Man your planes!
On October 25, 1944, Task Unit 77.4.3, call sign “TAFFY 3”, was supporting the troops who had just landed on Leyte, Philippines.
Without warning, a large group of enemy battleships, cruisers and destroyers appeared on the horizon – the only thing between them and the vulnerable troops ashore was TAFFY 3.
The grit, determination and heroics of the Composite Squadrons aboard TAFFY 3’s escort carriers were legendary.
"The wildcat pilots were given a free hand to strafe with the hope that their strafing would kill personnel on the Japanese warships, silence automatic weapons, and, most important, draw attention from the struggling escort carriers.
Sometimes, two, or four Wildcats would join up for a strafing run. Again, a Wildcat would join up and run interference for an Avenger. Then, likely as not, it would turn out that the Avenger had no torpedo or bomb and was simply making a dummy run. When their ammunition gave out, the fighters made dry runs to turn the pursuers."
Raise your mug to the Composite Squadrons of TAFFY 3!