle

A Brief History of CVS-10
The many Divisions that put the Fight in the Lady...
The reason she sailed the Seven Seas.
Let your Shipmates know you were here...
Forget not our comrades that sail with The Fighting Lady...FOREVER.
Patches, Plaques, Memorabilia,and other assorted geedunk.
Links to other stuff a swabbie might find of interest.
Details, details, details....

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