Yangtze Patrol, USS Luzon, USS Panay, Soochow Creek, Yangtze Barrier

[kanemono]

This is a group to Finn Walker Outler who was born in Dublin, Georgia, on September 4, 1906. He graduated from grammar school then worked in Everglades, Florida, for the County Engineer before enlisting in the United States Navy at Macon, Georgia, on March 30, 1928. Outler was sent to the USN Training center at Hampton Roads, Virginia, then to the Navy Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. Outlet took six week classes of instruction in Submarine Torpedoes, Submarine Electrical and Submarine Gyro’s. On October 22, 1929 he sailed aboard the USS Henderson to the Asiatic Station to serve on the Submarine Tender USS Beaver. Outler served aboard the Beaver from 1929 to 1931 when he was transferred to the USS Panay then to the USS Luzon. The Luzon was one of eight gunboats built specifically for service on the Yangtze River in China. She served as the flagship of the famous Yangtze River Patrol until 1938. Luzon had a complement of eighty officers and men. She was 210 feet long but had a shallow draft of six feet allowing her to navigate some of the shallower waters of the Yangtze River. The Luzon was armed with two 3-inch guns and ten .30-caliber Lewis machine guns. She patrolled the Yangtze River between Nanking, Chunking, and Shanghai. Her job was to protect American missionaries, business people and property from Chinese Warlords and bandits in a country in constant political turmoil. When invading Japanese forces attacked Shanghai in 1937 Luzon evacuated the American Embassy staff and brought them safely to Chunking. Luzon was scuttled in Manila Bay on May 6, 1942 to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Japanese Navy. Outler served aboard the Luzon from 1931 to 1939 when he was transferred to the Naval Research Laboratory in Bellevue, D.C. to attend Electrical Interior Communication School. He was then transferred to the USS Vincennes. In 1943 Outler was mustered out of the Navy as a Chief Warrant Electrician for a disability at San Diego, California. Outler then joined the staff of the University of California, Division of War Research. Finn W. Outler was hired by Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1946 to work as Technical Superintendent for the Marine Physical Laboratory. Outler was responsible for the conversion of ships into research vessels for the Navy Electronics Laboratory. He retired from Scripps in 1968. Finn Walker Outler died in San Diego, California on September 30, 1992. This is an extensive grouping that consists of his medals, scrapbooks, photographs, log book, journal and much more. Included is a rare Yangtze Barrier and a named Soochow Creek medal.

 

 

[kanemono]

more..

[kanemono]

more..

[kanemono]

more..

[kanemono]

more

[kanemono]

more

[The Iron Brigade]

A great grouping. Thank you for sharing It with us.

[Leatherneck72]

This makes me want to go watch the Sand Pebbles! Great group.

[LuftStalg1]

This makes me want to go watch the Sand Pebbles! Great group.

Right! That was the first thing I thought of with that photo of him. That reminds me of Steve McQueen and that movie.... lol

Great find!

 

What is the medal he is wearing, in the photo, that looks like a ships wheel?

 

Mark

[vietvet7071]

I'm not a Navy Collector, but this is one grouping I'd be more than proud to own & display. It's a fantastic grouping. What a piece of history. Thanks for posting.

[Bellumbill]

Wow, wow, wow!!!!!

 

Thank you for posting!

 

Best,

 

Bill K.

 

 

PS, the "globe" is Electrician's Mate rate.

[Dirk]

Always like seeing this grouping! One of the best!

[Kurt Barickman]

"Hello engines, my name is Jake" Great group and thanks for sharing.

 

 

Kurt

[MDR75]

Superior ACE group, I am in deep depression and envy!

Mike

[aerialbridge]

Stellar China group, Dick. Back in late 2014, I just missed picking up part of Finn Outler's group on ebay, including his Yangtze Service #5033, when it sold out of San Diego for as I recall, something like $4-500 for all of what's pictured below. If that wasn't you that got it then, congratulations on putting it back together since. Well done, sir!

[themick]

What an OUTSTANDING group!! It doesn't get more "old China Hand" than that. Congratulations on such a spectacular acquisition!!

 

Steve

[themick]

Just curious. Was this grouping part of Roger Sullivan's collection when he was still alive?

 

Steve

[katieony]

That is one impressive group! It's nice to see that it has stayed together over the years. Those Yangtze Barrier medals are particularly tough to find. Thanks for posting!

Mike

[Dave]

Wow - that's a fantastic group, Dick!!!

[lettow]

Fantastic grouping.

 

Based on the picture there is one medal still out there (the one that looks like a ships wheel). Any idea what and where it is?

[kanemono]

Thanks to everyone for your comments they are appreciated. When Finn Outler's wife died there was a huge estate sale. All of Finn Outlers military items were in the sale and there were hundreds of items from what I have been told. Scrap books, photo albums, boxes of individual photographs, medals, documents, books and ship parts. Dozens of dealers bought everything and much of it was sold on ebay. I have been buying bits and pieces for years. I missed the Yangtze medal and naval shooting medal with the documents. However, Outler had duplicates of at least the Yangtze and shooting medal. I bought all of the medals pictured from one dealer who told me that there were other medals but the medals were divided in boxes and this was a box he grabbed. My Yangtze is a period replacement with no number but engraved with Outler's name, USS Luzon and the date. I have two scrapbooks and Outler's Yangtze Patrol book plus his navy manuals. I have material from submarine school and a yard long photograph of his class. I was offered ship parts but I didn't know what to do with them. I know where another scrapbook and two photo albums are located but they are not for sale. I am not aware of anything coming from Roger Sullivan's collection. The ship's wheel medal was not with the group of medals I bought. Here is a blowup of Outler's medals. I have posted bits and pieces of this group over the years so I thought I would post everything together. There are lots of things I haven't posted and I will post them at some point. Thanks for the interest, Dick

[trenchbuff]

Great group! Really enjoyed seeing it. Thanks!

[KASTAUFFER]

That guy definitely turned "Asiatic" during his time in the Navy!'

Great group.

 

Kurt

[Salvage Sailor]

This is a group to Finn Walker Outler who was born in Dublin, Georgia, on September 4, 1906. He graduated from grammar school then worked in Everglades, Florida, for the County Engineer before enlisting in the United States Navy at Macon, Georgia, on March 30, 1928. Outler was sent to the USN Training center at Hampton Roads, Virginia, then to the Navy Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. Outlet took six week classes of instruction in Submarine Torpedoes, Submarine Electrical and Submarine Gyro’s. On October 22, 1929 he sailed aboard the USS Henderson to the Asiatic Station to serve on the Submarine Tender USS Beaver. Outler served aboard the Beaver from 1929 to 1931 when he was transferred to the USS Panay then to the USS Luzon. The Luzon was one of eight gunboats built specifically for service on the Yangtze River in China. She served as the flagship of the famous Yangtze River Patrol until 1938. Luzon had a complement of eighty officers and men. She was 210 feet long but had a shallow draft of six feet allowing her to navigate some of the shallower waters of the Yangtze River. The Luzon was armed with two 3-inch guns and ten .30-caliber Lewis machine guns. She patrolled the Yangtze River between Nanking, Chunking, and Shanghai. Her job was to protect American missionaries, business people and property from Chinese Warlords and bandits in a country in constant political turmoil. When invading Japanese forces attacked Shanghai in 1937 Luzon evacuated the American Embassy staff and brought them safely to Chunking. Luzon was scuttled in Manila Bay on May 6, 1942 to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Japanese Navy. Outler served aboard the Luzon from 1931 to 1939 when he was transferred to the Naval Research Laboratory in Bellevue, D.C. to attend Electrical Interior Communication School. He was then transferred to the USS Vincennes. In 1943 Outler was mustered out of the Navy as a Chief Warrant Electrician for a disability at San Diego, California. Outler then joined the staff of the University of California, Division of War Research. Finn W. Outler was hired by Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1946 to work as Technical Superintendent for the Marine Physical Laboratory. Outler was responsible for the conversion of ships into research vessels for the Navy Electronics Laboratory. He retired from Scripps in 1968. Finn Walker Outler died in San Diego, California on September 30, 1992. This is an extensive grouping that consists of his medals, scrapbooks, photographs, log book, journal and much more. Included is a rare Yangtze Barrier and a named Soochow Creek medal.

 

 

 

 

Always nice to see this China Fleet grouping Dick

 

Aloha

 

Two related topics with Outler's photos posted by Dick for us to peruse

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/188023-china-fleet-admiral-uss-monocacy-pg-20-1936/

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/152785-navy-landing-parties/

[LuftStalg1]

 

 

Always nice to see this China Fleet grouping Dick

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/188023-china-fleet-admiral-uss-monocacy-pg-20-1936/

 

And there is that "Ships Wheel" medal on another fella!