WILLIAM J. WIDHELM, CAPT, USN
William Widhelm '32
Lucky Bag
From the 1932 Lucky Bag:
WILLIAM JOHN WIDHELM
Humphrey, Nebraska
"Thug" "Bill"
With many tales of Nebraska and Creighton University, our Bill came to seek his niche within these four walls, and he found several. Never to be seen without his bit of humor and famous smile, Bill has permanently secured the Academy's best—many, many friends.
'Most any sunny afternoon will find him on the tennis courts with a very tricky brand of tennis. That does not hold for weekends, however, for a hop is never complete without him.
Plebe year came and went, and Bill had tried his hand at track, lacrosse, and football. Spare time was always his, for it was a disdainful study hour that he gave to any class. Dago stumped him for a while, but all of us remember the uncanny luck that he had with the tongue in Barcelona.
With rare enthusiasm and unbounded good humor, he can scarcely fail our prediction for a colorful career. Our tribute to him will always be that instinctive memory of an ideal roommate, a good fourth at bridge, and the life of any company.
2 P. O.
WILLIAM JOHN WIDHELM
Humphrey, Nebraska
"Thug" "Bill"
With many tales of Nebraska and Creighton University, our Bill came to seek his niche within these four walls, and he found several. Never to be seen without his bit of humor and famous smile, Bill has permanently secured the Academy's best—many, many friends.
'Most any sunny afternoon will find him on the tennis courts with a very tricky brand of tennis. That does not hold for weekends, however, for a hop is never complete without him.
Plebe year came and went, and Bill had tried his hand at track, lacrosse, and football. Spare time was always his, for it was a disdainful study hour that he gave to any class. Dago stumped him for a while, but all of us remember the uncanny luck that he had with the tongue in Barcelona.
With rare enthusiasm and unbounded good humor, he can scarcely fail our prediction for a colorful career. Our tribute to him will always be that instinctive memory of an ideal roommate, a good fourth at bridge, and the life of any company.
2 P. O.
Obituary
From Find A Grave:
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) W. J. Widhelm, USN, was designated Naval Aviator #4148 in 1935. Graduated U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1932. He was awarded two Navy Crosses during World War II, one for action during the Battle of Midway as executive officer of Souting Squadron Eight (VS-8).
Captain Widhelm, commanding officer of NAAS Chase Field, Tex., was killed in an aircraft accident involving a two-seat T-28B. Also killed was the pilot, Marine Corps Major Kenneth Arthur Anderson, in charge of ATU-204 at Chase Field.
This crash was the first serious accident involving the then-new T-28 trainer, and a specific cause for the accident was never determined.
Chicago Tribune (IL) - July 21, 1954
ARLINGTON SERVICES PLANNED FOR FLYER KILLED IN AIR CRASH
Deceased Name: Navy Capt. William J. Widhelm
Services for Navy Capt. William J. Widhelm, 46, killed Monday in an air crash near Woodsboro, Tex., probably will be held at Arlington National cemetery.
Meanwhile, plans were made for his widow, Elizabeth, and their three children to return to the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Cheney of Barrington, to live. The children are John, 10; Wendy, 8, and Sally, 4.
Capt. Widhelm held one of the navy's most distinguished records of aviation combat and service. He took command of Chase field, a navy jet training base at Beeville, Tex., on July 1. Capt. Widhelm, a 1932 graduate of the United States Naval academy, was awarded two navy crosses, a distinguished flying cross, and the Legion of Merit for outstanding combat service during World War II.
Other Information
From researcher Kathy Franz:
William graduated from St. Francis high school in 1926. He gave the salutatory speech at graduation. He attended Creigton Univesity in Omaha for one year taking a pre-medical course.
Per The Columbus Telegram, July 29, 1953:
After graduating, he worked at odd jobs in the Telegram’s shop as a printer’s devil.
Bill was putting correction lines in a galley of linotype slugs one day when he saw on the proof a paragraph to the effect that examinations would soon be held for applicants for appointment to Annapolis . . . All out of a clear sky, Bill exclaimed aloud, “There! That’s what I want to do. I want to go to Annapolis.” . . . We older fellows in the shop told him to contact The Telgram’s editor, Edgar Howard, who was then the member of Congress from this district . . . Mr. Howard told him to take the civil service exam along with the other applicants in this district . . . Bill did, but though he had good grades in most of the subjects, he stubbed his toe on one part of the quizz which ranged beyond the knowledge he hd acquired of that subject, so Mr. Howard did not appoint him.
The disappointment would have squelched most boys, but not Bill . . . He quit his job, enrolled in a college for a course in that subject, and others, and then came back the following year, passed the exams with flying colors, and went to Annapolis with Mr. Howard’s blessing . . . That’s the story of how it came about that Bill Widhelm, the printer’s devil, is now Captain William Widhelm, one of the navy’s most distinguished air-men . . . The story comes to mind because this year, 1953, is the 25th anniversary of his admission to Annapolis. --ZHL
From the Pensacola News Journal, August 9, 1940:
Sports Slant by Frank Pericola
Lt. William J. Widhelm, sometimes known as “Widdy” and sometimes as “Gus,” is being detached from the air station. . . . . he goes to bombing squadron four. . . . Widdy, who rarely misses a golfing tournament here if he can help it, is a great fellow and we’ll miss him.
William sailed from Hamilton, Bermuda, to New York City in August, 1941. His address was listed as Norfolk Naval Air Station, Virginia.
The Lincoln Star, Nebraska, November 17, 1941 reported that William was one of the Pilots with the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps aviation squadrons participating in the Army’s Carolina maneuvers that week.
From The Madison Star-Mail, Nebraska, July 22, 1954: William fitted out the first night fighter squadron in the South Pacific theater of war in January, 1943.
The Morning Post, Camden, New Jersey, January 5, 1944:
Alexander Griffin, author and newspaperman, . . . is the author of “A Ship to Remember, the story of the Hornet . . .
Griffin obtained his story of the one year’s existence of the great Navy ship from Comdr. William J. (Gus) Widhelm.
“The Hornet was launched on Oct. 10, 1941, and 19 days after Pearl Harbor went to sea with a crew of green young sailors, 75 percent of whom had never been to sea before,” Griffin related. “They were boys of the prewar draft, who had volunteered. But fortunately the officers of all grades were experienced men.”
Aided Doolittle Mission
Griffin told of the Hornet taking Gen. Jimmy Doolittle and his intrepid fliers for the bombing mission to Tokio. [sic] The Hornet returned with a crew of green Army fliers. In this first battle they became separated in fog in June 4, 1942, and a confusion of many things. Sixteen were lost. But one man was saved.
One by one the carriers Enterprise, Wasp and Yorktown, which were with the Hornet, were sunk in battles at Midway, Coral Sea or Solomon islands.
“The Hornet was the only carrier we had in the Pacific for 44 days,” Griffin declared. “The men subsisted on canned meat and dumplings. On the first anniversary a birthday party was held and the crew of 2000 were guests at a chicken dinner the ship’s treasurer had impounded for that purpose. On Oct. 20 the Hornet was sunk in the battle of Santa Cruz.”
From the Wichita Falls Times, Texas, January 30, 1944:
Captain John G. Crommelin, Jr., (’23) “is one of the navy’s top pilots, along with such hot shots as Commander Don Griffin and Commander William J. (Gus) Widhelm, of Humphrey, Neb. [John, aka Bomb-Run John, and his four brothers were all Naval Academy graduates: Henry (‘25,) Charles (’31), Richard (’38) and Quentin (‘41.)]
From The Montana Standard, Butte, March 12, 1944:
AN ADVANCE SOUTH PACIFIC BASE – (Delayed) – (U.P.) – Comdr. William J. Widhelm, Navy flyer from Humphrey, Neb., who holds two Navy Crosses, recently flew a tiny observation plane from this base through a driving rainstorm, landing without lights on an unfinished jungle airport, to evacuate a Marine suffering from acute appendicitis, Marine Public Relations Officer Penn T. Bimball of New Britain, Conn.
Widhelm landed on the jungle airfield, which he never had seen before, only a few minutes after a ditch across the uncompleted field had been hastily filled. A daylight emergency landing on the same field two days earlier killed two Army pilots.
The patient, Pfc. Robert Wagner, of (6014 W. Adler St.) Milwaukee, Wis., was successfully operated on for removal of his appendix at a field hospital at this base.
Widhelm, one of the oldest pilots on combat duty in the South Pacific, led Navy scouting squadron 8 when it sank two Jap heavy cruisers in the battle of Midway.
From The Minneapolis Star, Minnesota, May 6, 1944:
Truk was a land of a thousand fires today (May 1) after an immense United States carrier force smashed the enemy’s Carolines base with the seal of death to highlight a record 22-day “invasion” of the west-central Pacific. . . .
Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher, commanding the mighty armada, was completely satisfied with all these operations. . . .
Capt. A. F. Burke, Mitscher’s new chief of staff, Capt. Truman J. Hedding and Comm. William J. Widhelm, operations officers, divide Truk’s installations into easy bites.
From the Chicago Tribune, May 20, 1944:
A special limited edition of Alexander R. Griffin’s “A Ship to Remember – The Saga of the Hornet” has been received by Mrs. William J. Widhelm, the former Betty Cheney, whose husband, Comdr. Widhelm was in command of the famous dive bomber squadron, The Bombing Fools, on the Hornet. There are only five other copies of this special edition and they have been presented to President Roosevelt, three admirals, and the author. Comdr. Widhelm, on duty in the Pacific, is kept abreast of the development of his 5 month old son by photographs.
In October, 1944, William and his wife were entertained at a party by his sister Mrs. Herman Woerth in Columbus, Nebraska. They also visited with his sisters Elizabeth and Mary, and his brother, Cpl. Carl Widhelm, of the army engineers corps.
After visiting relatives in Omaha and Chicago, he attended a conference in Washington, D. C. Next, they went to Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where he took charge of the training program for navy carrier pilots.
From The Columbus Telegram, January 5, 1945:
William … has just received a fourth citation, the legion of merit, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in recent Pacific campaigns.
The pilot . . . received the citation from Commodore Gordon Rowe, USN, at ceremonies held at U. S. naval air station, Quonset Point, R. I. . . .
The citation, signed by Vice Adm. M. A. Mitscher, USN, commended the navy pilot for his service as operations officer on the staff of a commander of a carrier task force in combat operations in the vicinity of the Mariana, Caroline, Bonin and Philippine islands from June through September, 1944. His work as an operations officer included support of amphibious operations and an engagement with units of the Japanese fleet.
The citation continues, “His performance of duty was distinguished by resourcefulness, skill, and courage, and was at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service.”
Commander Widhelm received the navy cross for extraordinary achievement in combat in the battle of Midway during the early phases of the war and received a gold star in lieu of a second navy cross for his achievements in combat during the battle of Santa Cruz. It was in this battle he was shot down, drifting for three days on a life raft [with his radioman.] He was rescued by a patrol plane as it was preparing to turn back after an 800 mile search.
Commander Widhelm received the distinguished flying cross for his achievements as commander of a night fighter squadron on duty for a year in the south Pacific.
From the Pampa Daily News, Texas, May 24, 1945:
One for the Book. The Favorite War Story of Alexander Griffin, Mutual Commentator
This is the story of a man who wanted so much to fight the Japs that he stowed away on an aircraft carrier to get the chance.
Lawrence V. Pettinati, Bronx, New York, before the outbreak of war serviced on the cruiser Helena, but had later become a second class metalsmith, put to work rigging parachutes on Ford’s Island, Hawaii.
It was dull, monotonous work, and sailor Pettinati was bored. Everytime a fighting ship put into port he petitioned the fleet to transfer him to it.
One such night he met in a Honolulu bar, a group of “Airedales” from the old carrier Hornet. He got into an argument with them and ended up by betting that he could get aboard their ship. They laughed him off and promptly forgot the incident . . . . But three days after the Hornet put to sea with a South Pacific task force, there was Pettinati – albeit a little frightened, but large as life.
By all the rules, he was a deserter from his post at Ford’s Island, and thus deserving of heavy punishment. But Commander William J. Widhelm, who was designated to handle his case, felt that actually Pettinati had paid the ship a supreme compliment, knowing as he did that it was headed for combat. Hence he made the punishment fit the crime.
Commander Widhelm put Pettinati to work in the Hornet’s parachute loft . . . rigging parachutes.
On Armistice Day, November 11, 1949, William spoke to an audience of American Legionnaires in Buffalo, New York. He told them that “the most effective attack in another war would be by air . . . that navy planes could perform any job in their range and could control the air in any given area.”
In July, 1951, William was commanding officer of Fleet All Weather Training Unit in Hawaii. In July, 1953, he was transferred to the air force war college at Maxwell field in Montgomery, Alabama. On July 1, 1954, he was transferred to Commander of Chase Field, an auxiliary Air Station at Beeville, Texas.
William married the former Virginia Blackburn Carroll of Baltimore on November 4, 1933, at the All-Saints’ Church, Long Beach, California. They do not appear to have had any children, and he was remarried to Elizabeth Cheney in 1943. He was survived by their son William John, 10, daughter Wendy, 8, and Sally, 5. When Sally was born in 1949, they lived in Patuxent, Maryland. (Elizabeth later remarried, to one of his classmates, Alton Parker '32, though she is buried with William in Arlington National Cemetery.)
William’s father Frank was a life insurance agent, mother Anna, and brother Carl. His four sisters were: Josephine (Mrs. Herman Woerth,) Mary (Mrs. August Dwert,) Theresa (Mrs. Ed Schaecher) and Elizabeth. William was the youngest of all the children
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Photographs
From the book "These Men Shall Never Die" by Lowell Thomas.
From The Charlotte Observer on February 27, 1944
From The Columbus Telegram on January 5, 1945
From The Honolulu Advertiser on July 23, 1954
Wartime Service
On October 26, 1942 William's SBD-3 Dauntless was shot down during the Battle of Santa Cruz. He was flying from USS Hornet (CV 8) as commanding officer of Bombing Squadron (VB) 8.
From Naval History and Heritage Command:
The initial strike group from Hornet (CV-8), composed of 15 VS-8 and VB-8 SBD dive bombers, led by Lieutenant Commander William J. “Gus” Widhelm, had been in the air about an hour and 15 minutes on the morning of 26 October 1942, searching for the Japanese carrier task force, when Widhelm turned the group north to avoid several Japanese Zeros he could see attacking Hornet’s covering fighters. Five minutes later, after passing through a cloud bank, he spotted some ship wakes and billowing smoke to his left, about 25 miles off. He had sighted the Japanese carrier Shōkaku and its still-burning companion, the light carrier Zuihō.
As Widhelm and his SBDs were overtaking the larger carrier from astern, a Zero from the carrier Zuikaku that was flying combat air patrol made an overhead firing pass, puncturing the leader’s aircraft in the left wing, the tail, and the engine. Even as Widhelm attempted to keep formation, his now-overheated engine seized up, and he was forced to drop away. He successfully ditched the aircraft, and he and his rear gunner, ARM1c George D. Stokely, were able to get into their life raft before the plane sank. But it was a close call. As he later told an audience of workers at the Brewster Aircraft plant, “My plane sank 15 seconds after it hit the water, but the rear gunner and I got out on a life raft. The entire Jap force steamed right by us. One time we had to paddle with our hands to avoid being run down by a destroyer.” Nevertheless, the two men had a front row seat to see several of the planes of his strike group put three 3,000-pound bombs into Shōkaku’s flight deck, setting off fires that crippled her ability to handle flight operations.
Three days later, Gus Widhelm and George Stokely were rescued by a PBY patrol plane. For his courageous leadership at the Battle of Santa Cruz, Widhelm was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross. A 1932 graduate of the Naval Academy, Gus Widhelm went on later in the war to command the first Navy nightfighting squadron in the South Pacific and to serve as operations officer for Carrier Task Force One during campaigns in the Central Pacific.
William commanded VF(N)-75 in 1943, the first night fighter squadron in the US Navy.
Remembrances
From Naval History:
Gus Widhelm was a bigger than life character: a superb aviator and staunch friend. Upon returning to the fleet after a stint instructing at Pensacola he announced his intention to requalify in carrier landings, bombing and gunnery in the same day. Reportedly his CO said that had never been done before to which Gus replied, "Sir, you are talking to Widhelm." And he proceeded to do what he intended. (There's an undocumented account of a dead-stick carrier landing in an SB2U but I cannot confirm it.)
c. 1946 Gus learned that a fellow test pilot was due to roll out of Pax River but lacked the means of moving his family's furniture in one trip. Gus asked, "Would it help if I could get you a B29?"
We don't make 'em like that anymore. Barrett Tillman, c. 2011
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant William John Widhelm (NSN: 0-71503), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Executive Officer of Scouting Squadron EIGHT (VS-8), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the "Air Battle of Midway." On 6 June 1942, Lieutenant Widhelm participated in the bombing and strafing attacks on fleeing enemy forces. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire he coolly and methodically without regard for his own safety, attacked the enemy, obtaining a hit on one of the enemy cruisers. His courage and skill contributed to the victory achieved by our forces. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 6-Jun-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Scouting Squadron 8 (VS-8)
Division: U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8)
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] William John Widhelm (NSN: 0-71503), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Commanding Officer of Scouting Squadron EIGHT (VS-8), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), in the successful aerial action against Japanese naval forces on 26 October 1942, near Santa Cruz Islands. Though met by heavy fighter opposition which shot down four of his planes, and with his own craft losing oil as a result of enemy gun fire, Commander Widhelm led his flight of scout bombers to press home the attack on a large Japanese carrier until he was finally forced to make a water landing close to the enemy fleet. His example of dogged tenacity, leadership and courage inspired all members of his flight and contributed in a large measure to the extremely heavy damage inflicted upon the enemy. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander South Pacific Area and Force: Serial 0324b (December 31, 1942)
Action Date: 26-Jun-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Scouting Squadron 8 (VS-8)
Division: U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8)
Related Articles
John Waldron '24 and Alfred Tucker, III '31 were also squadron commanders aboard USS Hornet (CV 8) early in the war.
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.
October 1932
January 1933
April 1933
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
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 Vernon Hain '31
January 1935
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
1LT Harold Bauer '30
LTjg Vernon Hain '31
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
ENS Edward Allen '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 Vernon Hain '31
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
ENS Edward Allen '31
October 1935
LT James Craig '22
LT Richard Moss '24
LTjg John Duke '26
1LT Ernest Pollock '28
LTjg William Pennewill '29
LTjg Robert Coates '30
1LT Nicholas Pusel '30
LTjg Gilbert Carpenter '30
LTjg Lance Massey '30
1LT Harold Bauer '30
January 1936
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
April 1936
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
July 1936
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
January 1937
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LT Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Finley Hall '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
April 1937
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LT Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Finley Hall '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Hulson '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
September 1937
January 1938
July 1938
LT Renwick Calderhead '27
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30
LTjg John Huntley '31
LTjg Albert Gray '31
LTjg George Ottinger '32
ENS Glenn Dunagan '33
ENS Norman Ostergren '35
January 1939
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)
LT Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Alden Irons '31 (Training Squadron (VN) 3D8)
LTjg John Huntley '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
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)
October 1939
LT Renwick Calderhead '27 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Finley Hall '29 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Training Squadron (VN) 3D8)
LT John Huntley '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Bellinger '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Martin Koivisto '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Daniel Gothie '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
LTjg Albert Major, Jr. '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John McCormack, Jr. '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Archibald Stone, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Wendell Froling '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
1LT James Crowther '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Francis Maher, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Dewitt Harrell '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Webster Johnson '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Frank Robinson '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Hunter '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Walter Bayless '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Ralph Embree '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS James Mayes '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Harold Shrider '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Donald Patterson '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Raymond Moore '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Patrick Hart '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Paul Riley '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Thomas Edwards, Jr. '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Edward O'Hare '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Macdonald Thompson '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Howard Nester, Jr. '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
June 1940
LT Finley Hall '29 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Lance Massey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LT Charles Ostrom '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Bellinger '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Martin Koivisto '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Daniel Gothie '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
1LT Floyd Parks '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Charles Ware '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Jack Ferguson '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Joel Davis, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Francis Maher, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Powers '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Frank Robinson '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Roy Krogh '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg James Southerland, II '36 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Alexander Groves, II '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS James Mayes '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Harold Shrider '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Frank Henderson, Jr. '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Raymond Moore '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Paul Riley '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Thomas '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Thomas Edwards, Jr. '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Macdonald Thompson '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Howard Nester, Jr. '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
2LT Radford West '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS John Boal '37 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Harry Howell '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Howard Clark '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS William Brady '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
2LT John Maclaughlin, Jr. '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Donald Smith '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Frank Quady '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard Crommelin '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
2LT Dorrance Radcliffe '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Alphonse Minvielle '38 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
November 1940
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg Walter Bayless '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS Lemuel Cooke '39 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Beck, Jr. '40 (USS Ranger)
April 1941
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg Walter Bayless '36 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Ralph Embree '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
ENS Walter Sharer '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Richard Crommelin '38 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
ENS Lemuel Cooke '39 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Beck, Jr. '40 (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.
