navyman Posted July 8, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 8, 2010 Hi, Navy jumper set with 1st class pilot rating badge. Also his wings and two ribbon bars. His name is W.W. Sheehan. I haven't been able to find much about him. Also have his plaque from the 60's. This is the only thing I found, not sure if it's my guy or not. Wilson Walter Sheehan BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Navy HOMETOWN Alliance, OH HONORED BY Lois Tasker, Widow ACTIVITY DURING WWII SERVED ON THE USS INDIANA, USS BREMERTON, USS ALBEMARLE IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA (AVIATOR). If someone knows where to look for information, I appreciate it. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted July 8, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 8, 2010 If this is the same one, he is shown as an ensign in 1945 on board the Indiana. http://ussindianabb58.com/company/shipscompanys1.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted July 8, 2010 If this is the same one, he is shown as an ensign in 1945 on board the Indiana. http://ussindianabb58.com/company/shipscompanys1.html Beast, I know I took notice he did not sew a rupture duck or added his ww2 victory ribbin and was thinking he might of moved up in rank. Thanks, Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted July 8, 2010 The dealer I got this from told me he died in a plane crash in the 60's. I don't think it was military related. Thanks again for that site Beast. I see he went on board in DEC. 15,1945 AND got off in March 29,1946. It even lists his serial number. I found this on ancestry. Wilson W Sheehan Birth Date: 1922 Gender: Male Race: White Residence County: Stark Residence State: Ohio Residence Country: United States Death Date: 18 Dec 1968 Hospital of Death: Public/Other City of Death: Alliance County of Death: Stark Certificate: 100824 Age at Death: 46 Certifier: Coroner Autopsy: No autopsy Marital Status: Married Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Dan Posted July 8, 2010 Share #5 Posted July 8, 2010 WOW That is a beaut !!! You don't find them laying around. Nice pick up from a fellow Navy collector . Regards Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted July 9, 2010 WOW That is a beaut !!! You don't find them laying around. Nice pick up from a fellow Navy collector .Regards Dan Thanks for the comments Dan. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazelot Posted July 9, 2010 Share #7 Posted July 9, 2010 Great jacket. Those are hard to come by. I own the M-422A jacket of an ammunition specialist who was also a pilot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted July 9, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted July 9, 2010 Great jacket. Those are hard to come by. I own the M-422A jacket of an ammunition specialist who was also a pilot. Thanks, I agree. You don't see these to often, not like the officer pilot uniforms. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry2 Posted July 10, 2010 Share #9 Posted July 10, 2010 the U.S. military did have enlisted pilots in the 20 and 30s era all way up to ww2 if i remember right ..the british had flying sergeants and still do ..i can understand for the life of me you can trust a multi million dollar tank to a sergeant but in order to fly you have to be a W.O. or a Offiecer to fly a plane or a helo.. to me if i was younger and they offered me a chance to make into flight school and make out as a pilot i would been doing cartwheels down the road .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted July 10, 2010 the U.S. military did have enlisted pilots in the 20 and 30s era all way up to ww2 if i remember right ..the british had flying sergeants and still do ..i can understand for the life of me you can trust a multi million dollar tank to a sergeant but in order to fly you have to be a W.O. or a Offiecer to fly a plane or a helo.. to me if i was younger and they offered me a chance to make into flight school and make out as a pilot i would been doing cartwheels down the road .. Hi, Thanks for the comments, here's a excellent website that talks about enlisted pilots in ww2 http://bluejacket.com/sea-service_nap_index.htm Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trenchbuff Posted July 10, 2010 Share #11 Posted July 10, 2010 Great find Jason! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share #12 Posted July 10, 2010 Great find Jason! Thanks Mark Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted July 20, 2010 Share #13 Posted July 20, 2010 The plaque "Utron-5" is a "utility ' Squadron and I beleive 50's -60's era . I'm sure they can be googled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted April 5, 2011 Thanks for all the replies. I wanted to update this post. I since acquired his flight helmet from the 60's. These items came from the same dealer who got them from the family. I was told that he died in a plane crash. Was not able to confirm that. He retired in 1965 and died in 1968, he was only 46 years old when he died. I was told this helmet was in the shop for repairs, it was in the shop for a new lining. It never got replace then. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted April 5, 2011 I got his records, Does anyone have info on Hebron 5-1? I could not find anything. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #16 Posted April 5, 2011 Here's a picture of him in 1949. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtbrown Posted April 5, 2011 Share #17 Posted April 5, 2011 Google Barber Airport, Alliance, OH (I think they have a web site.) and see if Jim Barber remembers him. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim MacDonald Posted April 5, 2011 Share #18 Posted April 5, 2011 Jason, I believe that HEBRON is a typo for HEDRON (Headquarters Squadron). I'm pretty sure that most USN HEDRONs had a flying section during WWII. I googled HEDRON 5 & found a HEDRON 5-2 at NAS Norfolk at the link below: http://books.google.com/books?id=PMSahgM2t...USN&f=false It's a preview for a book on Enlisted Pilots, it might have your guy in it, but the preview ends before it gets to Sheehan. I think I might have to order it, it looks pretty good for research. You also might try to research HQ FAW-5 (Fleet Air Wing) & see if that gets you anything. HTH, Mac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #19 Posted April 5, 2011 Thanks guys!! I will check into it. Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cobrahistorian Posted April 5, 2011 Share #20 Posted April 5, 2011 Great grouping, and something you really don't see a lot! It looks like he flew Vought OS2U-3 Kingfishers on the Indiana. http://ussindianabb58.com/ship/BB-58_Indiana021.jpg There are some great photos here: http://ussindianabb58.com/theship.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #21 Posted April 5, 2011 Jason, I believe that HEBRON is a typo for HEDRON (Headquarters Squadron). I'm pretty sure that most USN HEDRONs had a flying section during WWII. I googled HEDRON 5 & found a HEDRON 5-2 at NAS Norfolk at the link below: http://books.google.com/books?id=PMSahgM2t...USN&f=false It's a preview for a book on Enlisted Pilots, it might have your guy in it, but the preview ends before it gets to Sheehan. I think I might have to order it, it looks pretty good for research. You also might try to research HQ FAW-5 (Fleet Air Wing) & see if that gets you anything. HTH, Mac Mac, I will have to get that book also. Here's a great link that has enlisted naval pilots listed. Sheehan is listed. http://bluejacket.com/sea-service_nap_index.htm Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navyman Posted April 5, 2011 Author Share #22 Posted April 5, 2011 Great grouping, and something you really don't see a lot! It looks like he flew Vought OS2U-3 Kingfishers on the Indiana. http://ussindianabb58.com/ship/BB-58_Indiana021.jpg There are some great photos here: http://ussindianabb58.com/theship.html Thanks for the links! Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim MacDonald Posted April 6, 2011 Share #23 Posted April 6, 2011 Jason, Thanks for the link. Mac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
historyfixer Posted August 14, 2020 Share #24 Posted August 14, 2020 Great Find !!! My wife's grandfather flew one of the Kingfishers off the Indiana during ww2 https://worldwartwoveterans.org/thomas-arthur-daniel-402902-us-navy-pto-uss-indiana-bb58-deertrail-colorado/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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