Hi, I`m wondering if anyone might know of an on-line source of U.S. merchant fleet Captain / Commander`s names? I`ve been Googling around without success and, as it`s not normally my field of interest, I`m struggling a bit to know where to look. I`m trying to find the name of the Captain of the C-1A Cargo vessel - Cape Canaveral during 1943. I have part of her log book and the printed name looks like D.N. Nunan, yet his signature looks more like L.P.M. Nunan or Numan. The printed name is very clear, but the signature is poor - hence the confusion. I`m hoping someone with more experience in this field might be able to give me a pointer as I`d like to find out who her captain was at this time. MTIA. PS: I`ve tried the Crew List website and he`s not listed, although this is of course primarily a UK resource.
Searching for you. Haven’t found his name “confirmation” yet, but while looking finding all sorts of info, so posting it here for you If you can give me more info (the date or Convoy your exactly looking for) I might be able to find more?? Cheers
This seems to be the same man in the records in the post above. If it is, then it looks like his name is DOUGLASS M NUnAN
Temujin, Thank you very much the great reply. Looking at your crew lists it looks like the Captain`s name was most likely Douglas M. Nunan or Numan but there doesn`t seem to be much about him on-line that I can find. For the record I`m researching the ship`s part in D.N. 46 and have found quite a bit on Fold3 but here in the UK it seems the very small size of the convoy, just two mercantile vessels and a single escort out of Durban, didn`t warrant a "report of proceedings" by the convoy`s escort (H.M.S. Rotherham) or Commodore to be recorded; at least not in the National Archive that I can find. The other option is it may have been destroyed, as the Rotherham`s June 1943 log book appears to have been. (Apparently the Royal Navy destroyed a lot of the original log books sometime after the war). Attached are the captain`s name as featured in the Cape Canaveral`s log book which, as you`ll see, don`t appear to agree unless perhaps the signature begines with a very stylised "D" or perhaps some sort of rank identifier?
You probably have this, but I note that the of the two vessels, the AORANGI was also heading for Kilindini and then Bombay as part of K.R.5. I also looked for more records to see when they both arrived in Kilindini but I haven’t found anything. AORANGI has a ETA in (I’m assuming) Bombay of the 15 June…..I’ll check further on that Do you know where the Cape Canaveral went after Kilindini??
In September of 1943, Captain Numan was taking his first leave in three years. Barre (Vermont) Daily Times September 9, 1943.
Gents, Thank you all for the additional information, I appreciate the kind help and time you`ve spent on this. Once his true name was apparent it seems there was quite a bit to be found on line. Barry, to answer your questions specifically, I do indeed have most of the movements you`ve posted; I suspect from the same source. However, it`s good of you to do this as one never knows if you`ve missed something. I hadn`t previously seen the war diary for the Commander, Gulf Sea, for instance. It`s just a great shame it doesn`t cover the period June 1943 but I suspect by then it would have been in the other war diary anyway as the Cape Canaveral was working around South Africa. With regards to her destination from D.N. 46, this was per page 50 of the W.D you posted. i.e Rio De Janeiro where she arrived 31.07.43. Regards, John
