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Escort Carriers in The Atlantic

by Walter E. Skeldon

249 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-1566; ISBN 1-4120-3778-6; US$22.50, C$25.00, EUR18.50, £13.00

Escort carriers were major factors in winning the "Battle of the Atlantic." The air cover over the convoys plus the Hunter-Killer task forces were key in defeating the German U-boats.

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About the Book      About the Author      Table of Contents or Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

The purpose of this book is to preserve for the future the exploits of the Escort Carriers. they were small, slow and cheap to build - that was their selling point at the times. Their assigned tasks were not so simple. Some of the CVE roles in WWII were to transport aircraft to distant overseas points or qualify new pilots in carrier operations. They furnished air cover for landed troops during invasions in North Africa and southern France. The baby aircraft carriers formed the nucleus for Hunter-Killer groups that roamed the Atlantic in search for submariens, helping win the Battle of the Atlantic. These are but a few of the tasks performed by the Jeeps during WWII.

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About the Author

Walter Edward Skeldon enlisted in the US Navy in August 4th, 1941 at the age of seventeen and ten days on a MINORITY CRUISE. He then extended his duties for two more years in July 1945 and was discharged July 1947. During WWII, Skeldon served in three carriers, two CVEs and a CVL plus TAD in two more. Upon discharge he enlisted with the inactive reserves and was recalled to active duty in September 1950.

During the Korean War Chief Skeldon served as one of President Truman's policemen in the USS SAISBURY SOUND AV-13 (a seaplane tender). He was discharged a second time on November 4th, 1951. Skeldon re-enlisted in the drilling inqactive reserves on June 24th, 1966 and served in that capacity until he retired from the Naval Reserves July 24, 1984. He was discharged with the rate of Senior Chief aviation Boatswains Mate (ABCS).

Chief Skeldon served a total of seven years and two and a half month of active duty, encompassing all of WWII and a portion of the Korean War; plus twenty years and three months of inactive reserve duty. Total years of service, twenty-seven years and five and a half months.

Married to his wife ANN for fifty-eight years this November, they have been blessed with six children. Joanne is his favourite daughter. As of 2004 his five sons have all performed honorable service in the Navy for a total of twnety-four years and two months of active duty, plus fifty years of inactive reserve. duty.

At present the Skeldon Naval tradition is being carried on by a granddaughter Jessica, with eleven years of active duty at the present time serving as a second class corpsman. His grandson has one year of Naval reserve duty.

The Chief retired from the railroad in July 1984 after thirty-seven years of railroad service.

Other books by the author: MINORITY CRUISE: Plus 2, USS KADASHAN BAY VC-20, ESCORT CARRIERS IN THE PACIFIC.

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Table of Contents or Excerpts

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Catalogue Information

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