Plank Owners
Every organization has an origin story; this is ours.
“On 1 June. 1956 a new squadron was born aboard the Princeton. While the ship was operating at sea the Princeton’s helicopter team, Detachment November of HS-2, was commissioned as the full-fledged Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six. Lieutenant Commander Dougal D. Mackay, USN, Officer-in-Charge of Detachment November, read the commissioning orders and assumed command of the new squadron at ceremonies held in the hangar deck. It was a unique occasion in that the commissioning took place while the ship was at sea. All hands who could be spared from watch turned out to hear Lt. Cmdr Mackay dedicate HS-6 to developing the role of the helicopter in anti-submarine warfare.” USS Princeton (CVS-37) 1956 Cruisebook
Orders to the Commanding Officer of USS Princeton to commission HS-6.
Lcdr Mackay reports to Commanding Officer of USS Princeton as acting Commanding Officer of HS-6.
The Princeton’s newspaper reported on the HS-6 commissioning.
The traditional Commissioning cake is brought into the newly commissioned HS-6 readyroom – 1 June 1956
The Acting Commanding Officer was Lcdr Dougal D. Mackay when HS-6 was commissioned on 1 June 1956.
HS-6 officers when the squadron was commissioned on 1 June 1956
HS-6 Division Officers, Chief Petty Officers and Enlisted Men when the squadron was commissioned on 1 June 1956.
Shown above in the 1956 USS Princeton (CV-37) WESTPAC Cruisebook are our HS-6 Officers and Enlisted Plank Owners
Immediate 6 B&W images above provided courtesy of https://www.navysite.de/index.htm
HS-6 Officer Plank Owners
| Ltjg R. B. Borthwick |
| Lcdr R. H. Crowder |
| Lcdr R. A. Cummings |
| Lcdr R. J. Cyphers |
| Ltjg C. R. Davies |
| Lt R. E. Davis |
| Ltjg T. F. Dawson |
| Lt C. E. Dechow |
| Ltjg G. Dubois |
| Lt G. T. Gregory |
| Lcdr J. W. Hurnblad |
| Lt R. H. Hunter |
| Lt M. E. Klein |
| Lt C. J. Marston |
| Lcdr D. D. Mackay |
| Lt K. McGrath |
| Lcdr W. B. Mills |
| Lcdr C. I. Porter |
| Lcdr R. H. Raymond |
| Lt H. E. Talkington |
| Lt M. E. Taylor |
| Ltjg A. W. Wheeler |
HS-6 Enlisted Plank Owners
| B. M. Adams |
| W. M. Barnes |
| H. A. Basford |
| D. C. Billingsly |
| G. L. Blankenbaker |
| C. F. Bowerman |
| J. G. P. Boyle |
| C. A. Brown |
| F. L. Brown |
| R. D. Buchanan |
| L. W. Carlton |
| P. L. Carr |
| L. D. Clair |
| Q. P. Collicott |
| J. A. Crissman |
| W. W. Crowley |
| T. M. Cushing, Jr. |
| C. H. Darnell |
| L. G. Davis |
| J. A. Deckman |
| C. F. Denecour, Jr. |
| R. L. Dolmseth |
| C. L. Duncan |
| B. D. Dungan |
| E. Estep |
| J. Garrett |
| J. C. Gordon |
| J. Hannah |
| G. W. Hassett |
| C. R. Herron |
| G. W. Hopper |
| J. S. Horn |
| J. G. Indellicate |
| C. E. Jones |
| S. Jones, Jr. |
| W. W. Kemphert, Jr. |
| J. G. Kloos |
| R. D. Knight |
| J. N. Layden |
| W. F. Leatherwood |
| E. S. Limtiaco |
| R. L. Lipnick |
| H. C. Lundy |
| J. W. Mattingly |
| S. D. Mumford |
| W. C. Murray |
| M. J. Napolitano |
| H. R. Parker |
| J. D. Parkinson |
| L. G. Pennnington |
| C. E. Pilgreen |
| T. C. Poncy |
| R. M. Popejoy |
| R. J. Rehms |
| G. O. Shields |
| A. E. Stangis |
| J. M. Stanley |
| M. G. Steffen |
| G. E. Stephens |
| R. L. Swanson |
| S. E. Teeters |
| D. L. Thomas |
| W. A. Toomey |
| E. L Tottress |
| W. A. Vandagriff, Jr. |
| D. T. Walker |
| G. A. Watts |
| H. C. Weston |
| D. R. Whitlock |
| J. R. Wilkinson |
| M. D. Williams |
The original HS-6 complement of officers and men on the hangar deck of the USS Princeton. LA Times photo
HS-6 ended its 1st deployment when the USS Princeton tied up at North Island on18 September 1956.
