NORMAN W. NAYLOR, LT, USN
Norman Naylor '43
Lucky Bag
From the 1943 Lucky Bag:
NORMAN WILFRID NAYLOR
Cranston, Rhode Island
Norm doesn't have to say much before one knows that he is from little Rhode Island, the "cross roads of the universe." Although the sea beckons him and threatens to hold him for some time, a peaceful home in the country of Rhode Island will be his goal. Norm had a natural tendency for sports, at times participating in baseball and wrestling, and at all times keeping abreast of the news of the sports world. His favorite means of relaxation, however, was thinking of his girl while listening to any Krupa recording going full blast. Norm has the submarine urge, but, wherever he is, he will always be a good shipmate.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
NORMAN WILFRID NAYLOR
Cranston, Rhode Island
Norm doesn't have to say much before one knows that he is from little Rhode Island, the "cross roads of the universe." Although the sea beckons him and threatens to hold him for some time, a peaceful home in the country of Rhode Island will be his goal. Norm had a natural tendency for sports, at times participating in baseball and wrestling, and at all times keeping abreast of the news of the sports world. His favorite means of relaxation, however, was thinking of his girl while listening to any Krupa recording going full blast. Norm has the submarine urge, but, wherever he is, he will always be a good shipmate.
The Class of 1943 was graduated in June 1942 due to World War II. The entirety of 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum.
Loss
Norman was lost when USS Growler (SS 215) was sunk by Japanese surface vessels on November 8, 1944 in the South China Sea.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Norman graduated from Cranston High School East in 1938 and was appointed to the Naval Academy by Senator Peter G. Gerry. In January 1944, Norman married Katherine Hutton in California.
His parents were born in England, and in 1930, they worked in a mill in Providence, Rhode Island. His father Wilfred was a mule spinner and his mother Ellen was a spinner. His aunt Jane Robinson and cousin Lillian lived with them.
From the Class of 1943 anniversary book "25 years later…":
Norm was born on 23 July, 1920 in Providence, Rhode Island. He was appointed from Rhode Island and entered the Academy on 26 June, 1939. After graduation, he reported to Submarine Division TWELVE in Key West, Florida for temporary duty in connection with submarine training. In September, he went to the Submarine Base in New London, Connecticut for further training. In February 1943, he reported to duty with Commander, Submarines, Southwest Pacific Force. In April, he reported to the submarine USS GROWLER for duty and qualified in submarines in December 1943. After participating in a number of war patrols in which he saw much combat action and earned the Bronze Star Medal. Norm was lost on 7 November, 1945 while attached to the GROWLER when it failed to return from a war patrol in the China Sea. Review of Japanese records do not reveal an attack upon the GROWLER so that it probably was a victim of a mine or one of its own torpedoes that fired prematurely. His Bronze Star Citation reads as follows:
For meritorious achievement as Diving Officer of USS GROWLER on his tenth war patrol in enemy Japanese-controlled waters. Courageous and determined in the performance of duty, despite severe hostile counter-measures during a prolonged period of activity, LT NAYLOR cooperated closely with other members of the crew and rendered valuable assistance during the GROWLER’s submerged attack which resulted in the sinking of 3 Japanese destroyers and 2 large merchant ships and in the damaging of 2 other vessels. By his expert technical ability and sound judgment, LT NAYLOR contributed essentially to the success of a hazardous patrol and his valiant conduct under fierce enemy counter-attacks was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
He wore the following additional medals: American Defense Service with Fleet Clasp, American Area Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign and the WW II Victory. He was survived by his wife Katherine Hodgson Naylor who at Norm's death resided at 80 Chaves Avenue, San Francisco, California.
His wife, Katherine, was listed as next of kin; they were married on January 8, 1944. He has a memory marker in Golden Gate National Cemetery. He is also listed at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
Photographs
From his high school yearbook
Full Biography
From Stories Behind The Stars via fold3:
Norman Wilfrid Naylor (SN 0-165841) was born on 23 July 1920 in Providence, Rhode Island. He was the son of Wilfred Naylor (1886-1964) and Ellen Partington (1894-1988), who had immigrated to the United States from England in 1914. His parents both worked in a textile mill in Providence. In 1930, when he was ten years old, his mother took him to England, likely to visit his parents’ families. He graduated from Cranston High School in 1938. His yearbook stated that “When anyone is needed to do a job, Normie is always found to be a ready candidate.” [Note: Some sources spell Norman’s middle name Wilfred.]
Norman was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by Senator Peter G. Gerry and entered on 26 June 1939. The Class of 1943 was accelerated because of the war, and the entirety of his 2nd class (junior) year was removed from the curriculum. Some called them “three-year wonders.” He graduated on 19 June 1942, and received a commission as an Ensign. The 1943 Lucky Bag noted “Norm has the submarine urge, but wherever he is, he will always be a good shipmate.” Following graduation, he reported to Submarine Division Twelve in Key West, Florida for temporary duty in connection with submarine training. On 17 September 1942, he departed for the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut for further training. In February 1943, he reported to duty with Commander, Submarines, Southwest Pacific Force. In April 1943, he reported to the submarine USS Growler (SS-215) in Brisbane, Australia.
The USS Growler was a Gato-class fleet submarine built in Groton Connecticut by the Electric Boat Company. It was commissioned on 20 March 1942. LCDR Howard W. Gilmore was the boat’s first captain. After completing shakedown trials, Growler was underway for Pacific waters in early May 1942, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 31 May.
When Norman reported to the Growler, it had just returned from its fourth war patrol where it had sustained significant damage after ramming and engaging an enemy vessel. The captain, CDR Gilmore, was lost during the engagement and later received the Medal of Honor for ordering the boat to dive when he was wounded on the bridge. Also, during this engagement, one of Norman’s Naval Academy classmates, Ensign William Wadsworth Williams had been killed by machine gun fire. It must have been a stark personal reminder of the seriousness of the war to see the condition of the submarine, to see the impact of the loss of the captain on the crew, and to hear about the loss of a classmate as he reported for duty.
Following the repairs in Brisbane, the Growler departed on its fifth war patrol on 13 May 1943. The previous Executive Officer, LCDR Arnold Schlade was the now Commanding Officer. During this patrol, Growler operated north of New Guinea but after sinking one ship and damaging another, considerable minor damage from an intense depth charge attack forced Growler to return to Brisbane on 30 June 1943. The Growler performed two more war patrols out of Brisbane before going to San Francisco in November 1943 for an extensive overhaul and refitting. Norman completed his submarine qualifications in December 1943, and on 8 January 1944, Norman married his childhood sweetheart Katherine Hodgson Hutton in San Francisco. Katherine had also lived in Providence, Rhode Island as a child prior to her family moving to San Francisco sometime prior to 1940. The newlyweds did not have long to celebrate, because once the overhaul was completed the Growler departed San Francisco and arrived in Pearl Harbor on 8 February 1944. It was soon headed on its eighth war patrol out of Midway. On 23 April 1944, LCDR Thomas Oakley took command of Growler, in the Marshall Islands, and they headed out for the ninth war patrol. At the end of this patrol, Growler transited to Pearl Harbor for a refit. Growler departed Hawaii on 11 Aug 1944 for its tenth war patrol. During this patrol LT Naylor was involved in significant action and was awarded the Bronze Star. His Bronze Star Citation reads as follows:
For meritorious achievement as Diving Officer of USS GROWLER on his tenth war patrol in enemy Japanese-controlled waters. Courageous and determined in the performance of duty, despite severe hostile counter-measures during a prolonged period of activity, LT NAYLOR cooperated closely with other members of the crew and rendered valuable assistance during the GROWLER’s submerged attack which resulted in the sinking of 3 Japanese destroyers and 2 large merchant ships and in the damaging of 2 other vessels. By his expert technical ability and sound judgment, LT NAYLOR contributed essentially to the success of a hazardous patrol and his valiant conduct under fierce enemy counter-attacks was in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
After the tenth patrol, Growler transited to Freemantle Australia. Growler departed Freemantle on 20 October 1944 on her eleventh and final war patrol. The Growler was a member of a wolfpack and detected an enemy convoy in the South China Sea. On 8 November 1944 Growler closed in for the kill while USS Hake (SS-256) and USS Hardhead (SS-365) flanked the convoy. CDR Oakley ordered the wolf pack to attack, but that was the last communication ever heard from Growler. A short time later, Hake noted in her war diary that she heard two explosions of “undetermined character,” and almost simultaneously, the convoy zig-zagged away from Growler’s position. Hardhead heard what sounded like a torpedo explosion followed by three depth charges on the opposite side of the convoy. Hake and Hardhead continued to attack the convoy, sinking the 5,300-ton tanker Manei Maru. Hake endured 16 hours of enemy attacks with some 150 depth charges exploding around her during the battle. After the engagement was complete, Hake and Hardhead attempted to contact Growler continuously for three days, but to no avail. The likely culprits of Growler’s demise were later identified as Japanese destroyer Shigure and escort vessel Chiburi, or another Japanese vessel in the convoy. The possibility also exists, however unlikely, that one of Growler’s own torpedoes made a premature or circular run.
On 1 February 1945, Navy Department Communique No. 572 stated, “Growler is overdue from patrol and presumed lost, cause unknown” and the next-of-kin of her officers and crew were notified. All hands, 86 crewmembers including CDR Oakley, were lost. Over the course of World War II, Growler sank 15 enemy vessels for a total of 74,900 tons and damaged seven other vessels for 34,100 tons on her 11 war patrols. Norman’s classmate LT Francis P. Thomas was also lost onboard Growler.
There is a memorial for the crew of the Growler at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, which is in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila, within the boundaries of the former Fort William McKinley. There is also a memorial headstone for LT Norman Wilfrid Naylor in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, in San Bruno, California. This headstone was requested by his father in 1968.
LT Norman W. Naylor received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.
Mrs. Katherine Hodgson Naylor, San Francisco, was listed as his next of kin on his casualty records.
Related Articles
Thomas Oakley, Jr. '34 and Francis Thomas ’43 were also lost when Growler was sunk.
Howard Gilmore '26 and William Williams '43 were both killed in action on February 7, 1943 while aboard Growler. Norman arrived immediately after this incident, in April 1943.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
