"The Sea Hawks"
63rd Squadron Briefing Room


Patch of the 63rd SQ, B-17 era
Patch of the 63rd SQ, B-24 era
Patch of the 63rd SQ, B-24 era


63th SQ Tail Insignia
Courtesy Scott Burris of
http://www.heavybombers.com

Duty Stations

  From: To:
Sydney, Australia

28 March 1942

15 June 1942
Charleville, Australia

15 June 1942

3 August 1942
Torrens Creek

3 August 1942

12 November 1942

Mareeba, Australia

12 November 1942

23 January 1943
Port Moresby, New Guinea

23 January 1943

29 October 1943
Dobodura, New Guinea

29 October 1943

1 April 1944
Nadzab, New Guinea

1 April 1944

20 July 1944
Owi, Schouten Islands

20 July 1944

?
Tacloban

?

15 March 1945
Clark Field

15 March 1945

?
Ie Shima

?

?
Ft William McKinley, Luzon

?

?

Note on the name "Seahawks" and logo: creation of the 63rd Seahawk name and logo occurred during the transition from B-17 Flying Fortress to the B-24, which took place with " The Scott Project ", a group of low altitude, radar-equipped Liberators dedicated to attacking shipping. Capt. Herbert Derr was the Squadron Commanding Officer who decided that a new identity was required, hence the creation of the "Seahawks" nickname. He and artist Thomas Rote created the design for the new squadron insignia.

Commanding Officers

Maj. John G. Fowler

15 January 1941

9 January 1942
Maj. Leonard E. Symroski

10 January 1942

15 August 1942
Lt. Col. James O. Ellis

16 August 1942

5 September 1942
Maj. William G. Benn

6 September 1942

13 November 1942
Maj. Edward W. Scott, Jr.

14 November 1942

24 May 1943
Capt. Folmer Sogaard

24 May 1943

16 August 1943
Capt. John Van Trigt

16 August 1943

27 November 1943
Capt. Robert L. Coleman

27 November 1943

6 December 1943
Capt. Herbert O. Derr

6 December 1943

29 May 1944
Maj. Harry G. Park

30 May 1944

29 August 1944
Maj. Merrill F. Sargent

29 August 1944

9 January 1945
Maj. Albert W. Brownfield

15 January 1945

22 May 1945
Maj. Earl A. Butts

22 May 1945

c. September 1945

Interviews

Interview with T/Sgt. Edward Grant Harris
Interview with Captain "Skipper" Col. Kent L.A. Zimmerman
Interview with Robert H. Butler
Interview with S/Sgt Gerald "Gerry" Egger
Interview with S/Sgt. L.H. "Jack" Fultz
Interview with T\Sgt Raymond "Ray" Gates
Interview with Sgt. David "Shorty" Poarch
S/Sgt. Maurice H. Walker

Pictures

Crew:
   2nd Lt. James O'Brien
   Crew of "Who's Next?"
   Captain Ken McCullar
   Art's Cart & Crew
   Crew in front of B-17 "Old Baldy"
   Crew in front of B-17 "Lulu Belle"
   Ed Gammill in front of the B-24D "Pug"
   Crew in front of B-24D "Pug"
   63rd SQ Maintenance Crew, November 1943
   Col. Robert H. Butler, Bombardier (1983 photo)
   Butts' Crew
   Grave of Albert Brownfield, CO of the 63rd
   Patton's Crew
   Bill Chief Proudfoot at Owi showers
   Bernard N. Dunetz, Navigator
   Hockman Crew
   Joseph Thompson
   1st Lt. Robert "Bob" C. Ryan's Crew


   Aircraft:
   Wonder Gal
   B-17F "Lak-a-Nookie"
   B-17F "Tuffy"
   Out of the Night II
   Ka-Puhio-Wela (Double Trouble) taken during Battle of the Bismarck Sea
   B-17 Lulu Belle
   B-17 Black Jack (a.k.a. as "Jokers Wild")   picture 2
   B-17 Panama Hatti
   B-17 Tojo's Nightmare (or "Tojo's Night Mare")
   B-17 Reckless Mountain Boys
   Nose art from the B-17 Pluto

Miscellaneous:
   The Seahawks' Sign
   Another Seahawks' Sign
   63rd SQ Duty Board
   Floyd Redding Collection

Back