Kenneth P. Barden Diary
Object NameLog, Flight
Diary
Historic Owner
Kenneth P. Barden
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
DateAugust 10, 1944–December 20, 1944
PeriodWorld War II
MediumPDF
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of the family of Bill Barden. A2018.46
Object numberA2018.46
DescriptionDiary; PDF files“Record of Torpedo // Squadron 18 from 10 August, // 1944 to 20 December, 1944 – // –Aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid–“
This digitized diary is a later version of Kenneth P. Barden’s original diary (A00.2012.142). It describes the events he experienced as a pilot in VT-18 both before he was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid and after torpedo squadron VT-18 was assigned to Intrepid. This version is not as detailed or personal as the original diary, but does describe Intrepid’s movements and actions in the Pacific Theater from August to December of 1944.
The diary begins with Barden traveling from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, being briefly stationed at Naval Air Station in Hilo, Hawaii and ending up on the USS Bunker Hill. From there, Barden and the rest of VT-18 were moved to a Naval Air Station in Kaneohe Bay while waiting for Intrepid to be repaired.
Barden boarded Intrepid on August 10, 1944 and qualified with Air Group 18 during a three day shakedown cruise, returning to Pearl Harbor on August 13, 1944. The ship then deployed to the Pacific Theater, and Barden describes the major events of Intrepid’s time there, such as the Battle of Peliliu, Battle of Leyte Gulf, Formosa Air Battle, refueling, men who were lost in battle, weather issues, and other details about the strikes between August and December 1944.
Other topics mentioned include liberty in Saipan, Ulithi, and other areas; his plans for after the Navy; and other day-to-day events on board.
On View
Not on viewCollections
Richard Montfort
December 3, 1942–September 25, 1945
Object number: A2020.31
