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Wilton "Hoot" Hutt
Wilton "Hoot" Hutt
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Wilton "Hoot" Hutt was a Naval Aviator that hailed from Norwood, Colorodo. He was first
an enlisted man like myself and was qualified and selected for Pilot's training through a different program than
the one I used. However, he too, received carrier, fighter training and joined Butch O'Hare's fighter squadron
in San Diego in the spring of 1943.
We trained with "Butch" O'Hare and were carrier qualified on the USS Altamaha CVE-18 off the coast of California with the rest of the squadron.
(See NavSource Online for more information on the ALTAMAHA)
After being deployed to Puunene, Maui for further training, we were organized in different divisions
or fighter teams. However, later, during our first combat tour, we managed to be in the same division and then
when, on the USS Intrepid CV-11,
January through March 1944, we were both room-mates and teammates.
During the invasion of the Marshall Islands, we helped soften up Kwajalein Atoll and then provided
support for the Marine landing force there.
During the first raid on Truk Atoll, our team escorted a flight of torpedo-bombers on a strike and
got involved in a dog fight with some enemy fighters that came out to intercept us. We each shot down a Jap plane
in the dog fight; did some strafing of the airfield on Moen Island and then managed to escort most of our bombers
back to the ship without a scratch.
Later that night we got slammed around a bit when a Jap torpedo bomber (Kate) put an exploding "fish"
into the rudder of the Intrepid and forced us out of action with the battle group a day early.
As our wounded Intrepid headed east-word into the wind, it had some steering problems with its non-functioning
rudder. To help the situation "Hoot" and I and several other VF-6 pilots like Cliff Seaver, Cherry Klingler,
George Rodgers, Jock Odenbrett, Bob Hobbs, Al Fairbanks, Bob Merritt and others helped the ship's First Lieutenant
construct and erect a sail on the forward part of the flight deck. It was made of canvas or sail-cloth and was
held up by steel palisades fastened to the flight deck. It has been said that this was the last time a major Navy
ship operated with a sail in modern day history.
A day or two before arriving at Pearl Harbor, the ship was slowed down long enough for the crew to
conduct a "Crossing the line" ceremony during which all "Pollywog" or uninitiated equator-crossers
were properly initiated by King Neptune, Davy Jones and his crew of "Shell-backs" or those who had already
been initiated. During the ceremony, "Hoot" and I were both brought before King Neptune's court on trumped-up
charges and were found guilty for which we paid an unspeakable price.
A day of two later we flew into Ford Island, in Pearl Harbor, turned in our airplanes into a FASRON and embarked on the USS White Plains CVE-55, which was waiting to take our whole fighter squadron back to San
Francisco..
It should be added that the Pilots and crew from the Torpedo and Dive bomber squadrons were embarked
on an old Army Transport for their trip back to San Francisco. We learned that living conditions were not very
plush.
We passed under Golden Gate Bridge on March 6 1944 thus ending our first cruise in VF-6. Some of
the squadron pilots were kept in the squadron while others young guys like "Hoot" were to be re-assigned
to another fighter squadron while some of the older pilots were sent to shore duty for a well earned breather.
"Hoot" and I parted ways with leave orders in hand on about 8 March and then we lost contact
with each other until we learned that on May 11, 1945, his ship, the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) had been hit hard amid ships and the many pilots did not survive.
I mourned more than a little bit until (while we on the Hancock were getting repaired in Pearl Harbor, June '45)
the Bunker Hill came through "Pearl" on it's way back to Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard for repairs. It
was there that I discovered that "Hoot" had been one of surviving pilots. That was a great day for me.
A number of years later when our family was on a camping/fishing trip in western Colorado, I tried
to contact "Hoot" at his home in Norwood, CO. I was told by their small town telephone operator that
"Hoot" had recently had a fatal accident when a lawn mower had contacted some electrical wire and a hunk
of metal had been imbedded in his chest. The report was that "Hoot" did not survive. Again, I went through
a terrible period of mourning for my old buddy and squadron-mate.
Sometime later I received the message from another squadron mate, "No! "Hoot" was
not dead," he argued.. "It was his father," who also was known locally as, "Hoot", the
same as his Navy Pilot son, in the city of Norwood, CO."
We managed to get together again in about 1998, when I met "Hoot" and his lovely "Aussie"
bride, Wilda in their Everett, Washington home on Hat Island, which is near Everett, where he had been elected
Mayor of the community.
Since then, we have kept in touch and attended several squadron Reunions together.
VF-6
Reunions
It is still a great feeling to have an old buddy to commiserate and "jovalate" with as
we remember our good ol' days in The Navy.
Thanks "Hoot", It has been great having a good friend and squadron mate like you. You have
certainly enriched my life many times over in addition to saving my life at least once at Truk. I certainly could
not have made it without you!!!
With great respect !!
- Hersch Pahl
Photo Op
This part of VF-6 was attached to VF-25 on the USS Cowpens (CVL-25). The carrier task force was enroute to attack the Enemy on Wake
Island scheduled for 5 & 6 Oct 1943.
VF-6 in USS Cowpens CVl-25
October 5-6, 1943
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VF-6
in USS Cowpens (CVL-25) - One flight (12 planes) of VF-6, Lead by George Bullard, was assigned temporarily to the
U.S.S. Cowpens during the fall of `43 and became a part of Air Group Twenty-five.
Back Row (L-R): John Ogg, Johnny Johnston, Wilton `Hoot` Hutt, Al Fairbanks, `Hersch` Pahl, Foster
`Crud` Blair, James Nichols, and `Pick` Butler. (non pilot) Front row (L-R): Cifford N. Seaver, Malcomb `Bud` Loesch,
Cy Chambers, George C.`Bull` Bullard, Bobby Neel, Tom Kerr, George Rodgers.
Hersch Pahl on the left and Wilton "Hoot"
Hutt on the right
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On 9 Dec 1943, VF-6 fighter pilots departed
the USS Cowpens ending 29 days at sea participating in the Gilbert Islands operation, and flew to Kaneohe on Oahu.
Christmas, 1943, the squadron met with our dear friends, Frank and Ethal Hoogs, at Wailiku, Maui
for Christmas
Dinner, at which time we joined the Hoogs
family and others, in memorializing our late skipper. "Butch O'Hare.
He later participated in the 21 plane Memorial Flight of Hellcats back to Barber's Point on Dec 26,
1943.
We pilots were given a few days rest during which we lived in quarters at Kaneohe where we did our
own cooking and got caught up on physical fitness and relaxation. Hersch Pahl on the left and Wilton "Hoot"
Hutt on the right.
VF-6, Bullard's Flight 2/9/44 on U.S.S. Intrepid (CV-11) at
Majuro Atoll
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There was a "photo-op on Feb 9, 1944 for Air Group Six aboard Intrepid (CV-11) while she was anchored at Majuro Atoll. The carrier strike force
was preparing to make the first carrier raid on the enemy stronghold at Truk Atoll. VF-6 had their photos taken
by flight (see the Three divisions).
The above photo is of George Bullard's flight. Wilton "Hoot" Hutt (front -right) is setting next to Hersch
Pahl , who was being tormented by Joe Robbins behind him at the time the photo was taken.
1st row L-R:- Cliff Seaver, Dany Lamb, Hersch Pahl, and Hoot Hutt.
2nd row L-R:- Al Fairbacks, Joe Robbins, Al Vraciu, and Gordon Little.
3rd row L-R:- Jim Nichols, Pick Butler, Tom Kerr, George Bulllard, Cy Chambers, and Moinahan. At that time Seaver,
Lamb, Pahl and Hoot Hutt were teamed up and flying together in the same division.
- Hersch Pahl
"For those who fought for it...
freedom has a flavor the protected will never know!"
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