US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Service in the Naval Aeronautical Organization 91
Steele’s command consisted of six H-16 flying boats under Lieutenant
Bruce G. Leighton, U. S. Navy, Class of 1913, as l’Airboat Squadron Commander,”
a Kite Balloon Division of six balloons on as many ships, and an
airplane division of three land planes on the famous Sbuwmut, later to be
iunk as Oglala on 7 December 194 1.“ All 3,8o5 tons of her had been converted
into an aircraft tender after 11 years passenger-freight service in the
Fall River Line, and 18 months as a converted minelayer.’”
It was 10 months later, before the Aroostook (CM-3), a sister ship of the
Sbawrnut was taken from the Mine Force of the Pacific Fleet and made the
flagship and tender for the Air Detachment, Pacific Fleet.” She got off to a
running start with Captain Henry C. Mustin, Class of 1896, (number 11
naval aviator certificate) as Detachment Commander and skipper of the
flagship. Commander John H. Towers (number three naval aviator certifi-
cate) was the Executive Officer.’”
The hunt for just any kind of a ship, which could undertake the duties
of an aircraft tender and flagship on the Asiatic Station had taken much
longer. Finally, the old collier Ajax (AC-14) of 9,250 tons, built in Scot-
land for the coal trade in 1890, and 34 years and two wars later serving the
United States Navy alongside the dock in Cavite, Philippine Islands, was
chosen. She was hauled into the stream in February 1924. Her designation
was changed to AGC-15, and her assignment was changed from the Receiv-
ing Ship for the l(lh Naval District to flagship of Aircraft Squadrons, U. S.
Asiatic Fleet. Lieutenant Commander Charles S. Keller, U. S. Navy, who
commanded the Ajax as Receiving Ship, temporarily continued in command,
awaiting the arrival of an officer versed in aviation.
Six Douglas Torpedo (DT-2 ) aircraft of Torpedo Squadron 20 were
ferried out to Cavite aboard the USS Vega (AK-17) and arrived in Cavite
in mid-February 1924 after a 40-day passage from San Diego, California.z3
They were the backbone and sinew of Aircraft Squadrons, Asiatic.
Everything in supporting resources for the Squadron over the next few
years was in the nature of an improvisation. “Aircraft Squadrons Asiatic
exists solely to provide a groundwork to be built upon” was the way Admiral
“ (a) NutiyDireczory,191!); (b) NAVWEPSOO-80P-1, p. 30.
n Bureau of Construction and Repair, Ship.r Data, U.S. Natal VeJreh (Washington: Government
printing Office, 1938) Hereafter S&p~ Du~a.
‘(a) Dictiorrury of Arnericurs NarJ~l Figbrirrg Ship,, Vol. I, p. 64. Hereafter DANFS, I; (b)
Navy Directory, 1919.
m (a) Ibid.; (b) NAVWEPSOO-80P-1, Appendix I, p. 195.
5 (a) Navy Directory, 1924; (b) Greer; (c) DANFS, I, p. 17.