The operation aboard the USS wasp with Air Group 81 had been less than a happy experience. Not only had members of the group been less than friendly, but the Captain of the Wasp became a thorn in the side of both the replacement pilots and the original members of Air Group 81.

 

During morning launches, the Captain would come up on the bridge and watch the planes take off. He would note the things that did not meet with his approval. Later he would send a memorandum to the Squadron Commander with the list of pilots and their "unacceptable actions" enumerated, and with recommendations for remedial action. A list would be posted on the Ready Room bulletin board so all could see and read the Memo.

 

After being approached by members of the Fighter Squadron, Air Group Commander Voorhis got us together for a meeting. The gist of Commander Voorhis words was roughly: "Don't pay any attention to the old fart". "He probably got passed over for Admiral, and now hates everything". It was a little more than disconcerting, after hard days with the Japs, to have to put up with this kind of crap from our own side.

 

One more incident of Captain Weller's asinine conduct, occurred on a later pre-dawn launch. I had warmed up my plane and started to check the mags. If, during a magneto check, the engine drops off over 100 RPM, something is wrong with the ignition system, and the plane should not be flown until the fault is determined and corrected.

 

I found the engine dropped 700 RPM on the left mag and 900 RPM on the right mag. In addition the engine was popping and flame was torching back past the cockpit. The Captain's voice came over the bull horn: "Stop doing that! Do you want the whole Jap Fleet to see us?" I tried to burn out the engine using high RPM and lean mixture, but could not correct the problem. I guess the Captain figured he could correct the problem by sending one of his men down. The guy climbed up on the wing and said: "What in Hell is the matter with you?" "I'11 show you how to fix it". He grabbed the throttle and did the same thing I had been doing. Then he advanced the throttle and checked the mags. The engine torched again and burned his leg. Again the Captain shouted to shut the damn thing down. I guess when the Captain's errand boy reported with a burned leg, the Captain realized I wasn't totally at fault. I shut the plane down, got out and went back to the Ready Room. That was the only time I aborted a flight during my combat tour.