George "Tux" Thomas Tastsides
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
George Thomas "Tux" Tastsides served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His unit was activated for service in World War II.
Mr. Tastsides was born on August 29, 1924, the son of Thomas and Amelia Tastsides, in Hibbing, Minnesota.
Flight training: From May 27 until August 24, 1943, he trained at the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School at St. Mary’s College, California. From September 6 until December, 1943, he attended Primary Flight School at Livermore, California. Then, from December 2, 1943, until June 28, 1944, he trained at Advanced Flight School in Corpus Christi, Texas. From June 29 until September 30, 1944, he trained at the Operational Fight School at Daytona Beach, Florida. Then between October 1 and 7, 1944, he trained at the Carrier Qualifying Training Unit in Glenview, Illinois. After that, from October 29 until November 7, 1944, he was placed under the supervision of the Commander Air Force Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.
When he completed training, he was initially assigned to Fighting Squadron 97 (VF-97) in Atlantic City, New Jersey from November 8 until November 15, 1944. He was soon transferred to Fighting Squadron 94 (VF-94), serving on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington; this aircraft carried served in the Pacific Theater. Mr. Tastsides flew the Hellcat F6F fighter for a year, until November 1945. He was released from active duty on December 10, 1945.
In August 1945, he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross. The section leader in a division of carrier-based fighter planes, he led his section in successful destruction of an enemy destroyer escort at Onakawa Bay, Honshu, Japan, on August 9, 1945.
After the war, on February 3, 1947, Mr. Tastsides re-entered active duty with Fighting Squadron 21A (VF-21A) at San Ysidro, California. His subsequent assignments were as follows:
-April 1947-January 1950: Fighting Squadron 112 (VF-112) on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Valley Forge based in San Diego, California. He flew an F8F Bearcat.
-February 1950-July 1952: Started flight training with the F9F Panther jet, but was reassigned to be landing signal officer (LSO) with VC-5.
-August 1952-September 1957: Assigned to Air Antisubmarine Squadron (VS) 871 based out of Los Alamitos, California; squadron was later redesignated Sea Control Squadron VS-37. At this time the squadron began to transition from one type of anti-submarine aircraft (AF-2) to another (S2F). Tastsides then served as Maintenance Officer on the U.S.S. Yorktown.
-October 1959-June 1963: Assigned to the T-28 Carrier Qualification Squadron, Naval Air Station Saufley Field, Florida (a facility for initial primary training of student naval aviators), where he served as Operations Officer/LSO with VT-5.
-June 1963-June 1965: Assigned to C1-A C.O.D. Squadron, VRC-40 at Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia.
-July 1, 1965: Retired from active service with the rank was Lt. Commander.
Mr. Tastsides died on January 2, 2008, in Sun City, Arizona.
Source: Information provided by family member.
