Log tracks fighter pilot's war

I found an aviator’s flight log book in a drawer through which I rummaged last week.
It came into my possession after my father’s death. Shame on me for not having paid it much attention before now.
It begins with his first training hop as a Navy aviator (Hellcat, Pacific Theatre) in Norman, Okla. on May 11, 1943, and ends with his last flight, to Melbourne, Fla. in October 1945.
The entries in between those dates are perhaps not as interesting to you as to me, but I share a few nonetheless:
Feb. 8, 1945 -- Canopy shattered by Zero; nose with it; him or me. Him.
Feb. 8, 1945 -- Garlock cracks up on landing, loses an arm.
Feb. 16, 1945 --Pre-dawn, first fighter sweep over Tokyo, lost Clark.
Feb. 22, 1945 -- Pre-dawn, strike on Iwo Jima, lost “Stew.”
Feb. 25, 1945 -- Bad weather sweep over Japan, lost Bright.
March 19, 1945 -- New Hellcat, strike on Kyushu, took two Bettys on ground, one hanger, one locomotive.
March 28, 1945 -- Strike on fighter force, Minami Diato, heavy ack-ack.
March 29, 1945 -- Strike on Okinawa.
April 3, 1945 -- Strike on Miyako-Shima, lost Leiber.
April 10, 1945 -- Sweep on Minami, wounded, Purple Heart; lost Rivers.
April 17, 1945 -- Scouting flight, lost ‘Red’ Reeder.
May 9, 1945 -- Patrol over fleet, Kikai, 2 Judy’s, 1 Zero.
May 11, 1945 -- Support flight, Okinawa, Floodquist shot down.
June 3, 1945 -- Okinawa, lost Apgar and Dyer.
June 11, 1945 -- Last combat flight.
I doubt there was much argument in the squadron over Truman’s decision two months later.

Editor Jim Butler can be reached at jim.butler@eunicetoday.com.