WELCOME TO US Navy FIGHTING Squadron 21 (VF-21) 'BLACKJACKS'
VF-21 INTRODUCTION
On 15 May 1943, the US Navy commissioned Carrier Air Group Twenty-One (CAG-21) comprised of Torpedo Bombing Squadron Twenty-One (VT-21) and Fighting Squadron Twenty-One (VF-21). CAG-21 combined naval aviators and planes from Composite Squadron Eleven (VC-11) and Composite Squadron Twelve (VC-12), both flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter and the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. In February and March, each composite squadron had served a combat tour at Guadalcanal flying from Henderson Field in the battle for that island and the entire Solomon Island archipelago. When CAG-21 was commissioned, both composite squadrons were ending their rest, recuperation and training operations on the island of Espiritu Santo, in what is today the island nation of Vanuatu, located in the 'rear' area 650-miles southeast of Guadalcanal. VF-21 returned to Guadalcanal on 20 June and remained until 3 August based at Fighter One Airfield a short distance east of Henderson Field where VT-21 was based.
After researching the heroic men of VF-21 and their 68 confirmed Japanese aircraft destroyed in aerial combat over the Solomons, it seemed a dereliction not to include a small part of their equally amazing story. This page is dedicated to the fourteen VF-21 Navy fighter pilots who lost their lives in WW-II, including nine during their two Guadalcanal tours. The VF-21 squadron photograph above is from the scrapbook of Fighter Ace CDR John Carlos Cleves Symmes (back row, fourth from right) that was generously provided by his daughter, Ketty, to whom I am grateful.
BLACKJACKS AT FIGHTER ONE airFIELD guadalcanal 20 JUN-3 Aug
BLACKJACKs UNIFORM PATCH
BLACKJACKs INSIGNIA ON F4F WILDCAT
BLACKJACKs INSIGNIA ON F4F WILDCAT
When playing the card game Blackjack, the goal is for all your cards to equal 21 points, where each face card is 10 points, aces are either 1 or 11, and all other cards equal their number value. The perfect hand is an ace for 11 and a face card for 10. VF-21's choice of the ace and jack of spades for their '21' insignia is ideal. This patch was worn by VF-21 pilot Rob Roy McGregor Converse.
BLACKJACKs INSIGNIA ON F4F WILDCAT
BLACKJACKs INSIGNIA ON F4F WILDCAT
BLACKJACKs INSIGNIA ON F4F WILDCAT
The Blackjacks Squadron insignia was also painted on each Wildcat's fuselage between the cockpit and engine cowling. This unidentified sailor is posing for LIFE Magazine photographer William Clay 'Bill' Shrout, Jr. (1913-1986) who visited VF-21 at the end of their second Guadalcanal combat tour. No LIFE Magazine article or any photos of VF-21 (and VT-21) taken by Bill were ever published in LIFE.
USS BELLEAU WOOD BLACKJACKS
BLACKJACKs INSIGNIA ON F4F WILDCAT
USS BELLEAU WOOD BLACKJACKS
After Guadalcanal and a stateside rest, CAG-21 was assigned to the carrier USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24). At least two VF-21 Guadalcanal vets served on her including Cleon Mills Arnold and Gerald Francis Boyle who was KIA 13 Oct 44. VF-21 kept their Guadalcanal Blackjacks insignia, as seen on the WW-II Belleau Wood cruise book page above.
VF-21 WITH 68 VICTORIES AT GUADALCANAL: FEB, JUN-aug 1943
68 AERIAL VICTORIES ON 3 PROPS
The photo above by Bill Shrout of LIFE Magazine captures VF-21's 68 aerial victories in two tours, each symbolized by a Japanese flag painted on 3 enemy propellors. L-R: MM1 Hubert A. Dougherty, Pilots: Edward J. Nugent, Thomas H. Moore, George H. Davidson, Edmond T. Richardson, Norman W. Hutchings, Jr. and John C.C. Symmes.
CAG-21 WAR DIARY summary, 2nd guadalcanal tour
The last page of the CAG-21 War Diary summarizes the victories of VF-21 and VT-21. From 20 Jun to 3 Aug, VF-21 flew 135 combat missions including 5,552 combat hours and shot down 60 Japanese planes at a cost of 15 Wildcats and 8 pilots (actually 9). During their first Feb tour, VF-21 claimed an additional 8 planes for a total of 68 victories on 2 Guadalcanal tours that lasted about 3-months total.
fighter one and henderson
fighter one and henderson
This early 1944 aerial photograph of Guadalcanal shows 3 of her 4 airfields. On the 2nd CAG-21 combat tour, VF-21 Wildcats were based at Fighter One, a.k.a. Lunga Field in the foreground while VT-21 Avengers were based at Henderson Field, a.k.a. Bomber One in midground. In the background by the coastline is Fighter Two, a.k.a. Kukum Field. Not shown is Carney Field, a.k.a. Bomber Two.
TWO ACES AT GUADALCANAL, five ACES BY WAR'S END
ACE JOHN C.C. SYMMES WITH 5.5 VICTORIES and 11 by WAR'S END
John Carlos Cleves Symmes on the wing of his Wildcat with 5.5 Guadalcanal victories, one marked in chalk with the word 'DITTO' waiting to be painted. Symmes became an Ace on this tour with the most VF-21 victories. After Guadalcanal, Symmes and Charles Baynard Milton flew from the USS Essex (CV-9), each awarded 3 DFCs and Symmes a Navy Cross with VF-15 or 'Satan's Playmates'. Photo by Bill Shrout.
ACE ROSS E. TORKELSON WITH 5 VICTORIES. KIA 22 JUL 1943
Ross Edwin Torkelson was the XO of VF-21. At the time of his combat death on 22 Jul 1943 off the east coast of Bougainville, he had 5 victories. Between 17 Jul and 22 Jul, Lt. Torkelson was promoted to Lt.Cdr. Between 4 Jul and 22 Jul Ens. Symmes was promoted to Lt.(jg).
27 VICTORIES IN ONE DAY OVER RENDOVA, 30 Jun 1943
27 VICTORIES IN ONE DAY OVER RENDOVA, 30 Jun 1943
Among all known VF-21 Guadalcanal pilots, 5 would become Navy Aces by war's end with 5 or more confirmed aerial victories: Gerald Francis Boyle, 5.5; George Howard Davidson, 5.5; Charles Baynard Milton, 5; Ross Edwin Torkelson, 5; and John Carlos Cleves Symmes, 11. On 30 Jun over Rendova, Boyle tallied 3, Symmes 2, Thomas 2 and Torkelson 2.
VF-21 PLANES, PEOPLE AND RECORD
Grumman F4F WILDCAT FIGHTER
At Guadalcanal, VF-21 flew the F4F-4 with 6 0.50 cal. wing machine guns, self-sealing fuel tanks, bullet resistant front-glass, 128-lbs. of armor behind the pilot and a very sturdy airframe. The Wildcat's primary opponent, the Japanese A6M Zero, was more agile but had no pilot or fuel-fire protection and a fragile airframe, giving the F4F a slight advantage. 7,860 F4Fs were built during the war.
VF-21 PILOT ROSTER AND 'ALL HANDS' PILOT ACCOUNTS IN RESEARCH DOWNLOADS
After Guadalcanal, these 11 VF-21 pilots flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter from the USS Yorktown as VF-3: James Harmon Harms, Tom Walter Lindsey, Herman Lyons, Carlos Reese McKee, Omar Clyde Menoher, Thomas Hayes Moore, James Edward Scott, William Carmack Smith, Leon Franklin Spaulding, Fredric Paul Vanderhoof and Charles Gordon Wall.
OSTROM'S NAVY VF-21 VS. foss's marine vmf-121
OSTROM'S NAVY VF-21 VS. foss's marine vmf-121
The most famous fighter squadron at Guadalcanal is VMF-121, 'Foss's Flying Circus', with 72 confirmed kills in 3-months. The skipper, Joe Foss, claimed 26 of those himself. Although an inexact comparison, it's notable that VF-21 fell 4 short (68) of VMF-121's record (72) in the same length of time, although in different periods of combat intensity and VMF-121 transitioned to F4U Corsairs in June.