ALDEN H. IRONS, LT, USN
Alden Irons '31
Lucky Bag
From the 1931 Lucky Bag:
Alden Hatheway Irons
Wilmington, Delaware
"Rusty" "Red"
BACK in the summer of '27 Rusty graduated from Wilmington High School in the spacious state of Delaware and came to Annapolis. His advent, accompanied by a great deal of speculation concerning almost innumerable freckles, was a happy one; and the passing of the years has only deepened our regard for, and admiration of, the "sorrel top."
Crew was his specialty Plebe Year when he coxwained the '31 shell to a memorable victory at Poughkeepsie, bringing back from his trip up the Hudson a flock of jerseys and his very own glass bottomed "beer mug" — but that was before he started growing out of his uniforms.
At almost any odd moment, however, when no bridge games were in progress within walking distance, he could be found absorbed in the contents of the " Saturday Evening Post," or, perchance, looking for the person with similar literary tastes who had discovered his place of concealment of the coveted article.
If good wishes mean anything, his success and happiness are assured.
Crew, Plebe "31"; Crossed Oar Gymkhana 4; 2 P. O.
Alden Hatheway Irons
Wilmington, Delaware
"Rusty" "Red"
BACK in the summer of '27 Rusty graduated from Wilmington High School in the spacious state of Delaware and came to Annapolis. His advent, accompanied by a great deal of speculation concerning almost innumerable freckles, was a happy one; and the passing of the years has only deepened our regard for, and admiration of, the "sorrel top."
Crew was his specialty Plebe Year when he coxwained the '31 shell to a memorable victory at Poughkeepsie, bringing back from his trip up the Hudson a flock of jerseys and his very own glass bottomed "beer mug" — but that was before he started growing out of his uniforms.
At almost any odd moment, however, when no bridge games were in progress within walking distance, he could be found absorbed in the contents of the " Saturday Evening Post," or, perchance, looking for the person with similar literary tastes who had discovered his place of concealment of the coveted article.
If good wishes mean anything, his success and happiness are assured.
Crew, Plebe "31"; Crossed Oar Gymkhana 4; 2 P. O.
Loss
Alden, along with five other crewmen, died when their twin-engine PBY patrol bomber crashed in flames after hitting the antennas of the Navy's long-range radio station located at Chollas Heights, California, near San Diego, on September 7, 1939.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Alden was born in Tennessee and later moved to Wilmington, Delaware. A member of Troop No. 12, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout in February, 1926. At the ceremony, they heard President Coolidge, broadcasting from station WEAF in New York, recite the scout oath to 800,000 boys scouts throughout the country.
In April, Alden ran for mayor but lost to another Boy Scout in a competition. Their speeches were broadcast live by radio.
In June, Alden lost to another in the singles tennis championships at the Wilmington Country Club.
When he was only 16, Alden was appointed to the Naval Academy by Senator Coleman duPont in February, 1927.
After graduation from the Naval Academy, Alden completed a month’s aviation training at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
In 1920, his father Harold was a buyer for duPont manufacturing. Alden’s mother was Winifred, his brother was Richard. A friend of the family donated money to the Wilmington Public Library to purchase a book as a memorial for Alden. It selected “America’s Heritage.” Alden's son John married in December, 1956.
From Find A Grave:
Ensign A. H. Irons, USN, was designated Naval Aviator #4039 in 1934. Graduated U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1931.
Married Mrs. Jane (Henson) Connelly, of San Diego, in 1933.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, a daughter (who died in 2002), and son.
Though this list of PBY-3 Catalinas doesn't include a squadron (BuNo 0905), a newspaper report says he was a member of Patrol Squadron (VP) 12, Naval Air Station San Diego.
Photographs
From The Evening Journal on April 30, 1926
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
April 1932
October 1932
January 1933
April 1933
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27
LTjg Frank Highley, Jr. '30
LTjg Robert Patten '30
LTjg Claud Hughes '30
LTjg Baylies Clark '30
July 1934
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
LTjg Baylies Clark '30
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31
ENS Ford Wallace '31
October 1934
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LTjg William Pennewill '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Clair Miller '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Robert Haven '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg James Kyes '30 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
2LT Robert Brown '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
January 1935
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg William Pennewill '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Clair Miller '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Robert Haven '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Gilbert Carpenter '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg James Kyes '30 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
1LT Robert Brown '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
April 1935
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg William Pennewill '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Clair Miller '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
October 1935
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
January 1936
LT Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
April 1936
LT Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
July 1936
LT William Hobby, Jr. '23 (USS Tennessee)
ENS Joel Davis, Jr. '35 (USS Tennessee)
ENS Jack Crutchfield '36 (USS Tennessee)
ENS Porter Maxwell '36 (USS Tennessee)
January 1937
ENS Joel Davis, Jr. '35 (USS Tennessee)
ENS Samuel Adams '35 (USS Tennessee)
April 1937
ENS Samuel Adams '35 (USS Tennessee)
ENS Stanley Lipski '35 (USS Tennessee)
September 1937
LT Richard Moss '24 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT William Pennewill '29 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
1LT Harold Larson '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Charles Crommelin '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Spiers '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Phillips, Jr. '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Robert Isely '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Herbert Carroll, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Walker Ethridge '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg William Drumtra '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Edward Worthington '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Stuart Stephens '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Philip Torrey, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Nicol '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Ralph Beacham '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Frederick Schrader '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Stanley Lipski '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
January 1938
LT Richard Moss '24 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT William Pennewill '29 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
1LT Harold Larson '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Charles Crommelin '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Spiers '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Phillips, Jr. '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Robert Isely '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Glenn Dunagan '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Herbert Carroll, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Walker Ethridge '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Frank Whitaker '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Edward Worthington '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Stuart Stephens '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Philip Torrey, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Nicol '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Norman Ostergren '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Thomas Cummins '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Samuel Adams '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard Stephenson '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Ralph Beacham '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Frederick Schrader '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Clyde McCroskey, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
July 1938
LT Richard Moss '24 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Renwick Calderhead '27 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Training Squadron (VN) 3D8)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Huntley '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Glenn Dunagan '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Norman Ostergren '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Thomas Cummins '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Samuel Adams '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Arthur Ely '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Ennis '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Ralph Beacham '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Curtis '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Gordon Schecter '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Hubert Harden '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Clyde McCroskey, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Joseph Evans '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Jack Moore '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
2LT Ralph Haas '36 (Marine Barracks)
ENS Raymond Vogel, Jr. '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
January 1939
LT Richard Moss '24 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Renwick Calderhead '27 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Huntley '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg William Thorn '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Glenn Dunagan '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Norman Ostergren '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Thomas Cummins '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Adams '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Ennis '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Curtis '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Gordon Schecter '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Hubert Harden '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Clyde McCroskey, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Joseph Evans '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Jack Moore '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
2LT Ralph Haas '36 (Marine Barracks)
ENS Raymond Vogel, Jr. '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
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