THE BUZZARD BRIGADE – TORPEDO SQUADRON TEN AT WAR

Torpedo Squadron Ten (VT-10) was commissioned in April 1942 in San Diego during the early months of World War II. This Navy carrier squadron, which achieved fame flying the Grumman TBF and TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, became known as "The Buzzard Brigade."

Completing two cruises aboard the carrier Enterprise (CV-6) and one aboard the Intrepid (CV-11), the squadron built an impressive record. Flying with the "Cactus Air Force" from the crude facilities at Henderson Field, Torpedo Ten helped defeat the enemy's major offensive to retake the island during the crucial Naval Battle for Guadalcanal. Over the course of three days, Buzzard Brigade aircrews were in almost constant combat, attacking a damaged enemy battleship, a cruiser force, and an incoming Japanese troop transport convoy.

During its second tour, the squadron was employed primarily for bombing missions, hitting enemy installations and shipping from the Marshalls to the Marianas. Torpedo Ten became the first fully trained night-flying squadron and was the first to conduct a full-scale night attack, targeting Truk Lagoon in February 1944. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, VT-10 located the Japanese fleet and participated in an evening attack on the enemy's carriers.

The Buzzard Brigade's third cruise, aboard the Intrepid in 1945, included raids on key Japanese home island airfields and naval ports. Following this, Task Force 58 commenced softening up the enemy stronghold of Okinawa in preparation for Allied landings. The Japanese were not prepared to give up this chain without exhausting all efforts, including furious kamikaze attacks and a suicide sortie of their last battleship task group was built around the 72,000-ton super battleship Yamato. In its final torpedo mission of the war on April 7, the squadron helped sink this giant and also launched torpedoes at two of her escort ships.

Based on official action reports and squadron history, Torpedo Ten's story is given new life through the firsthand accounts of her aircrews. More than five dozen former pilots, gunners, and radiomen relate their toughest missions, greatest successes, humorous moments, and tragic losses. Their personal experiences are as varied as they are entertaining: Lt. (jg) Dick Batten and crew ditched during the Battle of Santa Cruz, only to have their rescue destroyer torpedoed out from under them; airmen Tom Nelson and Mick Glasser parachuted from their burning TBFs at the last instant, only to be picked up by enemy destroyers and spend the war in POW camps; Skipper Bill Martin fought for survival in the water under enemy gunfire after being shot down over Saipan; Charlie "Hot Shot" Henderson exhibited fighter pilot bravado in combating enemy aircraft while flying a torpedo bomber; Lt. Van Eason executed an evening strike on the Japanese carrier fleet in the Battle of the Philippine Sea; Lt. Bob Nelson's scout team pinpointed the enemy's carriers two days in a row for Task Force 58; Ed Laster and his crew were picked up after ditching off Okinawa, only to endure a typhoon and a kamikaze attack before being returned two weeks later; and Lt. (jg) Jack Young conducted a solo torpedo run against the battleship Yamato, along with countless other experiences related firsthand by the men who helped win the war in the Pacific.

This complete history of one of the Navy's most successful Avenger squadrons of World War II is enhanced by more than 140 illustrations, including many photos never before published.

Source: Publisher's summary printed on cover