Mike Weeks, a contributing editors for "The Hook" magazine, has built a database of aircraft carrier skippers. The database includes the skippers' tour dates and will be used as a reference tool. Check out Mike's list of Wasp skippers, below. Feel free to e-mail Mike at micoma@aol.com, if you get the urge.
Thanks Mike!
Mike's Skipper List
1943 - 1947
- Capt. Clifton A. F. "Ziggy" Sprague (CV-18's first CO), 24 November 1943 - 22 July 1944
- Captain Oscar A. "Tex" Weller, 22 July 1944 - 7 June 1945
- Captain Wendell G. "Windy" Switzer, 07 June 1945 - 04 March 1946
- Captain Joseph C. "Jumpin Joe" Clifton, 04 March 1946 - 05 June 1946
- Commander John L. Counihan, 05 June 1946 - 17 September 1946
- Commander Lewis Freedman, 17 September 1946 - 17 February1947
- Captain Burnham C. MaCaffree, 10 September 1951 - 08 July 1952
- Captain Ralph S. Clarke, 08 July 1952 - 01 August 1953
- Captain Patrick Henry Jr., 01 August 1953 - 05 May 1954
- Captain David J. Welsh, 05 May 1954 - 18 May 1955
- Captain Robert W. Denbo, 18 May 1955 - 06 June 1956
- Captain Raymond C. Needham, 06 June 1956 - 01 May 1957
- Captain Harmon T. Utter, 01 May 1957 - 24 July 1958
- Captain Edward H.C. Fredericks, 24 July 1958 - 26 August 1959
- Captain Carlyle Ingram, 26 August 1959 - 11 June 1960
- Captain Constantine A. Karaberis, 11 June 1960 - 21 June 1961
- Captain William F. Brewer, 21 June 1961 - 16 June 1962
- Captain Lee W. Mather, 16 June 1962 - 19 June 1963
- Captain Edward R. Fickenscher Jr., 19 June 1963 - 03 June 1964
- Captain James W. Conger, 03 June 1964 - 24 July 1965
- Captain Gordon E. Hartley, 24 July 1965 - 23 July 1966
- Captain Melvin R. Etheridge, 23 July 1966 - 27 August 1967
- Captain Harold G. Bradshaw, 27 August 1967 - 12 January 1968
- Captain Benjamin C. Tate, 12 January 1968 - 03 October1968
- Captain Samuel M. Cooley Jr., 03 October 1968 - 26 November 1969
- Captain John F. Gillooly, 26 November 1969 - 25 November 1970
- Captain Kenneth H. Lyons, 25 November 1970 - 02 February 1972
- Captain Forrest D. "Gooch" Goetschius, 02 February1972 - 01 July 1972 (last CO)
