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pre WW2 Navy Dirigble Pilot flight jacket id'd to flag officer with Dooolittle tie in


wawine
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I am thinning my 40 year collection and have posted some goodies on e-bay. One that will make a great discussion, is a rare, 1930's full length Navy Dirigible pilot's coat. This is not the 'transport' coat that pops up but rather the horsehide with beaver collar and front map pocket flyers coat. It came out of Alaska in the 1960's and has been off the market ever since. I have never seen another offered for sale and I would love some insight as to the actual contract number that it is known by. In addition, this one was worn by a Rear Admiral that was a senior communications officer on the Hornet during the Doolittle raid. More details on the listing, but I am curious if anybody out there has one in a collection and could post some photos for reference.

thanks,

Doug

 

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Since the link to the auction got pulled, here is the Bio on Rear Admiral Moran



Rear Admiral Harry George Moran graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1923, was rated as a “Lighter than Air” Naval Aviator and was also educated as an advanced Radio Engineer. His initial duty assignments were in various locales, including China and aboard various combat ships. He was then stationed and trained at multiple times in the 1930’s at the US Naval Airship Station in Lakehurst New Jersey, home for several of the landings and launchings of the famed German Airship Hindenburg. In addition to subsequent other postings to various ships, he was posted to the the aircraft carrier USS Hornet from the time of the launching in June of 1941, until it was sunk at the battle of Santa Cruz Island in November of 1942. Due to his rank (Lt. Commander) and Radio Engineer status, it is very probable that he was in charge of the radio communication for the launching and subsequent status reports of the famed Doolittle raid on Tokyo in the summer of 1942.



He was decorated with the Silver Star Medal for his roll in fire fighting during the sinking of the Hornet. The citation reads in part “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. Commander Moran efficiently and without regard for personal safety directed operations which resulted in extinguishing many violently blazing fires in the ship”.



He was rescued from the water by a destroyer, and then placed on the USS Enterprise. He then had several other postings and commands during the war including the HQ of the 8th Fleet and command of combat troop transports for the Normandy invasion. He retired in 1953 as one of the highest ranking Airship rated Naval Aviators in history and one of only a handful decorated for valor in combat operations.





REAR ADMIRAL HENRY GEORGE MORAN, RETIRED



U. S. NAVY, 58136



TRANSCRIPT OF NAVAL SERVICE - 7 August 1953




04 May l899 Born in West Haven, Connecticut


20 Jun 1919 Midshipman, U. S. Navy Ensign, U. S. Navy


08 Jun 1923 Ensign, U.S.Navy


07 Aug 1947 Captain, U.S. Navy, to rank from 15 May 1943


01 Jul 1953 Transferred to the Retired List with rank of Rear Admiral



SHIPS AND STATIONS



• USS OSB0RNE Jun 1923 to Aug 1926


• USS NEVADA Nov 1926 to Nov 1927


• USS NEW YORK Nov 1927 to Jun 1928


• U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. ( instruction.) Jul 1928 to Jun 1929


• Temporary duty at various places Jun 1929 to Sep 1930


• USS HOUSTON Oct 1930 to Jul 1931


• Headquarters, SIXTEENTH Naval District Jul 1931 to Apr 1933


• Staff, Commander Submarine Squadron FIVE Apr 1933 to Dec 1933


• Navy Yard, New York Mar 1934 to Jun 1934


• U.S. Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N. J. Jun 1934 to Jan 1936


• USS ELLIS (Executive Officer) Jan 1936 to Sep 1936


• USS ELLIS (Commanding) Sep 1936 to Dec 1936


• Naval Inspector of Machinery, Quincy, Mass. cfo USS GRIDLEY and on board


as Executive Officer when placed in commission. Jan 1937 to Jun 1939


• Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N. J. (duty) Jun 1939 to May 1941


• Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va.


cfo USS HORNET and on board for duty when placed in commission. Jun 1941 to Nov 1942


• USS ENTERPRISE Nov 1942 to Sep 1943


• Temporary duty at various places to Sep 1943 to Feb 1944


• Staff, Commander, EIGHTH Fleet Feb 1944 to Mar 1944


• Office of. Commander, Group TWO, ELEVENTH Amphib. Force Mar 1944 to Oct 1944


• USS BUCKINGHAM (APA 141) (Commanding) Nov 1944 to Dec 1945


• Naval War College, Newport, R.I. (instruction) Dec 1945 to May 1946


• Staff, Naval War College, Newport, RI, May 1946 to May 1948


USS LITTLE ROCK (CL 92) (Commanding), May 1948 to May 1949


• Professor of Naval Science, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.

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Sounds like a great piece. Why not: 1) post the photos on here and 2) post it up for sale on here? Might get more discussion that way...

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