HISTORY 0F COMPOSITE SQUADRON 65 (VC-65)

Ready for battle

On one of the training missions, an accidental firing of a rocket occurred on the Skipper's TBM. The wings had been extended, and the ordinance man had made the static electricity check prior to connecting the electrical pigtail. When the connection was attempted, the rocket fired. The ordnance man's arm was severally burned by the rocket blast. Fortunately, the rocket flew up at an angle and went out over the Pacific without doing any other damage.

There was generous liberty during this waiting period. The most time consuming travel was catching the trailer bus to change clothes for liberty, then catch it again for the ride to downtown San Diego. Common spots for the evening out were the Grant Hotel, the Gay Nineties, and Sherman's, referred to as the "Bucket of Blood" because of it being common ground for the sailors of San Diego and the marines from Camp Pendleton. The squadron's men avoided any serious trouble there.

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