WW2 Naval Aviator's Uniform Coat

[VMI88]

This US Navy lieutenant's uniform coat came out of the woodwork here in Richmond:

 

[VMI88]

Here's a close-up of the awards and decorations:

 

 

The wings are H-H Sterling marked, clutchback. The awards are the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Air Medals, the Navy & Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, World War 2 Victory Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and American Campaign Medal. Most of the medals are the plastic-covered Wold Brown type on pinback ribbon bars but the DFC is the standard issue type.

[VMI88]

The coat is dated 5-43 and named inside:

 

 

I've tried to search for the name online with no luck so far. Are there any wartime squadron rosters or other sources I could search? Any help would be appreciated.

[KASTAUFFER]

There was a William S. Stevenson who shot down 3 planes and 1 probable. He was an Ensign at the time ( Nov 43 to Feb 1944) serving with VF-18.

 

Might be him,

 

Kurt

[VMI88]

Kurt,

 

Thanks for the information! Where did you find this? Is there anyplace I can go for more details?

 

Bill

[VMI88]

Just a quick update: according to the SSDI there was a William S. Stevenson (1921-2006) living in the small city in Virginia where this coat was found. He's just about exactly the right age to be the person I'm looking for but unfortunately I haven't been able to confirm he was a veteran. I'll keep looking -- something's bound to turn up.

[manayunkman]

Great Find.

[KASTAUFFER]

I have a very scarce book that's lists all Naval Aviators who shot down planes in WWII. I will add some more detail for you when I get home.

 

Very nice uniform! Is be proud to own this one.

 

I have a feeling if we can dig up his service #, it will match the number written on the tag.

 

Kurt

[VMI88]

Kurt,

 

Once again, I really appreciate the assistance. I have a good feeling about your tentative ID as well. It's just too much of a coincidence that someone with the exact name and born in 1921 was living in the same town where this was found. I haven't been able to turn up an obituary or a VA grave listing that would confirm his identity, however.

 

Bill

[KASTAUFFER]

[JDK]

If it's the same guy, that's a great score! Hopefully you can find a way to confirm it.

 

JD

[MattS]

Hope that ID works out, nice uniform! As an aside, the bottom row of ribbons needs to be flipped around.

[CNY Militaria]

I hope you can make the link! That would be a great find. Either way it is a beautiful piece.

 

Justin

[Baron3-6]

Very nice jacket!

Also nice to see a period example of a Navy officer wearing the thin ribbons!

[Timberwolf]

That's a sweet uniform!-Ben

[VMI88]

Thanks for all the comments, and especially to Kurt for posting the information on Ens. Stevenson's victories. I've got a strong feeling it's the same guy, but I'll keep researching until I can find out one way or the other.

 

I haven't decided what to do about the ribbons yet. I noticed some of them were reversed and they're obviously on crooked but so far I've left the uniform exactly as I found it. That's always my first instinct but in this case it's likely that someone in the family (or the elderly veteran himself) put the ribbons on haphazardly.

[VMI88]

Sometimes it pays to go back and research older finds!  I ran across this old post and very easily located an online obituary that apparently wasn't online in 2012; it solidly ties the coat to the ensign with three confirmed victories and one probable:

 

Quote

William Sanford Stevenson, 85, of Midlothian, died Thursday, November 23, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ingrid Monk Stevenson; three sons, Philip and his wife, Betsy of Jackson, Wyo., Clifford and his wife, Diane of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Russell and his wife, Alice of Lansdale, Pa.; a daughter, Connie Gottwald and her husband, Bill of Richmond; a daughter-in-law, Nancy Stevenson of Boston, Mass.; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his brothers, Donald and Harry Stevenson, both of Texas; and his sister, Joy Sheets of Missouri. Mr. Stevenson was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey of Boston, Mass. and a brother, Robert of London, England. He was a World War II Navy fighter pilot who served in the South Pacific. A memorial service will be conducted 11 a.m. Tuesday at Salisbury Presbyterian Church, 13621 Salisbury Road. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Salisbury Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

 

I still haven't managed to confirm the service number, but being a naval aviator in the Pacific with all three names a perfect match, there's little doubt.

[29navy]

The only William S Stevenson (Aviator type) in the 1944 Officer's Register file number is 250290

 

 

 

And for the question on the ribbons, I think the only thing is that the bottom row needs to be flipped.

[R Leonard]

And this is what I have for William S Stevenson (Salsibury, Midlothian, Chesterfield County - about 30 minutes up the road from me):

 

William Sanford Stevenson (250920),

ENS, USNR AV(N), VF-18 USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) Rabaul Raid, 11/11/1943

LTJG, USNR AV(N), VF-4 USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), 3/30/1944

LTJG, USNR AV(N), Date of rank from 1 Jul 1944 USNR Register, 4/1/1944

LTJG, USNR AV(N), Date of rank confirmed in 15 Jun 1944 VF-86 Roster, 4/1/1944

LTJG, USNR AV(N), VF-86 NAS Atlantic City, 6/15/1944

LTJG, USNR AV(N), VF-86 Otis Field NAS South Weymouth, 9/30/1944

LTJG, USNR A1, VF-86 USS Nassau (CVE-16) rec’d trnsp, 12/9/1944

LTJG, USNR A1, VBF-86 NAS Kahului attach, 1/2/1945

LTJG, USNR A1, VBF-86 USS Wasp (CV-18), 1/12/1945

LTJG, USNR A1, VBF-86 USS Wasp (CV-18), 8/22/1945

LT, USNR A1, Date of rank from 1 Apr 1949 USNR Register, 11/1/1945

[DD937]

On 9/30/2012 at 1:11 PM, VMI88 said:

The coat is dated 5-43 and named inside:

 

 

I've tried to search for the name online with no luck so far. Are there any wartime squadron rosters or other sources I could search? Any help would be appreciated.

Can we see the embroidery under the tailor tag?

[VMI88]

Thanks for the additional information!  I'll have to pull the coat out to take a picture of the embroidery but I'll try to do that soon.  I don't remember it being anything fancy.

[hink441]

Great looking historical uniform!! One small item, he doesn’t have two Air Medals, he has three Air Medals😁👍

 

Chris