zcnj01@uunet.UU.NET (Cecil N. Jones) (04/29/89)
From: apctrc!gpb6!zcnj01@uunet.UU.NET (Cecil N. Jones) I am looking for information on a US Destroyer, the Ralph Talbot. My father-in-law served on it in WWII in the Pacific. I would like to locate any books/photos, etc. about it's missions, dates, places, captains, crew lists, etc. Any help will be appreciated, and if you can point me to any organization which might have this kind of info, or where I can find info about crew re-unions, etc. Thanks, Cecil N. Jones Amoco Production Co. Tulsa, OK @apctrc.uucp The opinions expressed are solely my own.
mcgrath@nprdc.navy.mil (James McGrath) (05/05/89)
From: mcgrath@nprdc.navy.mil (James McGrath) If you go to Washington, DC, visit the National Archives. In the military records division, you will be able to obtain the log of the USS Ralph Talbot, which will give you a full account of its activities, including various actions related to individual members of the crew. [mod.note: This will also apply, of course, to today's request for info on the USS Edwards. - Bill ] Now I have a question: I was a seaman on a liberty ship during WW II and I'm writing a memoir of some of my experiences. The shipping company that owned the vessel has long since gone out of business. Does anybody know how I might obtain access to the log of that ship?
howard@cos.com (Howard C. Berkowitz) (05/06/89)
From: howard@cos.com (Howard C. Berkowitz) [Several people have asked about getting records on WWII Navy ships] In article <6274@cbnews.ATT.COM>, mcgrath@nprdc.navy.mil (James McGrath) writes: > From: mcgrath@nprdc.navy.mil (James McGrath) > > If you go to Washington, DC, visit the National Archives. > In the military records division, you will be able to > obtain the log of the USS Ralph Talbot, which will give > you a full account of its activities, including various > actions related to individual members of the crew. > > [mod.note: This will also apply, of course, to today's request for > info on the USS Edwards. - Bill ] I have gotten after-action reports (wasn't looking on for logs) on WWII USN ships at the Navy Operational Archives at the Washington Navy Yard. Dean Allard was the director a number of years back; don't know if he still is. This is an activity of the Chief of Naval History, not the National Archives, which is under the General Services Adminstration. Much of the National Archives WWII records are in their Suitland, Maryland annex; it's worth checking before making a trip. I have used the Joint Chiefs of Staff files at the main National Archives downtown. I found the official records rather tantalizing -- if one ever wants to see a totally fouled up example of fouled up tactical C3, read the after-action reports of the Battle of Rennell Island (last naval action of the Guadalcanal campaign). I was researching some stories of Commodore Ben Wyatt, a friend's grandfather, who had the escort carrier unit supporting the cruiser group under RADM Ike Giffen. Giffen felt the Japanese threat was submarine, not air, and left Wyatt's unit at extreme range -- and got jumped by Japanese aircraft. Wyatt's aircraft had 5-10 minutes CAP time over the task force, and could only communicate with the cruisers by dropping messages on their decks. From the after-action reports, Wyatt seemed to have protested being left behind, and gave decent air cover given the range. Yet, his career seemed to stop after this battle, and he had essentially service force assignments after that. Giffen rose considerably. My friend wonders what happened -- was Wyatt the scapegoat for Rennell Island? Did he slug Giffen (which she considers not beyond possibility)? Haven't found out anything else about the aftermath of this action. Anyone know anything? > > Now I have a question: I was a seaman on a liberty ship > during WW II and I'm writing a memoir of some of my experiences. > The shipping company that owned the vessel has long since gone > out of business. Does anybody know how I might obtain access > to the log of that ship? Just as a guess, I'd track down the Coast Guard historian and start asking there. The modern military people at the Navy and National Archives have been exceptionally helpful whenever I've worked with them -- calls might be fruitful. Again, names may be dated, but John Taylor was one of the superstars at the National Archives. -- howard@cos.com OR {uunet, decuac, sun!sundc, hadron, hqda-ai}!cos!howard (703) 883-2812 [W] (703) 998-5017 [H] DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Corporation for Open Systems, its members, or any standards body.