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Beach Party at Samai, Philippines

(Note:  See LT Vernon Kennedy)

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Third from Left: Valere Van Meerhaeghe

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Joe Barry in the rigging

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After their Douglas TBD

Devastator's fuel

 tank was punctured in

a strike on Guam

forcing them to ditch

the plane,  the USS

 Dennis moved in and

rescued the three

 downed fliers.     These

photos show their

 sighting, recovery and

transfer to the

 USS Belleau Woods,

CVL 24.  

 

 

This occurred during

the First Battle of

 the Philippines Sea

in the summer of

 1944.

 

 

 

The USS Dennis cruise

diary from Percell

 Worley lists the

USS Dennis

 accompanying the

USS Belleau Woods

 July 22- August 1, 1944.  

 

 Percell noted  the 3 man

crew recovery

 occurred August 1, 1944.

 

 

 

An interesting aside,

when the USS

 Dennis crew recovered

pilots, the

 Carrier on which the

rescued men were

 serving would send

ice cream back to the

 sailors on the

USS Dennis in

 appreciation.    Ice

cream was something

 the Carriers had,

but the DE's didn't!   

 

 

 The sailors were full

of fun at times, even

 in these situations.   As

an uninjured

 rescued pilot was sent

across the water in

 the little chair, the

carrier crew would

 sometimes briefly

steer him back toward

 the Dennis, loosening

the ropes to nearly

 dunk him, as if it

needed to be a more

 harrowing ride!

                                                

    pw by jvh