Almansur: Tom Blackburn's Jolly Rogers

Encased in a wooden box with a glass front, a human skull and jaw, with some teeth missing, lie on top of two crossed human femurs. To those acquainted, they are the "Bones", and reside in the ready room of Fighter Squadron 103, Jolly Rogers, as one of the most enduring symbols of U.S. Naval Aviation.

The legend of the Bones has been told often, and almost always incorrectly. As befits the Jolly Rogers' flag, their ancestry is dubious, their blood lines crossed and fact runs wildly mixed with fiction – as many of the real good sea stories do. But some factual evidence can be compiled.

It all began in 1 January 1943. At 0800, then CDR Tom Blackburn, read the orders that established Fighter Squadron 17 (VF-17). Ten Ensigns and eight enlisted personnel heard the orders. No more staff. No instructors. And no planes.

As CDR Blackburn maneuvered through the bureaucratic maze to get his warriors from the available pool, 10 SNJ trainers and 8 F4F Wildcat fighters were xangaied for training purposes, while the squadron awaited the delivery of the spanking new Vought Corsair. Somewhere in this period, the squadron insignia was born. Blackburn ordered a "piratical" theme, and soon someone came up with a black flag with white skull and crossbones. Thus were the Jolly Rogers born. Eager as they were, they decided that the insignia would go on the engine cowling, leaving the usual space bellow the cockpit for kill markings. Time would prove then right.

By mid-February 1943, the new Vought F4U-1 Corsairs began to arrive, and they proved to be a handful. VF-17 did its carrier qualifications aboard the USS Charger. And despite some totaled airplanes and many busted wheels and tires, everyone got qualled.

VF-17 was to deploy aboard the new USS Bunker Hill for a "shake-down" cruise with the full airwing. Upon return from this training cruise, in 10 August 1943, VF-17 was greeted by a gratifying sight: a dozen new F4U-1A Corsairs awaited them. These were the aircraft with which they would go into battle, leaving the earlier "birdcage" Corsairs behind. Serious concerns existed amongst the top brass on whether the Corsair was fully ready for carrier service, and only Blackburn insistence made the Bunker Hill deploy for combat with them.

However, a change of heart came from the top, and upon reaching the combat zone VF-17’s Corsairs were replaced by VF-18’s F6F Hellcats. VF-17 went ashore to Espiritu Santo, and for the duration of the combat assignment only went aboard the Bunker Hill once more, to refuel and rearm in November 11, during what was to be known as the Battle of the Solomon Sea.

Last combat mission came on March 6, 1944. During their combat tour they claimed 154.5 kills, a record at the time. They had 13 aces.

Gordon Permann sent me this historic picture taken at NAS Alameda on the date of the formal disestablishment of the squadron, April 10th 1944:

They left most of their Corsairs back at Espiritu Santo, and most of the squadron's complement came back by boat, aboard the Prince William. This memorable occasion was their first, and last, formal meeting after the combat operations. It was followed by, in the words of Tom Blackburn, "an uninhibited party to end all parties".

Those who want to know more about Tom Blackburn's Jolly Rogers should find the following book of great interest:

The Jolly Rogers: The Story of Tom Blackburn and Navy Fighting Squadron VF-17

Thus was the tradition of the Jolly Rogers forged in metal, fire and blood, over the jungles of New Guinea and the South Pacific crystal waters.