VERNON R. HAIN, LTJG, USN
Vernon Hain '31
Lucky Bag
From the 1931 Lucky Bag:
Vernon Rex Hain
Dayton, Ohio
"Rex" "Vic
The sages say that early environment does much to mold one's future. It was natural, therefore, that a summer at C. M. T. C. should turn Rex's steps toward a military life. Fate, and a Congressman, decided it.
Academy life has not dealt severely with him. Studies caused work but no worry. He was a real asset to the rifle team. In fact, Rex is one of the best marksmen in his class. When he was not busy making holes in targets he ambled around the Yard taking snapshots for the Lucky Bag. He is responsible for most of the pictures in this book, certainly all of the bad ones. Though he is a busy individual he is always ready to talk, argue, or explain anything, whether you want to listen or not.
His friends are many, for a genial, good nature and a readiness for any kind of fun make it impossible for you not to like him. Success for Rex is assured. His love for the Service and his conscientious application to any task set before him will keep him climbing upward in the Navy.
Photographic Editor, Lucky Bag; Class Crest Committee; Pep Committee; Small Bore 4, 3, 2, 1 rNt 3; "N" 2; Rifle 4, 3, 2, 1 rNAt 3; rNt 2 Captain 1; Expert Rifleman; Star 2; "N"Club; Three Stripes
Vernon Rex Hain
Dayton, Ohio
"Rex" "Vic
The sages say that early environment does much to mold one's future. It was natural, therefore, that a summer at C. M. T. C. should turn Rex's steps toward a military life. Fate, and a Congressman, decided it.
Academy life has not dealt severely with him. Studies caused work but no worry. He was a real asset to the rifle team. In fact, Rex is one of the best marksmen in his class. When he was not busy making holes in targets he ambled around the Yard taking snapshots for the Lucky Bag. He is responsible for most of the pictures in this book, certainly all of the bad ones. Though he is a busy individual he is always ready to talk, argue, or explain anything, whether you want to listen or not.
His friends are many, for a genial, good nature and a readiness for any kind of fun make it impossible for you not to like him. Success for Rex is assured. His love for the Service and his conscientious application to any task set before him will keep him climbing upward in the Navy.
Photographic Editor, Lucky Bag; Class Crest Committee; Pep Committee; Small Bore 4, 3, 2, 1 rNt 3; "N" 2; Rifle 4, 3, 2, 1 rNAt 3; rNt 2 Captain 1; Expert Rifleman; Star 2; "N"Club; Three Stripes
Loss
Vernon was lost on November 23, 1937 when his plane crashed near Ocotillo Airport, California (near San Diego). He was a member of Bombing Squadron (VB) 3B.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
NOTE: The Lucky Bag said he spent one summer with C. M. T. C. It stands for Citizens’ Military Training Camp held at about 50 Army posts nationwide from 1921 to 1940. Some known participants: Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan and Chuck Yeager (from Wikipedia.)
From the Dayton Daily News, February 16, 1937:
Lieuts. Hain and L. Q. Forbes were classmates at Annapolis and members of the championship rifle team that competed in the annual matches last year at Camp Perry, O. They flew east to ferry back several planes, to the naval base. Lieut. Hain visited Dayton last week, on his return trip. Lieut. Forbes, flying a new plane, crashed Saturday in the western mountains and was killed.
From the Dayton Daily News, Ohio, November 24, 1937:
Funeral services and burial for Lieut. Vernon Rex Hain, 30, Dayton naval flyer, who was killed late Tuesday when the plane he was piloting crashed at Benson’s Dry Lake, 59 miles east of San Diego, Cal., will be held Friday in Coronado Beach, Cal. Also killed in the crash was G. M. Keller, seaman, second class, who was flying with Hain.
The plane apparently lost a piece of cowling, which knocked the pilot unconscious, and went into a dive at 3500 feet, according to the announcement from United States fleet headquarters at North Island. A board of investigation was scheduled to meet Wednesday to complete the investigation of the accident.
The plane had been engaged in dive bombing practice with the entire squadron, and the air station reported the cowling of the plane probably ripped loose under pressure. The men were the only occupants of the plane.
Lieut. Hain was stationed at San Diego, and was attached to the VB-4 squadron, assigned to the U. S. S. Ranger, airplane carrier, last July. He was a member of the squadron assigned to the U. S. S. Lexington, which was sent in search of Amelia Earhart. The navy lieutenant was a graduate of the naval academy at Annapolis with the class of 1931, and was the oldest of six children.
He was born in Dayton Oct. 12, 1907, attending Longfellow grade school and Steele high school, from which he graduated in 1926. He worked at the N. C. R. a year as a screwmaker before receiving his appointment to the naval academy.
Following his graduation from the service academy Lieut. Hain served on the battleship New York and for 15 months was in training in Pensacola, Fla. Five years ago he was married to Mildred McCannon, of Boston, whose father was the commander of the Boston navy yard.
Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dennie W. Hain, of 111 W. McPherson st., he is survived by his widow, Mildred; a two-year-old son; four brothers, Lieut. Robert W. Hain, United States army, stationed at Ft. Totten, Long Island; Richard Hain employed at the Dayton Daily News in the classified advertising department; John, a member of the firm of the Standard Radio Parts; Clark, a senior at Steele high school, and a sister, Alice, a junior at Steele.
The lieutenant’s last visit to Dayton was in February where he stopped at Wright Field while ferrying a new plane to the naval base in San Diego.
At Steele high school, Vernon was president of the Philomathean literary society and spoke on the Panama Canal at a meeting in January, 1937. He was also a member of the Social Science club and Hi Y. As a high school senior, Vernon appeared in the class play “The Dulcy.” From the class prophecy: Mayor Hain Flays Air Traffic. City Commissioners Chrisman, Markland, Allison and Olt today convened to consider the problem of air traffic, at the instigation of Mayor Hain who is highly incensed over the disregard of air rules. Mayor Hain in an address before the Aircraft Uplift Society stressed the importance of immediate reform.
Vernon was appointed to the Naval Academy by Congressman Roy G. Fitzgerald. At graduation, he received the prize awarded by the Sons of the Revolution for the midshipman who stands one for the course in practical ordnance and gunnery. His name was engraved on the cup. He then reported to the rifle team on June 10 and remained for practice until August 1. The team then went to Camp Perry on Lake Erie for the matches.
He married Mildred Mannette McCammon on August 16, 1932, at her home. Their son Elliott Rex was born June 25, 1935, at Coronado, California.
He was survived by his parents and three brothers. Vernon has a memory marker in Ohio; he is buried in California.
Photographs
From the Dayton Daily News on April 23, 1926 of his class play
From his high school yearbook
From The Dayton Herald on July 13, 1937
From the Dayton Daily News on April 20, 1930
From The Dayton Herald on December 12, 1930
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.
July 1931
LCDR Robert English '11
LT Joseph Severyns, Jr. '20
LT Samuel Arthur '20
LT Robert Smith '20
LT Paul Slawson '20
LT John Jones '21
LT John French '22
October 1931
January 1932
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
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31
LTjg Ford Wallace '31
LTjg William Freshour '31
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
January 1935
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
1LT Harold Bauer '30
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
ENS Edward Allen '31
LTjg Robert Mackert '31
April 1935
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
LTjg Robert Coates '30
1LT Nicholas Pusel '30
1LT Harold Bauer '30
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
ENS Edward Allen '31
LTjg Robert Mackert '31
October 1935
January 1936
April 1936
July 1936
LCDR Lyman Swenson '16 (USS Lexington)
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Joseph Loughlin, Jr. '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS George Fuller '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Webster Johnson '36 (USS Lexington)
January 1937
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Joseph Loughlin, Jr. '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Ludwell Pickett, Jr. '33 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg William Kane '33 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Webster Johnson '36 (USS Lexington)
April 1937
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Joseph Loughlin, Jr. '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Ludwell Pickett, Jr. '33 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg William Kane '33 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
September 1937
LTjg Robert Strickler '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
LTjg Archibald Greenlee '32 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg William Townsend '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg Charles Brewer '34 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
ENS William Hulson '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
