Regardless of what direction the Japanese originated their attack one of the Navy sections would see the Japanese planes and would initiate a turn into the Japanese planes. The other Navy section would see the first Navy section and know they were being attacked. At this time they would turn in to meet the first section passing either over or under as indicated by the first section. The first section would bring their guns to bear on the Japanese planes in a head on run forcing the Japanese to break off their attack on section two. After passing the Japanese, the first section would either return to it's original course or complete a one hundred and eighty degree turn. Section two would be alert to section one's actions and would follow suit, thus returning to their original positions abreast of each other ready to meet the next Japanese attack if necessary.

VC 93 Composite Photo 1945

The "Thatch Weave" was very successful and undoubtedly saved many American lives. Not only was Commander Thatch highly respected for his contribution to the war effort, he was, also, an ace Navy pilot having shot down more than a few Japanese planes.

In trying to imagine how these early pilots might have felt flying into almost certain suicide, and how I might have reacted to the same situation, I consider the fact that although the enemy air opposition was greatly reduced, we were still flying into heavy antiaircraft fire. Never once did I consider ducking out because of fright. So I suspect that had I been one of these early pilots I, too, would have flown into a nest of Japanese planes with complete confidence that I would survive just as I'm sure they did. Death is something that happens to someone else.

One of the other pilots of the squadron had a quote that expresses my feeling for my experiences as well as he felt for his. It goes like this "When I tell people that I was a carrier pilot, regardless of whether they are pilots of one of the other less fortunate services, or a civilian pilot or an ordinary citizen, they always say that they are amazed that anyone could or would land on one of those "boats". Quite frankly so was I. As a matter of fact, every time I caught a wire I would say to myself: Hot Damn, you did it again!"

Many years later at the 45th reunion of my high school graduation I returned to Abraham Lincoln High to find that the school had honored all of its students who had served in the military during WW II by inscribing their names on the wall above the office doors. I could find everyone's name that I knew, including my brother Melv's, even though he had gone to East High his last year. The only name I did not find was mine. I guess after forty five years no one there could give a s--- about any of those who served much less whether someone's name was missing. Still, my feelings were hurt.

CVE 80, USS Petrof Bay in the foreground in this newspaper article from the Los Angeles Times in the early '50s.

I suppose that over the years I might have been "pissed-off" many times and for many reasons. Other than the over sight by my high school, I think the thing that "pissed" me most was the fact that I flew 54 official missions in enemy occupied territory in direct support of our troops against the enemy and on

target combat air patrol in areas occupied by enemy aircraft. Even though we were not fortunate enough to make contact with the enemy these TCAP's were qualifying flights for the Air Medal and the DFC.

By coincidence, George Bush, the future president, and I flew nearly the same number of missions. He flew 56 missions and lost only one plane of record and two aircrewmen. I lost two planes but no aircrewmen. He got his DFC and several air medals and a lot of back-patting for his war time service while he was president. Seems the Navy could at least match his medals.

I had, in fact, been recommended for the DFC and four Air Medals. The recommendation had been approved by A.E. Montgomery, Admiral, U. S. Navy. I received the Air Medal and one star in lieu of the second before being discharged. The other two Air Medals and the DFC never came.

Chief Melvin W. Allison

At our first squadron reunion in 1984, the skipper confirmed that the medals I had not received and those in the squadron who also had not gotten theirs had been officially approved and we were eligible to receive them. Maybe one day I'll make an inquiry. The squadron reunion held in 1984 was very successful. Every two years since we have repeated the reunion even though our ranks are being thinned severely. As for my brother, Melv, after the Pearl Harbor attack he returned to Norfolk, Va. where he was assigned to the newly commissioned USS Indiana, BB 58.

He was to remain on the Indiana to the end of the war. Never could get him to talk about his experiences for his years in the Navy. Carl, on the other hand, would tell of his experiences at the drop of a pin. After pre-pre-flight he was assigned to pre-flight in California and then to primary at Livermore, Ca.

USS Indiana, BB 58

At this station he and the Navy parted company due to a disagreement between him and his instructor- that is a story in it's self. After leaving the Navy he went to work as a longshoreman in San Francisco. This lasted until he was accepted into the Army Air Corps cadet program.