from the personal collection of Gilbert J. Raynor and
the U.S.S. KITKUN BAY Association

FM-2 WILDCAT FIGHTER OF
COMPOSITE SQUADRON VC-5
LANDS ABOARD USS KITKUN BAY (CVE 71)

"THE WILDCAT PILOTS WERE GIVEN A FREE HAND TO STRAFE WITH THE HOPE THAT THEIR STRAFING WOULD KILL PERSONNEL ON THE JAPANESE WARSHIPS, SILENCE AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, AND, MOST IMPORTANT, DRAW ATTENTION FROM THE STRUGGLING ESCORT CARRIERS.

SOMETIMES TWO, OR FOUR WILDCATS WOULD JOIN UP FOR A STRAFING RUN. AGAIN, A WILDCAT WOULD JOIN UP AND RUN INTERFERENCE FOR AN AVENGER. THEN, LIKELY AS NOT, IT WOULD TURN OUT THAT THE AVENGER HAD NO TORPEDO OR BOMB AND WAS SIMPLY MAKING A DUMMY RUN. WHEN THEIR AMMUNITION GAVE OUT, THE FIGHTERS MADE DRY RUNS TO TURN THE PURSUERS."

Quote, RADM C.A.F. "ZIGGY" SPRAGUE, USN,
COMMANDER TASK UNIT 77.4.3 (TAFFY III)

In remembrance;

for action against the
Imperial Japanese Navy Centre Force
on October 25, 1944

The Composite Squadrons of Taffy III