WWII US Navy Aircrew Flight Log Book & Document VT-46 Torpedo Strike Okinawa For Sale

ORIGINAL WWII US NAVY CARRIER COMBAT LOG BOOK & DOCUMENT GROUPING

TORPEDO SQUADRON FORTY-SIX (VT-46) — USS INDEPENDENCE (CVL-22)

A fascinating, completely original World War II U.S. Navy logbook and document grouping belonging to Aviation Radioman Second Class E. D. Miller (ARM2c, USNR). This grouping offers an incredible look at frontline naval aviation combat during the final, brutal months of the Pacific War.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

1. Official Designation Document:

An official World War II certificate issued by Torpedo Squadron Forty-Six, certifying E.D. Miller as an Aircrewman entitled to draw flight clothing. The document is hand-signed by VT-46’s Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. J. P. Barron, and features the pencil notation "E. D. MILLER ARM" at the top right.

2. Original USN Pilot’s Flight Log Book:

An intact Navy logbook containing Miller’s original signature at the bottom ("E. D. Miller, ARM2c, USNR"). The book features excellent legibility, crisp ink handwriting, and official stamps.

LOGBOOK HIGHLIGHTS & COMBAT ENTRIES:

• 1944 Transit Phase: Logged movements documenting the squadron’s transit across major Pacific staging hubs, including Alameda to Pearl Harbor, Johnston Atoll, Manus Island (Admiralty Isles), and Ponam Island. Features an official ink stamp for CASU-13 (Combat Aircraft Service Unit 13).

• May 1945 Frontline Combat Strikes: Flying primarily as rear gunner/radioman with a pilot named Williams (among others like Lt. Fox, Lt. Staples, and Lt. Smith), Miller logged multiple heavy combat operations in the thick of the Battle of Okinawa.

• Explicitly Logged Combat Targets Include:

• "STRIKE" OKINAWA: Direct combat support for the amphibious invasion forces.

• "PRE-DAWN STRIKE" KIKAI: Night/early morning airfield suppression runs against Japanese Kamikaze staging bases on Kikaijima.

• "STRIKE" SAKASHIMA: Heavy offensive strikes targeting enemy airfield networks in the Sakashima Islands.

• "ASP" (Anti-Submarine Patrol): Defensive security rings protecting the carrier task group.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

VT-46 operated the rugged TBM/TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. During this specific window in 1945, the squadron was deployed aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVL-22), which operated as a specialized night-operations carrier tasked with neutralizing Japanese mainland-to-island air staging routes.

CONDITION:

The logbook and document are in good, vintage condition with expected aging, minor edge wear, and toning consistent with deployment in the Pacific Theater. Binding remains secure, text is remarkably sharp, and all pages are legible. Please review the high-resolution photos for exact cosmetic condition