WW2 (VMF) Pacific Island Hopping ...

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:28 pm

To Mark and the gang. I hope you don't mind me posting this here. Say so if you do and I will delete it.

Would you all keep an eye out for wartime photos of a bomb/torpedo hoist like this:

We picked this one up for the museum and it is a WWII Navy Magazine/bomb hoist dolly type ES-437. It has tracks like our bomb and torpedo cart. I am hoping to find shots of it in use at some South Pacific airfield.

Thanks in advance for any help in tracking down photos of this and any ground support photos. My Navy ground support info is lacking.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7913

Ah ha!!!! .... now I have to go back and look at hundreds of Navy photos. I swear I've seen this device in the archives I frequent. Another mission I'm happy to take on Taigh.
I'll see what I can find :wink:

Mark

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:02 pm

Thank you, thank you THANK YOU.

Here is another one while you are at it (insert gift horse oral observation here).

Pretty much anything that has those cool tracks would be of interest but this is the other dolly we have.

GrumpyBadger · **Posted:** Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:37 pm

just want to say I subscribed to this topic :drink3:

this has been absolutely amazing!

If I find any historical photos or other things (like warbird designations and such) of the CAF should I post them up here? Or should I just make my own thread? I've been researching the warbirds of Guadalcanal pretty heavily of late.

keep rocking on!

daviemax · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:59 am

Outstanding, thanks Mark.

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2013 9:22 am

I'd love to see the Great Uncle's log books, to cross reference Bureau Numbers with the planes that flew with VMF-217.

What exactly is the origin of the term "Ring-Dang-Doo" anyway? I Googled it, but all I found was a song from 1965.

makin' boost · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2013 11:45 am

F4U-1A Corsair aircraft of VMF-223 and a C-47 are on the ground on Green Island 1944

My Dad was on Green Island around this time. He was the Medical Officer for PT Boat Squadron "MTB Ron-28".
He arrive in the Solomon Islands mid summer 1943 operating from a base on Tulagi , then "up the slot" to Green Island and beyond.

Thanks for posting the wonderful photos.

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 2685

Rob Mears wrote:

I'd love to see the Great Uncle's log books, to cross reference Bureau Numbers with the planes that flew with VMF-217.

What exactly is the origin of the term "Ring-Dang-Doo" anyway? I Googled it, but all I found was a song from 1965.

Ahh, the old Ring-Dang-Doo!

You'll have to copy and paste the link. WIX doesn't like the ")" on the end.
http://www.folklorist.org/song/The_Ring-Dang-Doo_(I)
http://www.folklorist.org/song/Rackyman ... ng-Doo_(II))

http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/fishlm/ ... /les01.htm

"The following doggerel verse, collected from 2NZEF servicemen in 1940, is another example of strategic cursing and insult directed at an enemy. Originally entitled "Kaiser Wilhelm, Son of Satan" and of World War 1 origins, 30 it contains a number of Australian slang expressions and has similarities to the Australian folk recitation "The Bastard from the Bush". This was current in New Zealand in the 1930's as part of a common store of Australasian folk culture that included such obscene classics as "The Ring Dang Doo", "The Old Red Flannel Drawers that Maggie Wore" and a bawdy version of "The Road to Gundagai ."

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7913

Rob , I heard from the fellow once about this possibly being his Great Uncles Corsair. Nothing since. Hopefully he may show up here again. Great stuff by all of you in this thread. Nice responses so far. And your all welcome as always. Fun to learn new stuff.

Better post a few VF-17 "Jolly Rogers" photos (again :wink:

). There's several WIX threads that take a look at the pilots of VF-17 as well (J Cook threads) And a real nice website below for those who haven't paid a visit. Great stuff for the VF-17 fans.
http://www.vought.org/special/html/sfight17.html

F4U-1A Corsairs f VF-17on the deck as a carrier goes through the Panama Canal

F4U-1A Corsair of VF-17 USS Bunker Hill CV-17

F4U-1A Corsair's of VF-17 flying at Bouganville Ira Kepford's #29 in front.

F4U-1A Corsair Ira Kepford's #29 VF-17 Bouganville

F4U-1A Corsair VF-17 Bouganville

F4U-1A Corsairs VF-17 out of Bouganville

F4U-1A Corsair VF-17 Piva Strip Bouganville

Ike Kepford

Ike Kepford shown in his Harbor Springs home in 1985, two years before his death at age 68

Skyraider3D · **Posted:** Wed Oct 09, 2013 5:43 pm

Brilliant selection Mark, some where new to me!

yankeepapa · **Joined:** Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:48 am **Posts:** 28

Mark,

thank you, very nice F4U4

YVES

Rob Mears · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2013 2:26 pm

Does anyone know the story on Kepford wrecking his #29? I read the book but I don't recall that specific detail.

seabee1526 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:18 pm **Posts:** 459

Very nice selection, like the Privateer in Series-4.

Gotta give a shoutout to my Seabee brothers who built alot of what those airplanes are sitting on!

Mr Kepford in his Harbor Springs home? Is that Harbor Springs Michigan? My family still lives there...very nice

Skyraider3D · **Posted:** Thu Oct 10, 2013 4:25 pm

Rob Mears wrote:

Does anyone know the story on Kepford wrecking his #29? I read the book but I don't recall that specific detail.

The War Diary for January 1944 has the following text as part of the entry for 30 January:

"Popp and Kepford groundlooped on landing. The planes were destroyed, the pilots were uninjured. Both planes had been damaged by Zekes"

This happened after fifteen VF-17 Corsairs escorted TBF Avengers to Simpson Harbor, New Britain. Nine Zekes and one Tony were claimed destroyed, plus three probably destroyed. Five aircraft were lost (including the two groundlooping ones), with Kropf MIA and Beacham WIA (as a result of ditching his plane). Gutenkunst was KIFA as a result of a mid-air during the night landing. None of the Avengers were shot down by the 20 or 30 Zekes encountered, however.

For the record, Kepford's first "29" (BuNo 17684), on which he scored twelve times, had the earlier star & bar with red surround as seen in the wreck photos. His later "29" (BuNo 55995), in which he scored three times (19 Feb '44), is the one portrayed in most photographs (with late-war style star & bar) and his most famous mount. In-between he scored one kill on BuNo 17648 (3 Feb '44).

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7913

Priceless ...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-wHh16f8nVY

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WW2 (VMF) Pacific Island Hopping ...

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