Back to Deadwood After Two Wars

By Robert F. "Bob" Ruth, VT-4 and VS-25

I first joined Torpedo Squadron 4 (VT-4) at Quonset Point, Rhode Island on 2 February 1943. I had just completed Carrier Qualifi- cations at Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to that, my advanced air training was at Opalaka, Florida in Dive Bombing.

When I joined VT-4, they were about to go to sea on the USS Ranger. The squadron flew TBM Avengers, a plane that I wasn't checked out in. Several other pilots newly assigned to VT-4 were not checked out also, so the Skipper assigned us temporary duty with Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 22 (CASU-22) until we were checked out.

We rejoined VT-4 at Argentia on 1 June 1943 and became day carrier qualified in the TBM. The Ranger then returned to its homeport at Quonset Point, where we were night qualified.

The Ranger and Air Group 4 joined the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in the fall of 1943.

I flew wing on Lt John Palmer on 4 October 1943 when we made raids on German shipping off Bodø Norway. John was shot down early in the attack by ground fire. I then joined wing on the Skipper, "Woot" Taylor, and made an attack on a 5,000-ton enemy cargo vessel [Kerkplein]. I was awarded the Air Metal for scoring a direct hit on this ship. (See Operation Leader: The German View.).

Kerkplein at moment of bomb hit.

The Ranger returned to Quonset Point in early December. I took emergency leave and on 8 December 1943, I married Claramae Raybourn, my High School sweetheart.

The squadron was detached from the Ranger and retrained for Pacific duty. The squadron was transferred to Hilo, Hawaii in mid-summer, 1944. In August, Claramae and I became parents of a son, Bob Ruth, Jr

I was leader of the second section on the ill-fated flight when 9 pilots and crewmen were killed in a mid-air crash. This terrible accident is discussed in "Tragedy Strikes Night Operations" in Torpedo Squadron Four: A Cockpit View of World War II.

The squadron met the USS Bunker Hill at Saipan on 3 November 1944 and operated from her until 18 November. I made strikes on Manila Bay shipping and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for direct hits on 2 Japanese destroyers. I also received 2 gold stars in lieu of 2 additional Air Metals for meritorious achievements in connection with operations against enemy shipping in the Pescador Islands, Luzon, Formosa, and the South China Seas area.

The squadron transferred to the USS Essex on 19 November 1944 and made strikes against the Japanese until 10 March 1944. In April, 1944, I was transferred from VT-4 to instructor duty at Corpus Christi, Texas. I taught Ground School until September 1946, when I was discharged at Gross Point, Michigan. I returned to my hometown of Deadwood, South Dakota where I was employed in the machine shop founded by my Father and Uncle.

Lt(jg) Robert F. Ruth, VT-4, makes 17,000th landing on USS Essex. December 21, 1944.

I continued in the Navy Reserve as a "weekend warrior," joining a TBM squadron at Lincoln, Nebraska. In May, 1948, our second son David was born.

Recalled for the Korean War

I was recalled to active duty in 1952 during the Korean War and assigned to Air Anti-Submarine Squadron 25 (VS-25). Our homeport was North Island Naval Air Station and our ship was the baby flattop USS Sicily. We spent time in the Far East on anti-sub patrol. We flew AF Grumman Guardian planes, a big brother to the TBM, in an all-weather squadron.

In 1954, we flew the S2F Tracker anti-sub plane. I became Executive Officer of VS-25 in mid-1954.

At the end of the Korean War, I was discharged and again returned to my hometown of Deadwood, where I resumed work in the machine shop. In 1960, a friend and I opened an automotive parts store and machine shop. This has taken the last 20 years of my life. I enjoy the business, and although it has not made us wealthy, we have lived well and I have been very happy.

Uncle Sam retired me from the Navy at the rank of Commander on 4 March 1981, my 60th birthday. They gave me credit for 23 years, 3 months, and 6 days of active and reserve duty. The retirement check comes faithfully on the 26th of each month, and they are still paying me more than I'm worth!

Photo: Cartoon of Robert Ruth by Gerald Thomas. 
Photo: Robert Ruth, Buck Barnett, and Gerald Thomas 

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