Three new SOC-4's were purchased by the U.S. Coast Guard. During 1938-1939 VI 71 served at San Diego, VI 72 aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Bibb based at Norfolk, and V173 at Port Angeles near Seattle. From 1940 to 1942 all three were stationed at the Coast Guard Air Station at Miami, Florida. (Photo: Gordon S. Williams)

Cruiser Division Three                 U.S.S. Concord CL10 (Flagship)
  Cruiser Scouting                     U.S.S. Cincinnatti CL6
  Squadron Three                       U.S.S. Milwaukee CL5
  C.O.: LCDR. H. L. Hopping            U.S.S. Omaha CL4
                                       U.S.S. Trenton CL11
              3 SOC-1, 4 SOC-2. 1 SOC-3, 1 SON-1 
Cruiser Division Eight                 U.S.S. Philadelphia CL41 (Flag)
  Cruiser Scouting                     U.S.S. Brooklyn CL40
  Squadron Eight                       U.S.S. Nashville CL43
  C.O.: LCDR.  C. Briggs               U.S.S. Savannah CL42
                 6 SOC-1, 5 SOC-3. 6 SON-1 
Cruiser Division Nine                  U.S.S. Honolulu CL48 (Flag) 
  Cruiser Scouting                     U.S.S. Boise CL47
  Squadron Nine                        U.S.S.  Phoenix CL46
  C.O.: LCDR. C. E. Ekstrom            U.S.S. St. Louis CL49
                 1 SOC-1, 5 SOC-3, 11 SON-1

U.S.S. Helena CL50       Ship Unit     1 SOC-3, 3 SON-1

COMMANDER DESTROYERS, BATTLE FORCE

Commander Flotilla One, U.S.S. Raleigh CL7 2 SOC-3 Commander Flotilla Two, U.S.S. Detroit CL8 2 SOC-1

CARRIER DIVISION ONE
Commander, Carrier Division One Rear Adm. Aubrey W. Fitch Flag Unit I SOC-1
U.S.S. Saratoga CV3 Utility Unit 2 SOC-3 U.S.S. Lexington CV2 Utility Unit 3 SOC-1

CARRIER DIVISION TWO

Commander Aircraft, Battle Force, and Commander Carrier
Division Two Vice Admiral William F. Halsey Jr.
Flag Unit 2 SOC-3 Commander Aircraft, Scouting Force
U.S.S. Yorktown CVS Utility Unit 2 SOC-2 Flag Unit I SOC-1, I SOC-3
U.S.S. Enterprise CV6 Utility Unit 1 SOC-3 (Aboard U.S.S. Memphis CL13)

SCOUTING FORCE

Commander, Scouting Force              Vice Admiral Adolphus Andrews   
  Flag Unit                            I SOC-3       
U.S.S. Indianapolis CA35 Ship Unit     3 SOC-1, 1 SOC-2 
                      (Operating with Cruiser Division Six) 
Cruiser Division Four                  U.S.S. Northampton CA26 (Flag) 
  Cruiser Scouting                     U.S.S. Houston CA30
  Squadron Four                        U.S.S. Pensacola CA24
  C.O.: LCDR. J. P. W. Vest            U.S.S. Salt Lake City CA25
                          13 SOC-1, 3 SOC-2 
Cruiser Division Five                  U.S.S. Chicago CA29 (Flagship)
  Cruiser Scouting                     U.S.S. Chester CA27
  Squadron Five                        U.S.S. Louisville CA28
  C.O.: LCDR.  J. M. Carson            U.S.S. Portland CA33
                          14 SOC-1, 2 SOC-2 
Cruiser Division Six                   U.S.S. Minneapolis CA36 (Flag)
  Cruiser Scouting                     U.S.S. Astoria CA34
  Squadron Six                         U.S.S. New Orleans CA32 
  C.O.: Lt. G. A. McLean               U.S.S. San Francisco CA38
                                       (U.S.S. Indianapolis) 
                          13 SOC-1, 5 SOC-2 
Commander Aircraft, Scouting Force
  Flag Unit                            1 SOC-1, 1 SOC-3
                          (Aboard U.S.S. Memphis CL13) 
Commander, Patrol Wing One, San Diego, California       
  Utility Unit                         1 SOC-1 
Commander, Patrol Wing Two, Pearl Harbour, T.H.
  Utility Unit                         1 SOC-1, I SOC-2
  Flag Unit                            1 SOC-1
                          (Aboard U.S.S. Wright AV1) 
Submarine Force
 U.S.S. Richmond CL9                   2 SOC-3

ATLANTIC SQUADRON

Battleship Division Five               U.S.S. Texas BB35 (Flagship)
  Observation Squadron Five            U.S.S. Arkansas BB33
  C.O.: LCDR. L. P. Pawley             U.S.S. New York BB34
                          4 SOC-3, 5 SON-1
 Cruiser Division Seven                U.S.S. Wichita CA45 (Flag)
 Cruiser Scouting                      U.S.S. Quincy CA39
 Squadron Seven                        U.S.S. Tuscaloosa CA37
 C.O.: LCDR. R. R. Waller              U.S.S. Vincennes CA44
                           9 SOC-1, 7 SOC-2 
U.S.S. NOA DD343 Aviation Unit         1 XSOC-1, 1 SON-1 
U.S.S. Ranger CV4 Utility Unit         2 SOC-1 
U.S.S. Wasp CV7   Utility Unit         1 SOC-1, 2 SON-1
Front cockpit of the SOC-1. The counter on the right side was set before each flight and then showed the number of rounds remaining in the fixed gun operated by the pilot. (Photo: National Archives -72-AC-96K-9514)

Rear cockpit of the same SOC-1 in August 1935. See the text for a listing of the instruments on the small panel. (Photo: National Archives -72-AC-96K-9509)


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