Capt. Donald Stanley

[Sailorjerry45]

Good evening gentlemen,

 

I was lucky enough to acquire the uniform, visor and shoulder boards of Capt. Donald C. Stanley who enlisted in the navy in 1942 and retired as a captain in 1973. He flew F4F Wildcats off of the USS Cowpens although I am unsure of which squadron he was apart of, he was shot down on Oct. 12th 1944 while attacking a seaplane hangar near formosa and captured the following day. He would remain in captivity until August 30th 1945 and continue his career eventually becoming the commanding officer of NAS Lemoore where I was previously stationed (it is an awful place to be stationed) unfortunately I haven't had any luck with finding out any squadron he was apart of but would appreciate any further information or opinions on the group.

 

Thank you, 

USN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sailorjerry45]

[Sailorjerry45]

I was able to find further information regarding Mr. Stanley's time in during ww2. He was apart or VF-22 and was attached to the USS Independence CVL-22 during the assaults on the Marcus islands, Wake, Rabaul and Tarawa which is where the Independence was Torpedoed on November 20th. The Independence would sail back to the yards for repairs and her airing would be distributed to other carriers, VF-22 then being assigned to the USS Cowpens CVL-25. The then Lieutenant Stanley would serve there until he was shot down during the attack on the Toko seaplane hangars on the island of Formosa whilst flying a rare version of the Hellcat, an F6F-5P Buno Number 58159 which was modified for photo reconnaissance.

 

I am still hunting for his Korean and Vietnam era service information but his WW2 service is thoroughly interesting on its own!

 

 

 

 

 

[SSS51]

Sailor Jerry

 

Sailor Jerry  I am curious how you came in to possession of my fathers uniform.  Also when did you serve at NAS Lemore.  

[Sailorjerry45]

3 hours ago, SSS51 said:

Sailor Jerry

 

Sailor Jerry  I am curious how you came in to possession of my fathers uniform.  Also when did you serve at NAS Lemore.  

It was for sale on ebay, also I was there from 2020-2022 with VFA-122. There is a member on the forum here who has his engraved medals as well.

[SSS51]

I gave several of his uniforms to a tailor to re-purpose and donate to Navy service members.  My mother probably also gave some away, but I'm not sure to whom.  She worked at Navy Relief until her passing in 2010. I have all remaining memorabilia from my father.  Except it seems some of his metals.    I was living on base at NAS Lemoore when he was CO there.    After that we were back in Albuquerque where he was CO of the Nuclear Weapons Evaluation Facility at Kirtland.  

[Sailorjerry45]

15 minutes ago, SSS51 said:

I gave several of his uniforms to a tailor to re-purpose and donate to Navy service members.  My mother probably also gave some away, but I'm not sure to whom.  She worked at Navy Relief until her passing in 2010. I have all remaining memorabilia from my father.  Except it seems some of his metals.    I was living on base at NAS Lemoore when he was CO there.    After that we were back in Albuquerque where he was CO of the Nuclear Weapons Evaluation Facility at Kirtland.  

Very interesting! Well I just checked the ebay listing and it came out of coraopolis Pennsylvania, do you happen to know anyone who lives there? What other items of his do you still have? As it said in my post I was fortunate enough to get his hat, jacket and shoulder boards for the dress white uniform and keep them together.

[Sailorjerry45]

17 minutes ago, SSS51 said:

I gave several of his uniforms to a tailor to re-purpose and donate to Navy service members.  My mother probably also gave some away, but I'm not sure to whom.  She worked at Navy Relief until her passing in 2010. I have all remaining memorabilia from my father.  Except it seems some of his metals.    I was living on base at NAS Lemoore when he was CO there.    After that we were back in Albuquerque where he was CO of the Nuclear Weapons Evaluation Facility at Kirtland.  

How was lemoore back in those days? Still as dusty and barren as it is now I imagine?

[Marshallj]

This is interesting. 

[SSS51]

Lemoore was as you describe but we had fun.  Dad took me flying in a very nice Stearman biplane at Willits flying service (crop dusters) near the base.  We did loops and rolls in the open air.  We went frog gigging on some pond around there out of his canoe at night.  Those frogs were huge.  Brought home a nice batch of legs and the steward cooked them up for us the next day.  

[Sailorjerry45]

1 hour ago, SSS51 said:

Lemoore was as you describe but we had fun.  Dad took me flying in a very nice Stearman biplane at Willits flying service (crop dusters) near the base.  We did loops and rolls in the open air.  We went frog gigging on some pond around there out of his canoe at night.  Those frogs were huge.  Brought home a nice batch of legs and the steward cooked them up for us the next day.  

Sounds like quite the time! I also recall from the person who has your father's medals, another member has your grandfather's medals as well. A navy cross and some other awards if I remember right?

[SSS51]

My grandfather H. A. Stanley was in the Navy from age 16. lying about his age.    His wife, my grandmother, christened the USS Lark a mine sweeper.  Much is lost from those times (including medals it seems), but there are graphic pictures I have of his time during the Boxer Rebellion.    

[Sailorjerry45]

1 minute ago, SSS51 said:

My grandfather H. A. Stanley was in the Navy from age 16. lying about his age.    His wife, my grandmother, christened the USS Lark a mine sweeper.  Much is lost from those times (including medals it seems), but there are graphic pictures I have of his time during the Boxer Rebellion.    

I'm sure the forum members here would be very interested in seeing all these items!

[VietnamCollectors2823]

Never fails to amaze me the amount of people coming up on long lost items here!

[Sailorjerry45]

I am updating this post with some more information provided to me by Capt. Stanley's son, a few clippings from newspapers, his flight log entry showing his kills and also when he was shot down.

 

 

[Sailorjerry45]

I am updating this post with some more information provided to me by Capt. Stanley's son, a few clippings from newspapers, his flight log entry showing his kills and also when he was shot down.

 

 

 

[Father V]

Great legwork on this and always nice to see survivors commentating on finds!

[found this on the internet]

That's a great uniform, and history behind it.