ODDLE W. ANDERSON, LTJG, USN
Oddle Anderson '27
Lucky Bag
From the 1927 Lucky Bag:
Oddle Wilbur Anderson
Rhineland, Missouri
"Andy" "Rosy
"GET out of here. What are you trying to get away with?" Then you know the Crazy Swede is on the warpath again and it's time to stay clear. Although usually of a peaceful disposition, he will run amuck at times, as several have found out to their great sorrow.
Andy and the Academics ran a close race for four years. First one slightly in the lead, then the other. His marks fluctuate to both extremes, and he never cracks a smile. Although usually in a wooden section, he could hardly be classified as such—he's just indifferent.
Early in life Andy had an ambition to be a dentist, but he has lived that down and at present his only ambition is to have pale cheeks. His blushes are famous far and wide and although they really are quite charming, he says they ruin his manly beauty. He falls in with the Red Mikes, but it's rather doubtful whether he rates it. He seems to get his share of the heavier mail.
But aside from that he's a good sport and everyone's friend. Always neat in appearance and orderly by habit, he'll be an honor to his class: a brother officer to be proud of. He seems to be always completing tasks in a manner that is satisfactory to all concerned. This, we believe, is due in no small extent to the cheery "Aye, Aye," with which he receives orders.
Track: Class (2); Soccer: Class (3).
Oddle Wilbur Anderson
Rhineland, Missouri
"Andy" "Rosy
"GET out of here. What are you trying to get away with?" Then you know the Crazy Swede is on the warpath again and it's time to stay clear. Although usually of a peaceful disposition, he will run amuck at times, as several have found out to their great sorrow.
Andy and the Academics ran a close race for four years. First one slightly in the lead, then the other. His marks fluctuate to both extremes, and he never cracks a smile. Although usually in a wooden section, he could hardly be classified as such—he's just indifferent.
Early in life Andy had an ambition to be a dentist, but he has lived that down and at present his only ambition is to have pale cheeks. His blushes are famous far and wide and although they really are quite charming, he says they ruin his manly beauty. He falls in with the Red Mikes, but it's rather doubtful whether he rates it. He seems to get his share of the heavier mail.
But aside from that he's a good sport and everyone's friend. Always neat in appearance and orderly by habit, he'll be an honor to his class: a brother officer to be proud of. He seems to be always completing tasks in a manner that is satisfactory to all concerned. This, we believe, is due in no small extent to the cheery "Aye, Aye," with which he receives orders.
Track: Class (2); Soccer: Class (3).
Loss
Oddle died on October 27, 1930 of injuries sustained in an aircraft crash the previous day. The O2U-1 scout plane he was piloting crashed immediately after catapulting from USS Idaho (BB 42); another man aboard was also lost. Oddle was the senior aviator aboard and the ship's wrestling coach. His wife was aboard with many other family and friends for the Navy Day celebration.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Oddle graduated from Hermann High School, Rhineland, Missouri.
In January, 1921, Oddle was a secretary for the Spotted Poland China breed in the Ruralist Pig Club. The annual sale listed 700 pigs of all breeds.
He married Constance Wyer Rundlett on November 23, 1929, in Pensacola.
In 1920, his father William was a farmer. In addition to siblings Varney, Therian and Mary, his brothers were Arlie and Athel, and his sisters were Beverly and Mrs. Rose Marie Forney.
He earned his wings as naval aviator #3564 on December 21, 1929. The 1930 Navy Directory lists him as a member of Observation Squadron (VO) 4B, aboard USS Idaho (BB 42).
He had completed high school in three years. He was survived by his wife, mother, two brothers; Oddle was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant.
He is buried in Maine.
The two officers who came to his aid were given letters of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy per the Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 148 (January 10, 1931). A third officer was commended for taking charge of the salvage operation.
Remembrances
The commanding officer wrote to his mother:
Oddle had always seemed to be an extremely careful and conscientious pilot, and this accident cannot be attributed to any carelessness or lack of judgement on his part. It is one of those things which might happen to the best of aviators at any time. It is one of the events that have occurred so frequently, and which seems essential to the development of aviation; so that aviators of the future will be able to fly in safety. Dying as he did, Oddle's was a hero's death, and his end came as the supreme sacrifice made for his country and his navy, just as much as though he had been shot down by the enemy.
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
April 1928
July 1928
October 1928
January 1929
April 1929
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
July 1929
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
October 1929
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
January 1930
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Theodore Marshall '24
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
April 1930
October 1930
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