LEONARD B. SOUTHERLAND, RADM, USN

Leonard Southerland '27

Date of birth: May 1, 1905

Date of death: November 15, 1958

Age: 53

Lucky Bag

From the 1927 Lucky Bag:

Leonard Bradshaw Southerland

Fort Payne, Alabama

"Sheik"

SHEIK came to us late in July of Plebe summer, and somehow he has stayed. He prepped at De Kalb County High School, but we're in doubt whether to credit him or his schooling for his subsequent achievements. Since then, however, he has blossomed into his own, and if his weekly sallies are any indication, neighboring cities will never recover from the shock of his departure.

Sheik is prejudiced against all forms of idealism, and we wonder by what standards he judges himself and his fellows. "Live and let live" fits him to perfection; he has no criticism for other than its immediate effect on the victim. Then, however, his quick wit and scathing remarks would do credit to a much worthier cause. Ambitious? Well, yes—if a skag, a Cosmo, chow, and time to caulk can be called ambitions. The wrestling loft and tennis courts know him well, however.

As a plebe Sheik was popular and ratey; as an upper-classman he did not change—he merely expanded. Rough on plebes and the underclasses when necessary to his dignity, his natural desire to be easy-going keeps him from overdoing it.

Sheik has his convictions, and lives by them. Non-reg, rebellious perhaps, and lazy to excess, he yet manages to get by with little or no trouble. A potential star, both in athletics and in the Acs, he prefers mediocrity with its corresponding decrease in output.

Wrestling: Class (2, 1).

Leonard Bradshaw Southerland

Fort Payne, Alabama

"Sheik"

SHEIK came to us late in July of Plebe summer, and somehow he has stayed. He prepped at De Kalb County High School, but we're in doubt whether to credit him or his schooling for his subsequent achievements. Since then, however, he has blossomed into his own, and if his weekly sallies are any indication, neighboring cities will never recover from the shock of his departure.

Sheik is prejudiced against all forms of idealism, and we wonder by what standards he judges himself and his fellows. "Live and let live" fits him to perfection; he has no criticism for other than its immediate effect on the victim. Then, however, his quick wit and scathing remarks would do credit to a much worthier cause. Ambitious? Well, yes—if a skag, a Cosmo, chow, and time to caulk can be called ambitions. The wrestling loft and tennis courts know him well, however.

As a plebe Sheik was popular and ratey; as an upper-classman he did not change—he merely expanded. Rough on plebes and the underclasses when necessary to his dignity, his natural desire to be easy-going keeps him from overdoing it.

Sheik has his convictions, and lives by them. Non-reg, rebellious perhaps, and lazy to excess, he yet manages to get by with little or no trouble. A potential star, both in athletics and in the Acs, he prefers mediocrity with its corresponding decrease in output.

Wrestling: Class (2, 1).

Loss

From Find A Grave:

Rear Admiral Southerland, Commander, Carrier Division Seven (CCD-7), died in the crash of a helicopter flying from the aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON (CVA-16) to Okinawa. Killed also, along with the pilot LTJG J. P. Loomis, USNR, was Commander J. C. Coulthard, USN, CCD-7 staff officer.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In 1920, his father George was a farmer, mother Kate, sister Bernice, and brothers L. D. and Grover. In 1945, L. D. was in the Navy Reserve in Yukon, Florida.

Leonard graduated from DeKalb County High School in 1923. He was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman M. C. Allgood.

His wife was the former Dorothy E. Henning of Wisconsin. They had two sons Leonard, Jr., and Michael.

In September 1943, Leonard was promoted from lieutenant commander to commander.

In March 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

During World War II, he saw combat duty in seven area campaigns in successive capacities as Commander, Carrier Air Group 16; Air Officer of the USS Lexington, and finally as executive officer of the Lexington. During this period, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He was wounded by an enemy suicide plane attack on the carrier Lexington.

In July 1946, he was a guest speaker at the summer term of aviation training at the Naval Academy.

In 1948 he was on the staff of the Chief of Naval Air Training in Pensacola where he served for the next three years as director of training.

He earned his wings as naval aviator #3522 in 1929.

He was survived by his wife and son, Leonard Jr.

Wartime Service

From the Fort Payne Journal, Alabama, October 6, 1943 via researcher Kathy Franz:

In a United Press dispatch that bears the dateline “With U. S. Navy Task Force off Gilbert Island, Sept. 27,” the name of a Fort Payne boy is prominently mentioned. One paragraph of the article reads:

“Twenty-four enemy planes were shot down over the islands and two transports destroyed. Comdr. Leonard B. Southerland, 38, Fort Payne, Ala., chief of one air group, estimated 30 per cent of the enemy’s installations on Tarawa were destroyed along with half of its air defenses.”

Commander Southerland took part in a radio broadcast Sunday afternoon, September 25. The broadcast was from Honolulu and was heard by several of Leonard’s friends in Fort Payne about 1:30 o’clock, and were they proud to hear the voice of this fine young Fort Payne citizen. His picture, along with other high officers, was carried by papers throughout the country.

Comdr. Southerland is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Houston Southerland and a brother of Mrs. Dewey Tate. We understand that he was interviewed on the Army hour on the radio last Saturday.

From USS Lexington (CV 16) World War II Cruise Book 1943-46 - Tarawa To Tokyo:

Commander Leonard B. Southerland stepped into the number 2 spot on 22 July 1944 after an already long tour of duty aboard the Lex as Commander of Air Group 16 and Air Officer. A loved and respected figure, his intimate knowledge of the officers, men, and traditions of the Lex made him a splendid choice. "Sheik" Southerland is a tall, gangling man who is easily mistaken for Abraham Lincoln. His peculiar talent is being a terrific guy to work for and when the burns he received on November 5 from the Kamikaze hit made it necessary for him to leave us for hospitalization it was a great disappointment to all. Commander Southerland is a graduate of the Naval Academy Class of 1926 [sic] and the winner of the Legion of Merit for his grand work as Air Group Commander aboard the Lex.

Post-war Service

From The Anniston Star, Alabama, February 25, 1954, via researcher Kathy Franz:

Jacksonville, Fla. (UP) – The aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lake Champlain is the floating home of 20 enthusiastic railroaders and a highly elaborate railroad “pike.”

Cmdr. Wilmer E. Rawie bought some model railroad equipment in the fall of 1952 and soon had an enthusiastic club of model railroaders on board the “Champ.”

While the ship was in Korean waters, the club members laid out 156 feet of track and made their own engines railroad cars, switches, terminals and other equipment. The cars are all “privately” owned by their makers.

At one end of the pike is a miniature round house that will accommodate three engines on an electrically operated turntable. An elaborate block system with 21 electrically operated switches runs the whole works.

The pike took a year of work on the part of club members and was formally dedicated by the ship’s skipper, Capt. Leonard B. Southerland, who drove a golden spike to christen it.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Leonard was stationed in Pensacola since July 6, 1954, as Chief of Staff to Vice Admiral Austin K. Doyle, Chief of Naval Air Training.

He was Commander Fleet Air in Hawaii, and then was commander of Carrier Division Seven. He was made an Admiral on August 11, 1955.

Leonard was chief of staff for the task force that conducted Operation REDWING, which was a series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956.

Photographs

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  From The Fort Payne Journal on August 17, 1955

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  From The Birmingham News on October 3, 1943

Gallery

All photos below are from the San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives. There are no captions provided.

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Legion of Merit

Note this would be the synopsis of his second Legion of Merit; the first was earned while serving as Air Group Commander aboard Lexington during the war.

From Hall of Valor:

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain Leonard B. Southerland, United States Navy, was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief of Staff to Commander Carrier Division ONE and Commander Task Force 77, from 24 July 1952 to 23 July 1953. (Captain Southerland is authorized to wear the Combat "V".)

General Orders: All Hands (May 1954)
Service: Navy
Rank: Captain

Distinguished Flying Cross

From Hall of Valor:

(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Commander Leonard B. Southerland, United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commander of an air group over Tarawa and Wake, 18 September and 5 October 1943.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 340 (July 1945)
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander

Bronze Star

Unable to find a citation for the Bronze Star listed on his headstone.

Memorial Hall Error

Leonard is not listed in Memorial Hall with his classmates.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

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.

January 1928

Ensign, USS Omaha

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Others at or embarked at this command:

LTjg Fitzhugh Rhea '24 (Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B)

April 1928

Ensign, USS Omaha

July 1928

Ensign, USS Omaha

October 1928

Ensign, USS Omaha

January 1929

Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LT Frederick Roberts '20
LT Edwin Conway '20
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT Stephen Cooke '21
LT James Carney '21
LT Francis Bridget '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22

LT James Craig '22
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
LTjg Jack DeShazo '25
LTjg Creighton Lankford '25
ENS Henry G'Sell '26
2LT Joseph Wolfe '26

ENS William Watson '26
ENS John Graff '26
ENS Francis Black '26
2LT Lofton Henderson '26
ENS Claude Haman '26
2LT Guy Chappell '27
2LT Raymond Rutledge '27
ENS Eugene Lindsey '27

April 1929

Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LT Edwin Conway '20
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT James Carney '21
LT Francis Bridget '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
LTjg Creighton Lankford '25

ENS Henry G'Sell '26
2LT Joseph Wolfe '26
ENS William Watson '26
ENS John Graff '26
ENS Charles Signer '26
ENS Francis Black '26
2LT Lofton Henderson '26
ENS Claude Haman '26
2LT Guy Chappell '27

ENS Oddle Anderson '27
2LT Raymond Rutledge '27
ENS Charles Hill, Jr. '27
ENS Loren Morris '27
ENS Robert Winters '27
ENS John Eldridge, Jr. '27
ENS Arthur Loeser '27
ENS Eugene Lindsey '27
ENS Julian Greer '27

July 1929

Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LT Edwin Conway '20
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT James Carney '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25

ENS Henry G'Sell '26
2LT Joseph Wolfe '26
LTjg William Watson '26
LTjg John Graff '26
LTjg Francis Black '26
2LT Lofton Henderson '26
LTjg Claude Haman '26
2LT Guy Chappell '27
ENS Oddle Anderson '27
2LT Raymond Rutledge '27

ENS Charles Hill, Jr. '27
ENS Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
ENS Eugene Davis '27
ENS James McRoberts '27
ENS Loren Morris '27
ENS Robert Winters '27
ENS John Eldridge, Jr. '27
ENS Arthur Loeser '27
ENS Eugene Lindsey '27
ENS Julian Greer '27

October 1929

Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LT James Carney '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg Hubert Hayter '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
ENS Henry G'Sell '26

LTjg Claude Haman '26
ENS Oddle Anderson '27
ENS Richard Downer '27
2LT Raymond Rutledge '27
ENS Charles Hill, Jr. '27
ENS Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
ENS Charles Skelly '27
ENS Robert Symes '27
ENS Seymour Johnson '27
ENS Eugene Davis '27

ENS James McRoberts '27
ENS Loren Morris '27
ENS Robert Winters '27
ENS Renwick Calderhead '27
ENS John Eldridge, Jr. '27
ENS Eugene Lindsey '27
ENS Henry Dozier '27
ENS Gerald Dyson '27
ENS Julian Greer '27

January 1930

Ensign, Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS New York

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Others at this command:

LT William Sample '19

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Others at or embarked at USS New York:

LCDR Charles Cecil '16 (Battleship Division 3)
LTjg Hugh Black '26 (USS New York)
LTjg Douglas Fox '26 (USS New York)

ENS James Willis '27 (USS New York)
ENS Howard Garner '29 (USS New York)

April 1930

Ensign, Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS New York

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Others at this command:

LT William Sample '19

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Others at or embarked at USS New York:

LTjg Hugh Black '26 (USS New York)
LTjg Douglas Fox '26 (USS New York)

ENS James Willis '27 (USS New York)
ENS Howard Garner '29 (USS New York)

October 1930

Ensign, Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS New York

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Others at this command:

LTjg Henry Dozier '27

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Others at or embarked at USS New York:

LTjg Hugh Black '26 (USS New York)
LTjg James Willis '27 (USS New York)

ENS Raymond Mayo '30 (USS New York)
ENS Joshua Nix '30 (USS New York)

January 1931

Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS New York

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Others at this command:

LTjg Henry Dozier '27

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Others at or embarked at USS New York:

LTjg Hugh Black '26 (USS New York)
ENS Raymond Mayo '30 (USS New York)

ENS Joshua Nix '30 (USS New York)

April 1931

Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS New York

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Others at this command:

LTjg Henry Dozier '27

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Others at or embarked at USS New York:

LTjg Hugh Black '26 (USS New York)
ENS Raymond Mayo '30 (USS New York)

ENS Joshua Nix '30 (USS New York)

July 1931

Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS Arizona

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Others at or embarked at USS Arizona:

LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25 (USS Arizona)
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (USS Arizona)

ENS Charles Crommelin '31 (USS Arizona)

October 1931

Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS Arizona

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Others at or embarked at USS Arizona:

LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25 (USS Arizona)
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (USS Arizona)

ENS Lorenz Forbes '31 (USS Arizona)
ENS Charles Crommelin '31 (USS Arizona)

January 1932

Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS Arizona

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Others at or embarked at USS Arizona:

LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25 (USS Arizona)
ENS Robert Coates '30 (USS Arizona)
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (USS Arizona)

ENS Lorenz Forbes '31 (USS Arizona)
ENS Charles Crommelin '31 (USS Arizona)

April 1932

Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 3B, USS Arizona

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Others at this command:

LT James Craig '22

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Others at or embarked at USS Arizona:

LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25 (USS Arizona)
ENS Robert Coates '30 (USS Arizona)

ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (USS Arizona)
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31 (USS Arizona)

October 1932

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LT Jack Richardson '19
LTjg James McDonough '24
LTjg Charles McDonald '24
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25
LTjg Charles Signer '26
1LT Lofton Henderson '26

LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
ENS Mack Vorhees '30
ENS Oliver White '30
ENS Victor Gaulin '30
2LT Paul Moret '30

ENS Cleon Felton '31
ENS James Murphy '31
ENS Alfred Tucker, III '31
ENS Charles Crommelin '31
ENS Harrington Drake '31

January 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LTjg James McDonough '24
LTjg Charles McDonald '24
LTjg Charles Signer '26
1LT Lofton Henderson '26

LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
ENS Mack Vorhees '30
2LT Paul Moret '30
ENS Cleon Felton '31

ENS James Murphy '31
ENS Alfred Tucker, III '31
ENS Charles Crommelin '31
ENS Harrington Drake '31

April 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

LTjg James McDonough '24
LTjg Charles McDonald '24
LTjg Charles Signer '26
1LT Lofton Henderson '26
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27

ENS Frank Highley, Jr. '30
ENS Robert Patten '30
ENS Arthur Spring '30
ENS Cleon Felton '31

ENS James Murphy '31
ENS Alfred Tucker, III '31
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31
ENS James Kelsey, Jr. '31

July 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

1LT Lofton Henderson '26
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
ENS Frank Highley, Jr. '30

ENS Robert Patten '30
ENS Claud Hughes '30
ENS Leo Crane '31

ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31
ENS Albert Gray '31
ENS James Kelsey, Jr. '31

October 1933

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

CDR Walter Webster '11
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
LTjg Frank Highley, Jr. '30
LTjg Robert Patten '30
LTjg Claud Hughes '30
ENS Baylies Clark '30
ENS Ford Wallace '31

ENS William Freshour '31
ENS Leo Crane '31
ENS Philip Ashworth '31
ENS Alden Irons '31
ENS William Sisko '31
ENS Edward Blessman '31

ENS Lion Miles '31
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31
ENS Willis Thomas '31
ENS Ernest Evans '31
ENS Albert Gray '31
ENS James Kelsey, Jr. '31

April 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

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Others at this command:

CDR Walter Webster '11
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
LTjg Frank Highley, Jr. '30
LTjg Robert Patten '30
LTjg Claud Hughes '30
LTjg Baylies Clark '30
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31

ENS Ford Wallace '31
ENS William Freshour '31
ENS Vernon Hain '31
ENS Leo Crane '31
ENS Philip Ashworth '31
ENS Alden Irons '31
ENS Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

ENS Edward Blessman '31
ENS Lion Miles '31
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31
ENS Ernest Evans '31
ENS Albert Gray '31
ENS James Kelsey, Jr. '31

July 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23

LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Robert Patten '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)

ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS James Kelsey, Jr. '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)

October 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23

LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Robert Patten '30 (Aircraft Squadrons)

LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)

January 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23

LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)

LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)

April 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23

LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29

LTjg Ford Wallace '31

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)

LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)

October 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LTjg Charles Signer '26

LTjg Ford Wallace '31

LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)

LTjg Oliver White '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)

January 1936

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LTjg Charles Signer '26

LTjg Ford Wallace '31

LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)

LTjg Oliver White '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)

April 1936

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LTjg Charles Signer '26

LTjg Ford Wallace '31

LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

CDR Walter Webster '11 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)

LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)

July 1936

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LTjg William Pye, Jr. '28
LTjg Ford Wallace '31

LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

LTjg George Bellinger '32

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Gerald Dyson '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg John Collett '29 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Aircraft Squadrons)

LTjg Finley Hall '29 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)

January 1937

Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LT William Pye, Jr. '28
LTjg Ford Wallace '31

LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

LTjg George Bellinger '32

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

LCDR Dixie Kiefer '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT John Waldron '24 (USS Saratoga)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Gerald Dyson '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)

LTjg John Collett '29 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Clarence Kasparek '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 4B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)

April 1937

Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B, USS Saratoga

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Others at this command:

LT William Pye, Jr. '28
LTjg Ford Wallace '31

LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31

LTjg George Bellinger '32

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Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:

LCDR Dixie Kiefer '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT John Waldron '24 (USS Saratoga)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Gerald Dyson '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)

LTjg John Collett '29 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Clarence Kasparek '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 4B)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)

September 1937

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

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Others at this command:

LT Loren Morris '27

LTjg Baylies Clark '30

January 1938

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

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Others at this command:

LT Loren Morris '27

LTjg Baylies Clark '30

July 1938

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

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Others at this command:

LT Eugene Davis '27

LT Loren Morris '27

January 1939

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone

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Others at this command:

LT Eugene Davis '27

LT Loren Morris '27

October 1939

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 54, Norfolk, Virginia

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Others at this command:

LCDR Arnold Isbell '21

LT Loren Morris '27

June 1940

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 54, Norfolk, Virginia

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Others at this command:

LCDR Arnold Isbell '21

LT Loren Morris '27

November 1940

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 54, Norfolk, Virginia

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Others at this command:

CDR Arnold Isbell '21

LT Loren Morris '27

April 1941

Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 54, Norfolk, Virginia

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Others at this command:

CDR Arnold Isbell '21

LT Loren Morris '27

Class of 1927

Leonard is one of 43 members of the Class of 1927 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

← Julian Greer '27

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.