14 JAN 44
January 14th began with Princeton getting underway at 0809 to shift berth to the Navy Yard for repairs to damage incurred from the aircraft crash on the 11th. By 0845 she was “moored port side to Berth B-21” for repairs to “superstructure and mast.”
Tomorrow, repairs and resupply will begin before dawn.
* In previous entries I have been referring to both of Princeton’s aircraft squadrons as the “Air Wing.” This is correct using today’s terminology but during World War II the squadrons assigned to a carrier were referred to as the “Air Group.” On 20 December, 1963 the Navy changed its aviation classification system and renamed Air Groups to Air Wings. Confusing minutiae I know, but suffice it to say that USS Princeton (CVL-23) had aboard Air Group 23 (CVLG-23). You may be asking what on earth “CVL” means, and that is not an unreasonable question. For reasons known only to King Neptune, and perhaps a few of his favorite mermaids…
“C” is the designation for a Cruiser or a Carrier. The determination of which is which depends on the follow-on modifier…
“V” is Navyspeak for “Heavier than air”, obviously. Therefore…
“CV” is an aircraft carrier.
“L” is the designation for “Light”, therefore as a “Light” carrier, Princeton is designated as a “CVL.”
For the gory details, see this link:
It follows then that Princeton’s Air Group would be designated “CVLG”.
CVLG-23 in turn was composed of two squadrons: VF-23 flying the F6F-3 Hellcat fighter:
And VT-23 flying the TBF Avenger bomber:
Both squadrons were commanded by an individual knows as the Carrier Air Group Commander, universally known as “CAG” (pronounced “KAG”)
Even though the term “Air Group” was replaced in 1963, the Commander of today’s Carrier Air Wing, or “CVW,” is still referred to as CAG.
If asked to use “CAG” in a sentence I would say something like:
“You should have seen the time my wife arced a semi-circle of red wine across the room and all over my CAG’s white carpet when we were stationed in Japan.”
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