VC-10
was established as Composite Squadron TEN 23. September 1943 at NAS
Sand Point in Seattle, Washington. It operated both fighters and
torpedo bombers. The ceremony's presiding officer was LCDR G. L.
Richard, CO of CASU 7, and the acting commanding officer was LT John
R. Stewart, USNR. LCDR Edward J. Huxtable, Jr. took command of VC-10
the following week on 29 September
1943. Planes and material allowance for the squadron were drawn at
Sand Point. On 5 April 1944, VC-10 was assigned as part of the air
group for the escort carrier USS Gambier Bay. CVE-73 was a
Casablanca class escort carrier and was sunk in the second Battle
off Samar. At the time, the squadron had 195 men and 31 pilots
assigned. After Gambier Bay's sinking the squadron operated for a
time from fields on Leyte and from other carriers. With the Gambier
Bay gone, most squadron members were sent back to the United States
on leave, while some were transferred to other squadrons. In January
1945 the squadron was reconstituted at NAAS Ventura County Airport,
California, LT Cleland S. Hathaway, USN acting commanding officer
until the commanding officer; LCDR Huxtable, arrived on 14. January
1945. The squadron spent the remainder the war training in preparation for
redeployment. It was disestablished with the end of the war. |