UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET AIR FORCE FLEET AIR, SEATTLE P16-1/00/(60) Naval Air Station Serial 0319 Seattle, Washington. CONFIDENTIAL June 14, 1943 From: Commander Fleet Air, Seattle. To: Commander Fleet Air, West Coast. Subject: Inshore Patrol Pilots in Alaskan Area - Rotation of. Enclosure: (A) Status of VS Pilots in Alaskan Area as of June 1, 1943 (B) ComScoRon 50 ltr. P16-4/00 of May 28, 1943. 1. In order more successfully to maintain peak efficiency in the Inshore Patrol Squadron now in Alaska the following plan for rotation of pilots from these squadron is recommended. (a) That Scouting Squadron FIFTY be used as a replen- ishment pool to provide replacements for the four (4) scout- ing Squadrons now in Alaska. It is considered that three months duty in VS-50 would be advisable to check new pilots out thoroughly before sending them to Alaska. With VS-50's enlarged complement of twenty-seven (27) pilots and assuming an adequate flow of new pilots into VS-50, approximately one hundred (100) pilots per annum could be checked out and sent to Alaska. This figure is based on the retention of the Com- manding Officer and Executive Officer in VS-50 for a full tour of duty and on a three months tour for all other pilots. (b) It is recommended that pilots of Scouting Squadrons in Alaska be considered eligible for replacement after nine months service in Alaska and that all pilots be actually re- placed prior to twelve months such service. There are now seventy-nine (79) pilots in the Alaskan Scouting Squadrons. Eliainating the eight (8) Commanding and Executive Officers who should be replaced onan individual basis, approximately ninety-five (95) new pilots will be required each year to provide replacements every nine months for the remaining com- plement of seventy-one (71) pilots. On the return of those from Alaska it is recommended that they be given leave and ordered to report to Commander Fleet Air, West Coast for further assignment. It is strongly recommended that none of these pilots be returned to duty in Alaska without a tour of duty of at least one year elsewhere. (c) It is recognized that the successful accomplish- ment of this plan depends wholly on the ability of Commander Fleet Air, West Coast to furnish the new pilots required by VS-50- approximately two (2) per week. It is believed that - 1 - --------------------------------------------------------------------- UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET AIR FORCE FLEET AIR, SEATTLE P16-1/00/(60) Naval Air Station, Serial 0319 Seattle, Washington. CONFIDENTIAL 14 June 1943. Subject: Inshore Patrol Pilots in Alaskan Area - Rotation of. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - number will rpovide the replacements required as par (b) above, plus auch replacements as may be necessary to take care of losses due to sickness and casualties. If this plan should be adopted the Commanding Officer of VS-50 will be notified that he can expect the detachment of any pilot in the squadron after that pilot has served approxi- mately three months in the squadron and he will be directed to notify Commander Fleet Air, Seattle of the names of any pilots whom he does not consider qualified for Alaskan duty two weeks in advance of the termination of such three month period. 2. It is believed that the adoption of this plan with such modifications as Commander Fleet Air, West Coast may deem advis- able, will be of great help in maintaining the efficiency of pilots in the Scouting Squadrons in Alaska. In addition it will provide Commander Fleet Air, West Coast with a steady flow of experienced pilots for reassignment. 3. In order to amke a start on such a program Enclo- sures (A) (B) are forwarded herewith. Enclosure (A) lists fifteen (15) pilots who have served for over a year in the Alaskan area. Enclosure (B) lists sixteen (16) pilots who are recommended by the Commanding Officer of VS-50 as qualified for duty in the Alaskan area. Since the receipt of Enclosure (B), Lieutenant Leonard has received Bureau of Naval Personnel orders as Commanding Officer of VS-50 and Ensigns Hovak and Stangbury have been detached by order of Commander Fleet Air, West Coast. It is recommended that the remaining thirteen (13) pilots listed in Enclosure (B) plus the two (2) pilots with the next longest service in VS-50 be ordered to duty with Alaskan Squadron re- placing the long time pilots listed in Enclosure (A). It is suggested that this replacement program be undertaken initially at the rate of three (3) pilots every two weeks. 4. It is noted that accomplishment of this immediate program involves a relief for Lieutenant Commander Hawkins, the Com- mander Officer of VS-49. Subject to the approval of Commander Alaskan Sector it is recommended that Lieutenant Ostrom, the Executive of this squadron be nominated as Commanding Officer vice Lieutenant Commander Hawkins. CC: ComnorpacSeafrom F. D. WAGNER Comfairwing Four Comalsec ERRORS LEFT IN: Eliainating rpovide amke