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OPERATION WATCHTOWER-What do you have from Guadalcanal?


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cap_george

Well how about the Navy? Here is a group to

 

Lieutenant Commander. Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr, US Navy Lighter Than Air (LTA) Blimp Pilot, and Aft Gunnery Officer on the USS Helena (Pearl Harbor survivor) and 3 of the earlier Guadalcanal Served (1940-1946). Naval Reserves (1946-1959).

 

Naval actions: Campaigns:

#1 PEARL HARBOR - MIDWAY: 7 December 1941 USS Helena torpedoed, saved from sinking by water tight doors and counter flooding.

#2 CAPE ESPERANCE: 11 - 12 October 1942 (Second Savo)

#3 CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF GUADACANAL: 4 - 12 November 1942, 5 January 1943

#4 GUADALCANAL (Third Savo): 12 -15 November 1942

#5 ANTI -SUBMARINE ASSESSMENT:11 February 1943

 

Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr. was born 30 September 1915 in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to the War Bailey worked for Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 1334 Central Ave., Los Angeles.

 

From a short history by his son Steve Bailey: Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr. after attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for 2 1/2 years and spending 1 1/2 years at U.C.L.A., enrolled in the first Officer Candidate School for the U. S. Navy in 1940. He graduated with top honors and was assigned to duty on the newly commissioned Light Cruiser U. S. S. Helena (CL-50). Note: Report of separation dated 1946 – lists him as enlisting in the Navy 9 July 1940 and was an Able bodied Seaman (AS), and being commissioned on 14 Nov. 1940. He came aboard just after her shake down cruise to South America where her crew (unofficially) investigated the derelict German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee in Montevideo harbor after her scuttling(see photos). Bailey would be part of 4 of the most hard fought Naval battles of the early part of WW2. Bailey was assigned to the USS Helena in 1940. He served in the above campaigns, and was selected for pilot training in 1943. Served out of the U. S. Naval Base at Recife, Brazil (ZP-42) to escort the Allied convoys going across the Atlantic from Brazil to North Africa to support the war in Europe. The German U Boats were still active but they had great respect for blimps as the slow moving dirigibles could track a submarine at their own speed and rain down depth charges on them. They had a few “kills” but the deterrent factor was enormous. Released in 1946, and joined the Naval Reserves until 1959. This is a large group: medals, medal boxes, wings, etc. Many original photos and original paperwork including DD-214.

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Timberwolf

Here's my contribution:

 

Ike jacket of Kenneth R. Turner of the 182nd Inf. Regiment of the Americal Division. He must have got sent back to the states then went to the ETO. Haven't been able to find out what he did though. Has the rare unofficial 2nd USMC Div. cuff striker. My personal opinion is that he switched the SSI after the war for reunions, but this could very well be how he wore it home. His Navy PUC has one of the harder to find blue painted stars.

 

 

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Salvage Sailor

Not Operation Wachtower, but these photos are from Guadalcanal circa 1943/1944. The 40th Infantry "Sunshine" Division (California National Guard) moved from Hawaii to Guadalcanal in late 1943. From the Divisional History:

 

During December, the division moved to Guadalcanal for further training and limited combat patrolling. While on the "canal", the division didn't battle the Japanese. They instead fought the island's muddy conditions, its swamps, and mosquito-borne malaria. The division, now part of the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps, then moved to Cape Gloucester on New Britain Island and relieved the 1st Marine Division on 23 April 1944. The 40th conducted combat operations until 27 November 1944, when it was relieved by the 5th Australian Division. The 40th then assembled at Borgen Bay the next day and departed New Britain on 9 December 1944 for the their next objective, The Philippines.

 

40th DIVISION DEBARKING AT GUADALCANAL

 

DEBARKING AT GUADALCANAL GIS ON THE BARGE

 

KUKUM DOCK GUADALCANAL

 

TRANSPORTS THAT BROUGHT TROOPS FROM OAHU TO GUADALCANAL

 

US ARMY 40th DIVISION, GI's HANGING OUT ABOARD SHIP

 

109a 40th DIVISION DEBARKING AT GUADALCANAL 1942 43.jpg

110a DEBARKING AT GUADALCANAL GIS ON THE BARGE.jpg

111a KUKUM DOCK GUADALCANAL 1942 43.jpg

209a TRANSPORTS THAT BROUGHT TROOPS FROM OAHU TO GUADALCANAL.jpg

201a US ARMY 40th DIVISION, GI's HANGING OUT ABOARD SHIP.jpg

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Salvage Sailor

....and a few more. Most of the photo collection I have documents the 40th Division activities in Hawaii, on New Britain, Luzon and elsewhere in the Philippines

 

COCONUTS GUADALCANAL

 

WRECKED JAPANESE SHIP BEACHED GUADALCANAL

 

40TH DIVISION PARAKEETS GUADALCANAL

 

GIS IN CHOW LINE GUADALCANAL

 

COMPANY STREET GUADALCANAL

 

I resized these photos so if you want to see any detail, let me know and I'll post the larger version.

 

112a COCONUTS GUADALCANAL 1942 43.jpg

113a WRECKED JAPANESE SHIP BEACHED GUADALCANAL 1943.jpg

210a 40TH DIVISION PARAKEETS GUADALCANAL.jpg

211a GIS IN CHOW LINE GUADALCANAL.jpg

212a COMPANY STREET GUADALCANAL.jpg

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  • 3 weeks later...

Here is Harold Hayes Dress Blues. He was one of the first wave to hit the beach at Guadacanal with the 2nd Division. Two days later he assaulted Gavutu where he earned a Silver Star for wiping out a cave of 35 Japanese Snipers. He later was wounded on Saipan and was in the 3rd Wave to hit Iwo with the 5th Division.

 

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Raidercollector

Very nice posts guys. Love it, Keep it coming. I have posted a few guad groups in other sections a while ago.

 

Nick

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Here is a Dress Blue jacket that I am restoring the ribbons on. I am still missing a couple. But he was a Sgt for Weapons Company 1st Marine Regiment on Guadalcanal. The first Marines were the unit that was shown in the series the Pacific, and there is a good chance he would have known John Basilone and maybe even Robert Leckie. Being weapons company I imagine he would have most likely been a heavy machine gunner. But I guess he could have been mortars as well. I will have to get his records to find out for sure. After Guadalcanal he returned stateside to train new Marines for the rest of the war.

 

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My contributions:

 

1st Division USMC Guadalcanal Hero:

 

http://ww2militarymemoirs.blogspot.com.br/2012/05/1st-division-usmc-guadalcanal-hero.html

 

USMC "Cactus Air Force" VMSB-234, IV MAW veteran:

 

http://ww2militarymemoirs.blogspot.com.br/2012/09/usmc-vmsb-234-iv-maw-veteran.html

 

873rd Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion veteran:

 

http://ww2militarymemoirs.blogspot.com.br/2012/05/veterano-do-873rd-airborne-engineer.html

 

Ricardo.

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  • 1 year later...

I have a marked helmet to Ph.M. 1st class Gordon Heafield. He joined the Navy in 1939 and was soon with the 2nd Marine Division in California. He landed with Company B, 2nd Tanks, 8th Marines (Reinforced) on Guadalcanal on NOv. 4th, 1942 and left with the 2nd Division on January 31 for Wellington, New Zealand for rest and training for the landings at Tarawa. He was in New Zealand from Feb. until late August, 1943. He was sent state-side with a bad case of Malaria and was eventually medically discharged.

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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Fixed bail and 1st Pattern Hawley liner belonging to 20117053 Paul Bernard, a Medic with the

182nd Infantry Regiment - Americal Division.

 

Rich

 

 

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Hi Rich! You are right: your helmet and mine do look very similar!

 

Cheers,

 

Mike

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Just a teaser for now...part of a group to a Marine with Iceland service and Guadalcanal with 2/6, whatever his wound was (still researching) on the 'canal was enough to send him stateside for the remainder of the war

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1st marine division uniform named to Leon Dillon who served with I co. 3rd battalion 5th marines as a motor crewman made the aug7 1942 landing on Guadalcanal and later wia in New Brittian

 

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Hi everyone, here is my contribution :

Horace Leslie " Les '' Ferrell was born on small farm in Grady Country, Georgia in 1920. He joined the USN in March 1940 and trained as s Pharmacist's Mate. Ferrell volunteered for the new Marine Parachute program and went throught jump school at the Naval Air Statrion, Lakehurst, New Jersey. He joined the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion, which underwent further training at New River, North Carolina. The battalion them shipped out to the Pacific and took part in the invasion of the Solomon Islands on 7August 1942.

The 1st Parachute Battalion assaulted Gavutu, and although it was an amphibious attack,it marked the first time that American Paratroopers fought in combat. Ferrell helped to treat the commanding officer, Major Robert Williams, when he was hit by enemy gunfire. Ferrell was in action again on Guadalcanal in the Battle of Bloody Ridge,during 12 - 14 September. He was wounded in action there and later received the Purple Heart medal. Ferrell stayed with the Paratroopers until those units were deactivated in 1944, he returned to the Navy and served until the war ended. After WWII, he lived in Florida. He died in 2010.

Semper Fi. Tom

 

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Uniform of Thomas Leineweber who served with HQ Co. 1st Battalion 2nd regiment on Guadalcanal for 9 months and was Wounded and when on retire in 1967 as a Colonel

 

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Just saw this thread again so here is one of mine. Uniform of Major General Paul J. Fontana who as a major took his VMF-112 into Henderson Field on Nov. 2, 1942 to become part of the Cactus Air Force. Awarded his Navy Cross for action there.

 

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