USN & Commonwealth Service

Discussion in 'Service Records' started by R Leonard, Feb 12, 2017.

  1. R Leonard

    R Leonard Member

    As my primary interest lies in USN naval aviation, I usually hang out over at ww2f.com, but in my pursuit of US naval aviators, naval aviation pilots and AvCads from the war years I have stumbled on a small conundrum . . .
    Seems the gents listed below at one or another, between 1939 and 1945, fell into one of the three noted categories. They also at some point were in either RCAF or RAF service.

    Any chance anyone can come up with their service numbers while in Commonwealth service? Also any units to which they may been assigned and the dates of such assignment would be nice.

    Isaac Shelby Best
    Frank James Champlin
    Arthur Francis Halamka
    William Caesar Oquendo
    Robert Phillips Vatcher
    and
    Donald R Weidenhamer

    I've either pretty much exhausted the sources that pop-up with a google search . . . or can't figure them out. Hoping someone here might have a personal treasure trove they might be willing to search.

    Thanks in advance,

    Rich
     
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  2. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Donald Weidenhamer is in the Croydon area June 45 because he marries a Constance V. Hyde there. (Volume 2a Page 1973)
     
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  3. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    There's a 25 year old Robert P. Vatcher death recorded in Ashford district September 44, Volume 2a Page1569. Could be your Robert.
     
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  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I will look for more later (actually Monday as it is late Sun night here) but for starters

    Shelby Isaac Best in the UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960
    Name: Shelby Isaac Best
    Gender: Male
    Age: 25
    Birth Date: abt 1918
    Departure Date: 20 Feb 1943
    Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
    Destination Port: Halifax, Canada
    Ship Name: Amerika
    Search Ship Database: Search for the Amerika in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
    Shipping line: Cunard White Star Limited
    Official Number: 167544
    Master: C Nielsen
    41039_b001568-00453.jpg

    TD
     
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  5. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

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  6. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    C7558 Pilot Officer Arthur Francis Halamka was killed 19 May 1942 in a flying accident during a gunnery exercise near St. Luce, Quebec. His body was never found so he is commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial.

    Arthur Francis Halamka - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada

    Born Milwaukee, Wisconsin 21 October 1916, the son of Frank and Anna Hamalka.

    On enlistment, he stated he was previously a naval flier at Pensacola (1940-41)

    Regards,

    Dave
     

    Attached Files:

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  7. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    R125792 Leading Aircraftman William Caesar Oquendo. Student pilot. Killed in a flying accident 10 miles north of Brockville, Ontario 20 June 1942. Buried at St. Michael's Cemetery, NYC, NY.

    Previous military service is given as "US Navy Air Corps, March-August 1941"

    William Caesar Oquendo - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada

    Born Cataña, Puerto Rico 25 June 1915, he was the only child of Benito and Carmen Oquendo.

    Regards,

    Dave
     
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  8. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Attached Files:

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  9. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    [​IMG]Flying Officer Robert Phillips Vatcher ( - 1944) - Find A Grave Photos
     
  10. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Donald Richard Weidenhamer
    1917–1999
    BIRTH 13 OCT 1917 • Defiance Co.. OH
    DEATH 12 MAY 1999 • Defiance Hospital, Defiance, OH
    [​IMG]

    Military
    17 Jun 1936 • 17 Jun 1936 –14 Jun 1940 Enlisted, Fort Hayes Columbus, OH. Navy Air Corps
    U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record

    Military
    15 Mar 1941 • 15 Mar 1941 - 22 Jul 1941. Enlisted, Fort Hayes Columbus, OH. Navy Air Corps
    U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record

    I cannot find his obituary, but between spells as above in the Navy he is noted as:
    Occupation
    1940 • Actor (Motion picture actor. )
    From Obituary

    Donald R Weidenhamer in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
    Name: Donald R Weidenhamer
    Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1945
    Registration district: Croydon
    Inferred County: Surrey
    Spouse: Constance V Hyde
    Volume Number: 2a
    Page Number: 1973


    TD
     
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  11. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Robert Phillips Vatcher

    Birth: 31 Oct 1918 - USA
    Death: 29 Jun 1944 - England
    F: Samuel P. Vatcher
    M: Hazel Diana Phillips

    TD
     
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  12. R Leonard

    R Leonard Member

    My thanks to all for their efforts and my sincere apologies for not getting back sooner. Regretfully, I was overtaken by events, plural, of a family nature that required greater attention. Anyway, I’ll recap what we know now of the above gents and then add a little more fuel for the research grist mill:

    From the original list:

    Isaac Shelby Best
    unkn RAF/RCAF # -> unkn rank(s) -> unkn unit(s) -> unkn date(s)

    261749 -> LT USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 31 Jul 1944 USNR Register -> 3/1/1944

    Frank James Champlin
    unkn RCAF #
    -> Flight Sgt RCAF -> No 414 Squadron RCAF -> -> 8/19/1942
    243217 -> LTJG USNR AV(T) -> VF OTU -4 NAS Jacksonville -> 2/1/1943
    243217 -> LT USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 31 Jul 1944 USNR Register -> 1/1/1944
    (Champlin had been an enlisted sailor in the USN prior to the war, circa 1939, this I can tell by looking at his entry date for pay and his service number, but I have not yet found a trace of him in the muster rolls)

    Arthur Francis Halamka
    98406 -> AvCad -> USNR -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 12/2/1940
    C/7558 -> Pilot Officer RCAF -> No 16 SFTS KIFA -> 5/19/1942

    William Caesar Oquendo
    AvCad -> USNR -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 5/1/1941
    R125792 LAM RCAF -> No 2 SFTS KIFA -> 6/20/1942

    Robert Phillips Vatcher
    104196 -> AvCad -> USNR -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 4/1/1941
    J21798 -> FLYING OFF -> RCAF -> 412 Squadron KIA -> 6/29/1944

    Donald R Weidenhamer
    3111775 -> Cox USN -> USS Mugford (DD-389) discharged EOE -> 6/30/1940
    15018312 -> Pvt -> USAAF -> Ft Hayes Columbus -> 3/15/1941
    15018312 -> FlyCadet -> USAAF -> Wright AAFB Columbus -> 6/15/1941
    15018312 -> FlyCadet -> USAAF -> Resigned -> 11/30/1941
    unkn RCAF # -> AC1 -> RCAF -> enlisted RCAF - units unkn -> 12/7/1941
    3111775 -> AP1c -> USNR -> Transfer to USN this date -> 11/9/1942
    3111775 -> AP1c -> USNR -> NATC NAS Jacksonville -> 1/2/1943
    3111775 -> AP1c -> USNR -> Hedron 5-1 FAW-5 NAS Norfolk -> 9/1/1943
    3111775 -> CAP -> USNR -> Hedron 7 FAW-7 NAS Dunkswell -> 7/1/1944
    3111775 -> CAP -> USNR -> ComNavEur staff pilot -> 7/1/1945

    And a few more to contemplate . . .

    This gent I know had Commonwealth service (not to mention prewar service in both the USN and the USMC):

    William Erwin Gibson Taylor
    unkn RN #
    -> SubLT -> RNVR -> 804 Squadron HMS Glorious -> 4/1/1940
    unkn RN # -> LT -> RNVR -> British Purchasing Mission to the USA -> 7/15/1940
    unkn RAF # -> SQDRN LDR -> RAFVR -> Transfer to RAF -> 9/15/1940
    unkn RAF # -> SQDRN LDR -> RAFVR -> No 242 Squadron TAD for Spitfire training -> 11/1/1940
    unkn RAF # -> SQDRN LDR -> RAFVR -> No 71 Squadron Kirton-in-Lindsey (CO) -> 2/1/1941
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register -> 7/6/1941
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register -> 7/6/1941
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> In transit from Great Britain -> 8/1/1941
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> BuAer Staff - Radar / FDO Advisor -> 8/26/1941
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> CinCPac Staff TAD Intercept Cmd Ft Shafter HI -> 12/7/1941
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> BuAer staff TAD MIT Project Roger (aerial radar) -> 2/1/1942
    60930 -> LCDR -> USNR AV(T) -> Project AFFIRM (CO) NAS Quonset Point -> 4/18/1942
    60930 -> CDR -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 31 Jul 1944 USNR Register -> 9/10/1942
    60930 -> CDR -> USNR AV(T) -> Project AFFIRM (CO) NAS Quonset Point -> 9/10/1943
    60930 -> CDR -> USNR A5 -> NACTULant (CO) NAS Quonset Point -> 11/9/1944
    60930 -> CDR -> USNR A5 -> ComCarDiv7 staff TAD night opns advisor -> 11/30/1944
    60930 -> CDR -> USNR A5 -> ComNavForNWAfrica staff (AirO) NAF Port Lyautey -> 4/30/1945

    And there’s these next two whom I just suspect had Commonwealth service (this from looking at their original commissioning dates and designations – an AV(T) is someone who was taught to fly by or served in a flying capacity in some service or entity other than the USN . . . returning pilots from the Flying Tigers AVG, for example, were designated as AV(T)s even though their original, pre-AVG designation had been AV(N)). I could be wrong, these gents may have been airline pilots prior to their commissions, such folks usually ended up in VR – transport – squadrons, but without information on any assignments while in USN service I can’t be sure of either. They certainly do not appear in any of the VR squadron rosters I have available.

    William S Lewis
    unkn RAF/RCAF # -> unkn rank(s)-> unkn unit(s) -> unkn date(s)

    153170 -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register -> 7/28/1942
    153170 -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 31 Jul 1944 USNR Register -> 7/28/1942

    Robert Burns Reed
    unkn RAF/RCAF # -> unkn rank(s) -> unkn unit(s) -> unkn date(s)

    215889 -> ENS -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register -> 2/1/1943
    215889 -> ENS -> USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 31 Jul 1944 USNR Register -> 2/1/1943

    For the sake of general interest, so you know I have not just been idle, here are six more I have already ferreted out (Hills and Jones were easy, I already knew about them):

    Hollis Harry Hills

    J5803 -> Flight Officer RCAF -> No 1 ITS RCAF -> 1/24/1941
    J5803 -> Flight Officer RCAF -> No 7 EFTS RCAF -> 3/4/1941 ->
    J5803 -> Flight Officer RCAF -> No 10 SFTS RCAF -> 6/21/1941
    J5803 -> Flight Officer RCAF -> No 44 Squadron RCAF -> 8/19/1942
    243201 -> LTJG USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 1 Jan 1943 USNR Register -> 11/9/1942
    243201 -> LT USNR AV(T) -> VF-32 USS Langley (CVL-27) -> 6/1/43
    243201 -> LT USNR AV(T) -> DOR from 31 Jul 1944 USNR Register -> 1/1/1944
    243201 -> LT USNR AV(T) -> VF-32 USS Langley (CVL-27) SS -> 4/29/1944

    Ripley Ogden Jones
    81560 -> AvCad -> USNR AV(G) -> Designated NA # 6091 this date -> 9/11/1939
    81560 -> ENS -> USNR AV(G) -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 10/1/1939
    81560 -> ENS -> USNR AV(G) -> VO-5 USS Texas (BB-35) -> 1/1/1941
    81560 -> ENS -> USNR AV(G) -> Release from USN Service -> 5/1/1941
    100520 -> PLT OFF -> RAF -> 611 Squadron RAF Drem Scotland -> 9/30/1941
    100520 -> FLT LT -> RAF -> 128 Squadron RAF Malta KIA DFC -> 10/17/1942

    Michael Klimenko
    104266 -> AvCad USNR -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 4/1/1941
    104266 -> AvCad USNR -> Honorably discharge -> 8/8/1941
    R125988 -> AM RCAF -> Enlisted in RCAF this date -> 9/24/1941
    R125988 -> SGT PLT -> RCAF -> No 1 OTU RCAF Bagotville Quebec KIFA -> 9/20/1942

    Robert Matheson Murray
    100050 -> AvCad USNR -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 3/1/1941
    R68488 -> SGT PILOT -> RCAF -> 411 Squadron KIA -> 7/29/1941

    Seymour Morton Schatzberg
    104272-> AvCad -> USNR -> DOR from 1 Jul 1941 USNR Register -> 4/1/1941
    118585 -> Pilot Officer -> RAFVR -> 133 Squadron KIFA -> 9/19/1942

    John Harlan Stickell
    J8429 -> Flight Officer -> RCAF -> No 7 Squadron RCAF DSO -> 12/10/1942
    unkn USN # -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> TAD USNavForEur Londonderry -> 3/29/1943
    unkn USN # -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> BuAer -> 4/15/1943
    unkn USN # -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> NATC NAS Corpus Christi -> 8/5/1943
    unkn USN # -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> VB-108 FAW-1 Nukefetau Ellice Is WIA -> 12/12/1943
    unkn USN # -> LT -> USNR AV(T) -> VB-108 FAW-2 Nukefetau DOW NX DFC PH AM -> 12/18/1943
    (I have been searching high and low for Stickell’s USN number. He was commissioned and died in between issues of USNR officer’s registers so he does not appear in either the January 1943 or July 1944 volumes. Various internet write-ups provide whereabouts at various times as do available squadron reports, but, alas, no service numbers are mentioned.)

    Can anyone think of any other Commonwealth to USN or USN to Commonwealth folks?
     
  13. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

  14. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    J9424 Robert Burns Reed

    Re: Stickell and Hills. A "Flight Officer" in the RAF is a woman's rank.
    The J at the beginning of their service numbers indicates an officer, so Flying Officer (1st Lt)

    Regards,

    Dave
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2017
  15. R Leonard

    R Leonard Member

    Thank you, Dave, for the correction . . . records duly corrected. Pretty stupid mistake if I say so myself.

    Did a little digging with the info you provided – amazing what you can do with a serial number- looks like your Robert Burns Reed (J9424) FO RCAF and my Robert Burns Reed (215889) ENS USNR are not the same person. Reed (J9424) was killed 22 Apr 1943 and Reed (215889) was commissioned in the USNR on 1 Feb 1943.

    Regards,

    Rich
     
  16. MistyAcres

    MistyAcres New Member

    Hi Rich, Frank James"Jim" Champlin was my Uncle. I believe my Uncle Jim was in the USN and the RCAF. I have many pictures of him in various uniforms. It was told to me that Jim actually knew Charles Lindbergh and was taught by him. From what I understand he was a test pilot as well. He grew up in PA and New York. Married someone from Canada and spent the rest of his life in Toronto area. I might be able to find answers to any questions you may have or connect you with the appropriate people. Misty
     
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  17. R Leonard

    R Leonard Member

    So, here I am, some 4 years later . . . I have not been idle . . .

    I have run across a list of 39 individuals who were in either RAF or RCAF service at some point prior to December 1942 when it seems they all changed over to USN service and were transferred to NAS Jacksonville FL for transition training. Below is their status as of 1 Jan 1943.

    If anyone could provide rank, service, service number and a unit with a known date of assignment in Commonwealth service, for any of these gents it would be greatly appreciated.

    Winston G Baggett Jr (243228) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Alvie Blessing (243299) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Harold V Bryant (243230) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Samuel G Burtis (243231) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    Maxwell Michaux Corpening Jr (234232) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    William H Cuffel (6905224) - AP1c, USNR

    James E Dittus (243233) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Emerson K Fisher (243234) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    Harry T Gillis (243236) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Chalmers Hubert Goodlin (243237) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Norman Hahn (243238) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    John Harvey Henson (6905226) - AP1c, USNR

    Charles M Hinn (243239) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    Sam A Howard (243240) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Leonard A Johnson (243241) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    Arthur Duane Jones (243242) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    John R Kretsch (104020) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Paul S Kuhns (234244) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    William H Lang (234245) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Homer W Lewis (6905225) - AP1c, USNR

    Joseph L Lowrey (243246) - LTJG, USNR AV(T)

    Archibald T MacDonald (6905226) - AP1c, USNR

    John F Marquardt (243249) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Robert J McCarthy (243247) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Luther N McKinnon (234248) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Frank B Moore (252250) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Robert W Murphy (261251) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Vernon R Poertner (270252) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    George D Riffe (279253) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Everett R Robinett (6905228) - AP1c, USNR

    Joseph P Seymour (243254) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Charles E Sharp (243256) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Harry L Smith (243255) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Carl G Swanson (243257) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    George Douglas Terry (243258) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    David Lee Thompson (243259) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    William J White (243260) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Don Carlos Wier (243261) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Watson E Wordsworth (243262) - ENS, USNR AV(T)

    Thank you for your efforts. Everyone stay safe.

    Regards,

    Rich
     
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  18. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Great to see you back. I enjoy your posts very much.
     
  19. alieneyes

    alieneyes Senior Member

    Oh boy, you're not going to like the sound of this, Rich, but this is what you will have to go through, for each man, to obtain the data you want from the LAC, holders of all Canadian service records. Let's use Sgt. Pilot Watson Edward Wordsworth as an example.

    a) You would have to prove he has been deceased for a minimum of 20 years. Evidence accepted include a death certificate, a newspaper obituary or a photograph of his grave marker
    b) You would have to make a request with the LAC for each man. Ordinarily, this takes about 8-12 months. Lately, it's closer to 24 months

    So, looking at this article of Wordsworth with a photo of him and his son. The caption states "he departs to join his comrades in the RCAF to go to England". There was no way newspapers of the day were listing squadrons etc in the media.

    I can say that Wordsworth joined the USN on 2 December 1942 in London.

    Regards,

    Dave
     
  20. Temujin

    Temujin Member

    Rich......I’ve been helping a gentleman from Texas do this EXACT same research for years now. I’ve passed your question on to him, and hopefully he’ll come on this site and give you information you need.

    Cheers
     

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