Commander Charles H. Haverland flew the F6F Hellcat from on board the USS Enterprise and USS Lexington, while assigned to VF-20 Fighter Squadron, United States Navy, Pacific Theater of Operation. He entered the War Training Service program in November 1942, and completed flight training at Corpus Christi, Texas, in November 1943, graduating as an Ensign. After completing training in the F6F with replacement squadron VF-100, he was assigned to VF-20 in August 1944 where he flew support missions on Chichi Jima, Yap, Ulithi and Palau. He first encountered airborne opposition in the Philippines on October 15, 1944, where he defeated one Tony and two- and one-half Oscars. On October 17, he was credited with a Tojo and two half Oscars, then on October 18, one additional Oscar, making him an Ace with six- and one-half aerial victories. On October 25th, he was credited with sinking a Japanese destroyer by firing his 5-inch HVAR rockets. On November 23, 1944, VF-20 transferred to the USS Lexington, where it continued air strikes and support missions on the Philippines, Formosa, French Indochina, the Pescadores and Okinawa. Commander Haverland was rotated back to the United States in December 1945, after completing 60 combat missions, and assigned to VF-18, flying F8F Bearcats. During March 1953, he was recalled to active duty and assigned to VF-143, flying F9F2 Panthers and F9F6 Cougars. In September he was transferred to Fleet All Weather Training Unit as a jet instrument instructor in TV2s. He was rotated to the retired reserve in November 1963 and retired from the United States Navy as a Commander on September 22, 1983, having served 41 years. He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Silver Star and five Air Medals.

During WWII, eight VF-20 pilots became aces. In Air Group 20, 12 pilots received the Navy Cross, 22 received the Silver Star, and the Air Group was credited with the destruction of over 15 ships and 407 aircraft, not counting the even greater number that were damaged but not destroyed. For its combat record, the command was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in 1944 and 1945, along with the Navy Unit Citation.
Signed by Charles H. Haverland.