JIM VAN RY

November 1943: Graduated as a 2nd Lt. USMCR. Designated Naval aviator.

On to Jacksonville, Florida, for operational training. We used SBD dive bombers for fighter training tactics, gunnery, etc. Not enough F4Us available at this date all over in combat areas.

February 1944: Ordered to El Toro Marine Air Base in California and assigned to a fighter training unit. Flew F4Us from that time on. Practiced gunnery, tactics, dive bombing, bomber escort; a lot of high altitude work. Accumulated 123 hours in the F4U. Ready to go work in the Pacific.

August 1944:  Departed USA in , by ship, taking 30 days to arrive at Guadacanal.  From there we were flown to Bougainville and joined VMF223 squadron. I flew 22 missions off of Bougainville that involved strafing, bombing and napalm over Rabaul Island and City. No air opposition.