Research Help on Navy Photographer

[siege1863]

A few weeks ago, I bought a large collection of WWII letters written by a Navy photographer. They were to a young lady in Hollywood, where he was originally from. Before the war, he was an advertising and illustrative photographer. She, originally from Tennessee, had gone to California apparently to get into showbiz. She had been named Miss Memphis, did some modeling, and for a brief time even had a radio program! The letters to her begin in 1943 and end in 1945, when he returns to the US.

 

According to newspaper articles and related items in the collection, the man, Fr*nk J*seph Regan, enlisted in the Navy in Febrauary 1941. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he was a photographer aboard the carrier SARATOGA. He was with the ship during her failed attempt to deliver planes to Wake Island. Regan was next assigned as a photographer aboard the carrier HORNET. He was taking movies of the events the day she was sunk at the Battle of Santa Cruz, October 1942. He ended up in the water for several hours before he was picked up by a destroyer. After a short time in a carrier service unit, Regan was assigned as a photographer aboard the carrier escort MISSION BAY.

 

My question is: Can any members direct me to images or film taken by Regan? I suspect what may be out there is merely identified as "official" and no names attributed. Makes one wonder if some of the more famous images of the SARATOGA and HORNET were not taken by Regan! I have already exausted the sources fround on the Internet, including the many databases on Ancestry.com. I think any references to this man will have to come from elsewhere.

 

Thanks for any assistance.

[siege1863]

With so many new forum members and potential new sources, there may be renewed hope for this very old post!

 

Not mentioned in the original post is the fact I was able to acquire a number of photos taken by Regan when aboard the MISSION BAY. If I remember correctly, they came from a fellow forum member who bought them at the same sale (flea market?) as the letters.

 

Thanks.