I Held Up My Hand and Became a Sailor

Bill Maris' account of volunteering for the Navy in 1939 and all his adventures that ensured. Also available in its entirety as an accessible PDF. Maris documented his time in the Aleutian Islands with many photographs. Explore his photo albums and learn more about his World War II experience.
Sections 2 and 3 include additional flight logs and Maris' life after World War II.

SA Bill Maris at NTS San Diego, CA, 1/40 threading a needle to darn my sock.

Bill Maris

Volunteering and the Naval Training Station

Lt William L. Maris, USN. (Ret)

After graduating from HS in June 1938 and while still working part time as a “Deckhand” on the Guemes Island Ferry, that fall I went back to AHS in the spring and took a PG course in Business Math and typing. My Father and my Boss, decided it was time for me to get a real job (my Boss who had been a Chief Boatswain Mate in the Navy in WW-1), so off we went to the Navy Recruiting Office in Bellingham, WA.

The Chief Petty Officer in Charge, asked Dad why he wanted me to join the Navy and Dad told the Chief there was no work in Anacortes and he was tired of feeding me so please sign me up! I was 20 years old the October 16th, 1939 and required my Fathers signature to Enlist. After getting the paper work done, four months on the waiting list, after we finally got a proper Birth Certificate with a “Gold Seal”, The Chief wouldn’t accept the Birth Certificates the State Statistics Office kept sending without the Seal on it. I ended up being 26 on the waiting list in the 13th Naval District.

Around the first of December I received correspondence from the Naval Recruiting Office Seattle that I had been accepted and to report in to the Recruiting Office in the Federal Building in Seattle on 10 December 1939. After reporting in they logged me in and gave me a Voucher and sent me to the YMCA for dinner and berthing for the night and to report back to the Recruiting Officer at 0800 the next day. The next day we were given a lecture on what we were about to do, given a physical exam, got dressed, lined up and took our Oath to the United States Government to serve as ordered. I and many others voluntarily Enlisted in the Navy on 11 December 1939 at the Seattle Recruiting Office HQ as Apprentice Seaman in the United States Navy.

We were then all shipped by train to the Naval Training Command, San Diego, Calif. arriving on 13 December 1939.

Boot Camp

“Boot Camp” was a great adventure and learning experience. We were assigned Bunks, stripped naked, walked threw a footbath to kill any bugs on our feet, and then into the shower to make sure we were clean and new the daily ritual of keeping clean, “adjust the shower, wet down, soap down, wash down, rinse off and drying off, then we were issued our basic “undress white uniforms”. Marched to evening chow and returned to our assigned berthing area in our barracks.

The first morning Revile was at 0330, followed by breakfast of Hard-boiled Eggs, Baked Beans, Corn Bread, Black Coffee and a Banana Then off to the Small Stores Building to get the rest of our uniforms, “lets see you wear a size 9 shoe” and they threw a couple of pair of shoes at you, you grab them and all the rest of the uniforms, put every thing in your new “Sea Bag” as you went down the line getting the rest of your clothing; you were then issued a Book of Small Store and Exchange “Chits” (paper money) to buy soap, tooth brush, comb and pay for your regulation hair cut. After receiving all our uniforms, we boxed up our “Civilian Clothes” and they were then shipped home. We were then instructed how to stencil our clothes, roll them in “Sea Going Fashion” and lay them out for “Bag Inspection.

After marching by Company to evening Chow we returned to our assigned Barracks, found our bunks, made them up, Spit shinned our new shoes, while meeting our new shipmates doing the same thing. We kept our clothes stowed in our Sea Bags according to when needed from the bottom up. We were also issued a light canvas “Ditty Bag” for keeping our personal gear (toilet articles, clothes stops, shoe shine gear, etc), a mattress and a hammock that we placed on our bunk.

We went through rifle drill, marching, swimming, seamanship and watch standing training procedures, as well a get all kinds of “Shots” in the arm as we were immunized against every know “Bug” except VD; we seen plenty of training movies about what happens to you when you pick up a “Girl” of unknown character. We spent two weeks in the “South Unit” (detention) after being immunized to make sure we were not Contaminated; then we moved into the “North Unit” where the training intensified.

With my background growing up on the water front, Dads training, Boy Scout and being a Sea Explorer I knew a great deal of the information they taught us making my time in Boot Camp productive as the Chief made me an instructor in Seamanship Classes; boat handling; teaching knot tying, splicing, semaphore signal flags and Morse code. While in “Boot Camp North” we were all given aptitude test to see which Rate Specialty we would be most qualified for, I passed the communication aptitude test with flying colors, so I applied to be a Radioman on a Destroyer.

When we “Fell-in” for muster for the various formations, such as Chow or Colors, we were always Inspected for proper wearing of the Uniform, we were given demerits by the Inspecting Company Commanders, (a Boot just like us) for our infractions, they seemed to be in “Cahoots” with our Company Commander, (who had been in the Marine Corps) so one night after midnight a gang of us “Black-balled” them both as well as “Blackened our Company Commander Schonover’s Balled Head”. Naturally we were reported and our Company CPO’s were called in, no one would “Rat” on who did it. So both Companies 126 and 127 were muster with full gear packed in “Sea-going Fashion” hammocks, mattress and all on our shoulder and marched around the Parade ground from about 0230 until 0600 as well as got our “Asses” chewed.

Christmas arrived and the San Diego Harbor was beautiful, all the Naval Ships were in Holiday Dress with all the signal flags arranged from the bow to the stern, with colored lights turned on at night. The Sailor who slept aft of me cried himself to sleep every night a couple of days until he got used to being away from home during the Holidays.

A Smart Sailor

One evening I was sitting on my bunk darning a hole in one of my sox when the Chief cane along and asked me what I was doing. I replied I was darning the hole in my sox. He asked me who had taught me how to darn, I replied that I had watched my Mother darn sox for years, so knew how. Said I was a smart Sailor.

After completing “Boot Camp in Company 126-39” in February of 1940, I was granted 15 days of “Boot” Leave to return home to Anacortes an Apprentice Seaman in the United States Navy. Attending a Sea Scout Meeting while home, my old Sea Scout Skipper Ralph Wagner and Dewey McFadden gave me a bunch of “Flack” because I was only wearing one white strip on my Blue Cuffs indicating I was an Apprentice Seaman, (I had been an Able Seaman in the Sea Scouts and consequently wore 3 white stripes on my Cuffs) Dewey laughingly said I had been demoted.

Patrol Wing One

After reporting back to the Naval Training Station I received orders to report to Patrol Wing One, VP-11, for Aircraft Radio School training. (my Amateur radio my back-ground paid off) at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. While attending Radio School, and becoming proficient in copying and sending Morse Code. In the evening after Chow, about 1900 I would take my Halicrafter Short Wave Receiver to the Wing Aerology Office and copy the weather report from the Navy ”Fox Sked” for my “Buddy” Patty Green, S1/c so he could enter the information on the weather prognoses chart for the next day, then we would get away early and go on liberty, catching the Navy Liberty Boat or the commercial “Nickel Snatcher” as it was known, over to the City of San Diego.

I also volunteered during my spare time, working with the Wing Link Trainer Operators, helping them perform periodic weekly maintenance on 3 Link Trainers and In turn they taught me how to operate as well as fly the Link Trainer under the hood on instruments. I compiled about 70 hours of Instrument Flight time by that time under the “Hood” when I had graduated from Radio School.

After graduating from PATWING ONE Radio School in October 1940, I was assigned to the PATWINGONE Flag A/C Crew along with the COMMANDER AIRCRAFT SCOUTING FORCE crew in the Flag Hanger on West Beach, NAS San Diego. One of my “Sea Daddies” AMM1/c John Hubbard encouraged me to then changed my rate designator so I could strike for Aviation Machinist Mate vice a being Radioman.

I was getting tired of copying the “Fox” schedules night after night and not getting any technical background in electronics. Having been interested in “Ham” radio for years I already had a good practical back ground in basic electronics. But I enjoyed working on engines more than copying code so I switched goals and became a “Aviation Mech.”

I then enjoyed working with AMM1/c Pemberton and ACMM Hunt. “Pappy” Pemberton (who had 20 years in the Navy) would set on a stool in front of our SOC-1(a two seat Bi-Plane that could be either on wheels or a single float) and instruct me in all the technical aspects of performing trouble shooting a problem, a repair or a periodic checks; then he would inspect my work, either giving it a “OK” or have me do it over again. He was an excellent instructor, teaching me a lot that became useful as time went on.

While assigned to the Flag Hangar Crew I found out how they kept the hangar so clean for Material Inspection on Saturday mornings. Friday afternoon we would line up a couple of the planes out side the hangar, open all the hangar doors, turn-up the plane engines and blow all the dust and dirt right through and out of the other end of the hangar, leaving it slick and clean for inspection. Neat!

On 1 April 1941 I received a package from “Mom” that was sent the previous December with my 1940 Christmas Presents in it, the package had been miss sent to Patrol Wing TEN in the Philippine Island twice as well as being re-wrapped. Upon opening the package I found a home made Wild Black Berry Pie, surrounded by filled cookies and pop corn, no worse for wear other than being a little on the dry side. So that evening Patty and I bought a quart of vanilla ice cream and applied it liberally to the pie and enjoyed all the goodness Mom had put in it. What a great way to celebrate “April Fools Day” 1940!

Bill Maris: We did lots of marching. Co 126-39, J/F ’40

Bill Maris

Navy Flight Log (N. AER. 4111 February 1941 - December 1941

The following information is from notes in my Navy Flight Log (N. AER. 4111)

FEBURARY 1941

Feb. 14, , Lcdr Carney (1) SOC-1 Bu#9955 l.0 hrs Local for flight time, PATWING-ONE NAS SD,

Feb. 27, 1941. Lt Soucek (1) SOC-1 Bu#9955 1.0 hrs Local for flight time, Lt. Soucek took us back over the lakes East of San Diego at about 5000 ft and did some aerobatics and “flipper” turns until I got airsick, heaving into my White hat and the rear cockpit where I was seated, he couldn’t stand the smell so back to NAS we went, where we landed and taxied the A/C up next to the hanger so I could get a hose and wash out the cockpit with fresh water. He chewed me out for getting airsick.

Watched a TBF take off over the O & R shops, one of his floatation bags, (1 in each wing) pop-out, caused him to spin in and make a water landing adjacent to the NAS Boat house, he was pulled out no worse for being wet, the aircraft was hoisted aboard a barge and turned over to the O & R crew for repairs as needed.

Another time witnessed a Navy R4D making a training flight with Parachute Graduates, flying over the station, one of the students shroud lines became tangled in the R4D tail wheel, causing the student to trail behind and couldn’t get free. They sent a SOC-3 up with a Pilot and crew man in the back seat, they made a couple of attempts and finally cut the shroud lines with the propeller and pulled the student into the rear seat. Quite an experience for all.

In the meantime Lt Soucek, USN (my Radio School Division Officer), had found out I changed my Rate Designator and was very Pe-Oed, chewed me out again for wasting all that time in Radio School training me to be a Radioman. Lt Red Raborne, USN (who latter retired as Vice Admiral) my current Division Officer came to my rescue and arranged for my transfer to VP-12.

Feb 1941 Flt Time 2.0 hr TFTTD 2.0 hrs

MARCH 1941

Around the first of March I was transferred to VP-12 in Patrol Wing ONE at NAS San Diego, CA. The CO was LCDR Charlie Oexle, USN and LCDR J.P. Fitzsimmons was our X.O, Lt. Roy Johnson was the Gunnery Officer, assigned to the Beach Crew for a while learning how to “Beach” the PBY when launching or recovering before and after flights.

Every Morning at Quarters, the Enlisted men would be led in calisthenics for 20 minutes by one of the crew qualifying for Advancement in rate. You could always tell who had been on too much Liberty the night before. During this time I was promoted to AMM3/c. About the middle of May an opening became available in the Plane Crew Training Program and I qualified, becoming a PBY-3 Plane Crewman, assigned the duties of the Second Mechanic in Training. (I also was assigned to Duty Section One, all Officers, CPO’s and the lower rated Enlisted men were assigned to one of the Four Duty Section with the manpower being divided up equally so duty section had an equal number of each ratings/qualifications as they became watch standers, providing security around the aircraft and hanger spaces from 1600 until 0800 the next morning).

Often the Off Duty Sailors would come down to the Hanger after dark and go “Grunion” fishing along the Sea Wall when the Grunion was running. The Grunion would come up on the beach to spawn. (Similar to Smelt) Using rakes and picking them up by the handful, put them in a bucket with salt water, take them to the Metal Shop and cook them in big black pans. One of the Gang would go to the Galley and swap some of the Grunion for butter, onions and bread from the “Jack of the Dust”; bringing it all back to the Hangar, then every one would gather around and make “Grunion” sandwiches and wash them down with fresh Joe!

One evening as the “Watch” was being Set and the Section Leaders were exchanging their duties the “off going” Section Leader would turned his 45 Pistol over to the “on coming” section Leade. The On coming Section Leader inserted the Bullet Clip into the 45, charged it, aimed in “Skyward” and pulled the trigger to make sure the 45 was safe, of course the gun went off with a roaring BOOM. This caused quite a commotion, so the Section Leader went through the procedure again with another loud BOOM, This caused the Squadron Duty Officer to get all excited and he immediately relieved the Section Leader of his duties and confined him to the Barracks for the night; the SDO then appointed the next Senior Petty Offer as Section Leader for the rest of the watch who then received the 45, removed the bullet clip from the gun, charged it ejecting the “Round” that was in the barrel and pointed the 45 into the air, pulled the trigger, lowered the 45, put it on safe and reinserted the bullet clip as it should have been done in the first place; then he relieved the Off-going Section Leader. The PAT Wing ONE Duty Officer ordered the VP-12 SDO to report to him and explain what happened! The next day the Petty Officer who screwed up, being a Ship board Machinist Mate, was transferred to the USS Teal, our Seaplane Tender for duty.

Another time while I was standing a 2400 to 0400 Ramp Watch I found a small rowboat pulled up on the beach against the Sea Wall. I had not seen anyone come ashore or find any tracks in the sand, so I blew my Whistle summoning the Petty Officer of the Watch, and consequently the Wing Duty Officer. It created quite a stir for a while; we pulled the rowboat up on the Sea Wall and put a Watch on it for the rest of the night. The rowboat was still there the next morning when I came to work at 0730. Never did find out where the boat came from; so they turned it over to the Boat House at NAS San Diego.

It was not unusual to have Rear Admiral Halsey, who lived in Government Housing right next to the Sea Plane parking area, take a stroll out among the Aircraft at night, of course you had to challenge, recognize him and pass him through the area.

No Flt Time for March, April or May TFTTD 2.0 hrs

PV1 Amchitka off runway at Amchitka, May ’43

Bill Maris

JUNE 1941

While in Plane Crew Training we made morning and afternoon flights in the local area, some times going along the coast all the way to Las Angles. Following the “Beach” going north and Highway 99 coming home.

We were reported for flying to low one time going up the “Beach” hopping up over the fishing piers giving the fisherman and swimmers a thrill, or taking a roll of toilet paper and put it on a broom handle and let it stream out behind us. The Commanding Officer gave the PPC a lecture on safe and sane flying and not to do it again.

(The flight time for this period didn’t get recorded in my flight log)

June 20, 1941 VP-12, NAS SD, Ens Foshee/Plus 7, PBY-3 Bu#0845 3.0hrs Local training

June 24, 1941, VP-12, NAS SD, Ens Grisco & ENS Winters/Plus7, PBY-5 Bu# 2369--8.5hrs San Diego to NAS Sand Point, Seattle, where I went on 26 days leave. The XO said if he knew I was going to Anacortes WA vice Anacosta, MD he would not have given me that much leave. While on leave I was studying my Course Manuals on A/C and Engines for my Third Class Aviation Machinist Mate Petty Officer Rating. Dad asked me if I knew the firing order of the PW-1830-92 Engine installed on the PBY-3’s, I told him that’s the part I was studying, so he told me what the Firing order was and how to figure it out. Dad had never seen or worked around a Radial two bank engine but said that was the only way it could be and make it run, Dad was right.

June Flt Time 11.5hrs TFTTD 13.5 hrs

JULY 1941

July 21, 1941 VP-12 received orders to split into two squadrons thereby commissioning the nucleus of VP-23 and VP-43, VP-23 latter flew from San Diego, CA to Kaneohe Bay, Territory of Hawaii and the other half of VP-12 became VP-43 remaining at NAS San Diego, Calif. with Lcdr C.B. Jones, CO and Lcdr Ray, XO; the Squadron then moved into the South Side of the new Barrel Hanger opposite VP-13 who were in the North side of the Hangar.

Some time during this time I made a flight to NAS San Point, Seattle, WA with Cdr C.B. Jones (CO-VP43) PPC; AMM1c Jack Hathaway was Plane Captain, “Horse” was the 2nd Radioman and I was 2nd Mech. We ran into bad weather crossing the Columbia River and climbed up to 18K trying to get out of the clouds and on to San Point. Couldn’t find Sand Point so turned around and headed back for NAS Alameda, CA. Seen the Columbia River so made a fast descent, circling down till we were right over the Highway 99 Bridge at Vancouver, WA on the Columbia River and headed SW across the Oregon Coast Range for the Ocean.

The rapid decent caused “Horse’s ears to bleed, so we put plugs in them and put him in a bunk for the rest of the flight. After reaching the Oregon Coast and the Pacific Ocean we headed south until we reached the San Francisco Bay Area and landed at NAS Alameda Seaplane Base. “Horse” was sent to the Hospital and they kept him for treatment; we never seen Radioman “Horse” again. The hospital was instructed to transfer him somewhere else!

We remained over night and left the next morning for NAS Seattle minus our Passengers, a Chief Commissary man who decided he would take the train or bus the rest of the way to Seattle. After flying through much of the same kind of weather as the day before, we located Puget Sound and let down over the Straits of Juan De Fuca, headed SE under the clouds, flew over the South Everett area and there was Lake Washington with NAS Sand Point waiting for us. We landed and RON. I called the Folks in Anacortes and let them know I was at NAS Sand Point, but couldn’t get up to see them as we were returning to NAS San Diego CA the next day, We had an uneventful flight back to San Diego.

JULY Flt Time approximately 26hrs of unrecorded flight time. TFTTD 39.5 hrs

August 1941

**Some time during August VP-43 flew to NAS Sand Point, Seattle, WA and we exchanged our new PBY-5’s with VP-14 for their “Old PBY-3’s and returned them to San Diego, CA. We transferred the “old PBY-3’s to the Overhaul and Repair Facility at NAS North Island and received new PBY-5’s in return from Consolidated Aircraft Factory just across the Bay in San Diego. There was approximately 15 hours of flight time.

• Aug. 12, 1941 Pilots (3) not recorded/4 PBY-5 Bu#2407 --2.6hrs Local training/CV
• Aug, 19, 1941 Pilots (3) not recorded/5 PBY-5 Bu#2404 --2.0hrs Local training/CV
• Aug Flt Time 34.6hrs TFTTD-74.1 hrs

SEPT 1941

• Sept. 2, 1941 Pilots (3) not recorded/4 PBY-5, Bu#2407---2.5 hrs Local training /CV
• Sept. 3, 1941 Pilots(3) not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2389 12.7hrs Cross country/UV
• Sept. 4 1941 Pilots(3) not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2389 6.1hrs Cross country/UV
• Sept. 5 1941 Pilots(4) not recorded/2 PBY-5Bu#2389 4.6hrs Cross-country/UV
• Sept 5 1941 Pilots(4)not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2389 3.5hrs Cross-country/UV
• Sept. 16 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/6 PBY-5Bu#2389 2.2hrs Navigation/LV
• Sept. 17 1941 Pilots (3)not recorded/6 PBY-5Bu#2389 2.0hrs Training-Instr/CE
• Sept 25 1941 Pilots (3)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2389 2.6hrs Training-Instr/CV
• Sept. 26 1941 Pilots(2)not recorded/2 PBY-5Bu#2389 2.4hrs Night -Training/CY
• Sept. 29 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/3 PBY-5Bu#2389 2.6hrs Instrument Training/CV
• Sept Flt Time 41.2 hrs. TFTTD-115.3 hrs

OCTOBER 1941

• Oct. 1 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2389 1.7hrs Emergency(Ambulance)K
• Oct. 3 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2389 1.4hrs Training-Instruments/C
• Oct. 9 1941 Ltjg Green&2 /6 PBY-5Bu#2429 1.3hrs Training-Instruments/C
• Oct. 11 1941 Ltjg Green&2/6 PBY-5Bu#2421 1.1hrs Training-Instruments/C
• Oct. 13 1941 Pilots(4)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2389 3.0hrs Training-Instruments/C
• Oct. 16 1941 Pilots(2)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2389 3.0hrs Training-Nav-Instr/CLV
• Oct 16 1941 HAPPY-22nd BIRTHDAY Oct. 17 1941 Pilots(2)not recorded/8 PBY-5Bu#2389 1.9hrs Training/C
• Oct. 20 1941 Pilots(4)not recorded/3 PBY-5Bu#2407 8.0hrs Training-Nav-Instr/LV
• Oct. 21 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2389 3.0hrs Training/C
• Oct. 22 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2389 2.8hrs Training-Instr/CV
• Oct 24 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2407 3.3hrs Training-Emerg/CK
• Oct. 24 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2407 1.2hrs Training-Emerg/CK
• Oct .25 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/4 PBY-5Bu#2407 8.6hrs Ferry-Ext Flt Trng/NU
• Oct. 29 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/5 PBY-5Bu#2364 8.2hrs Ferry-Ext-Flt-Trng/NU
• Oct. 30 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/3 PBY-5Bu#2364 3.4hrs Training-Instr/C
• Oct. 31 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/2 PBY-5Bu#2364 2.0hrs Training-Emerg/CK
• Oct. 31 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/2 PBY-5Bu#2364 3.0hrs Emerg-Night-Tactics/KY
• Oct Ft Time 57.4 hrs TFTTD-172.7 hrs

NOVEMBER 1941

• Nov 1, 1941 Designated a PBY-5 Plane Captain (AMM3/C) Our Crew was Charley McKinley AP1/C, “Ma” Chandler, ARM2/C; Harry Edmundson AMM-Striker; and my self
• Nov 3 1941 Pilot(3)not recorded/6 PBY-5Bu#2364 3.0hrs Training-Emrg/CK
• Nov 3 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/6 PBY-5Bu#2364 3.3hrs Training-Emrg/CK
• Nov 4 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/6 PBY-5Bu#2364 2.0hrs Training-Emrg/CK
• Nov 4 1941 Pilots(3)not recorded/6 PBY-5Bu#2364 2.1hrs Training-Instruments/CV
• Nov 15 1941 Ens Raithel(2)/4 PBY-2Bu#0502 9.0hrs Trng-Inst-CC NAS San Diego to Corpus Christi, TX UV
• Flew over Raithels home town and buzzed them a couple of times. We spent a couple of days at NAS Corpus Christi, it was still being built, lots of concrete and mud.
• Nov 17 1941 Pilots(2)NR/15 R5O-2Bu#7303 4.0hrs Corpus-El Paso/UV
• One of the pilots said when he was younger he used to fly (smuggle) Chinese in over the Mexican Border in an old Bi-Plane sneaking up the valleys at night so the authorities couldn’t find them.
• Nov 18 1941 Pilots(2)NR/15 R5O-2Bu#7303 2.2hrs El Paso-Rodeo/UV. We were flying in and out of the clouds/fog so the pilots decided to land at the emergency field at Rodeo. We were to sit here a few hours waiting for the weather to change, but one of our Radioman knew the Radioman in charge of the Radio Range Station there at Rodeo, so they went to a local bar to reminisce and didn’t get back in time for us to leave when we were supposed to, finally the weather opened up and we went on to Douglas, AZ.
• Nov 18 1941 Pilots(2)NR/15 R5O-2Bu#7303 1.3hrs Rodeo-Douglas/UV We stayed at the local YMCA for 50cents apiece and had dinner at a local restaurant.
• Nov 19 1941 Pilots(2)NR/15 R5O-2Bu#7303 3.0hrs Douglas-San Diego/UV/back home again.
• Nov 21 1941Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.0hrs Training-Instru/CV
• Nov 21 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 1.3hrs Fam-Night/EY
• Nov 24 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.4hrs Train-Emrg-Inst/CKV
• Nov 24 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2316 1.6hrs Fam-Practice/E
• Nov 25 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.6hrs Bombing/G
• Nov 25 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 2.0hrs Bombing/G
• Nov 26 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.3hrs Emrg-Nav-Instr/KLV
• Nov 27 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.3hrs Emrg-Instr/KV
• Nov 28 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.3hrs Training-Bombing/CG
• Nov 28 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 2.3hrs Training/C
• Nov 28 1941 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.1hrs Train-Emrg-Nav-Night/CKLY
• Nov Flt Time 62.7 hrs. TFTTD-235.4 hrs

DECEMBER 1941

• Dec 1 1941 Ens James(2)/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 1.4hrs Bombing/G
• Dec 1 1941 Ens Parker(2)/7 PBY-5Bu#2317 2.7hrs Train-Instruments/C
• Dec 2 1941 Ens Parker(2)/7 PBY-5Bu#2317 2.9hrs Training-Instru/CV
• Dec 2 1941 Ens Lucas(2)/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 2.9hrs Training-Instru/CV
• Dec 3 1941 Ens Parker(2)/8 PBY-5Bu#2317 4.0hrs Training-Instru/CV
• Dec 4 1941 Ltjg Masterson(2)/7 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.3hrs Training/C
• Dec 5 1941 Lcdr Jones(2)/ PBY-5Bu#2317 6.3hrs Nav-instruments/LV
• Dec 5 1941 Ens Parker(2)/2 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.0hrs Trng-Emg-Nav-Night/CKLV
• Dec 6 1941 Ens Kauffman (2)/6 PBY-5Bu#2317 3.3hrs Training/C
• Dec 7 Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor- General Quarters-Flight Crews manned their A/C-We flew down to lower San Diego Bay and landed, awaiting further orders! The PBY-5 held 1735 Gallons of Gas in wing tanks, so by flying in Auto Lean we could get a lot of flight hours out of the engines, also by leaning out the mixture manually and watching the color of the exhaust flame we got even more hours of Flt time. This contributed to our ability to adequately cover the assigned scouting areas North and South of San Diego.
• Seen lots of Whales and their Calves, they almost looked like submarines in the clear water so we had to be careful that we didn’t drop depth charges on them thinking they were “Subs”.
• Dec 7 1941 Lcdr Jones(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2317 l.8hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 8 1941 Lcdr Jones(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#2317 10.7hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 9 1941 Lcdr Jones(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#2317 13.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 12 1941 Ens James(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#2307 12.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 14 1941 Ens James(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2307 7.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 16 1941 Ens James(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2317 7.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 18 1941 Ens James(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2317 7.3hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Our Second Mech Hubert Humphery was on Ramp Security Patrol about 1930, armed with a 03 Rifle, the NAS OOD came through in his Navy Pick-up, failed to hear Humphery call to “Halt” three times so Humphery Fired one round and hit the brake on a rear wheel, stopping the OOD is his tracks. He was very mad as he got out of the Truck with Humphery having his 03 pointed at him. The Petty Offer of the Watch and the VP-43 SDO arrived on the scene and took charge, Humphery was relieved of his “Duties”. Next morning at Squadron Muster the Leading Chief Buzzard complemented Humphery for his actions. Humphery had spent the previous 4 years in the US Army and knew how to use his Rifle.
• Dec 20 1941 Ens James(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2317 13.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 22 1941 Ens James(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2307 9.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 25 1941 Ens James(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#2318 7.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J CHRISTMAS
• Dec 27 1941 Ens James(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2323 7.8hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec 29 1941 En’s James(2)/1 PBY-5Bu#2307 13.7hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Dec Flt Time 147.0 hrs TFTTD-382.4 hrs

Barracks NTC SD

Bill Maris

VP-43 Flight Log January 1942 - December 1942

JANUARY 1942 “HAPPY NEW YEAR”

• Jan 2 1942 Pilots(3)NR/5 PBY-5Bu#2323 9.7hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 4 1942 Pilots(3)NR/5 PBY-5Bu#2315 7.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 6 1942 Pilots(4)NR/4 PBY-5Bu#2320 0.3hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 8 1942 Pilots(3)NR/4 PBY-5Bu#2315 10.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 12 1942 Pilots(3)NR/5 PBY-5Bu#2317 11.3hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 14 1942 Pilots(3)NR/3 PBY-5Bu#2323 13.2hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 16 1942 Pilots(3)NR/6 PBY-5Bu#2322 9.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 20 1942 Pilots(3)NR/3 PBY-5Bu#2307 14.7hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 22 1942 Pilots(3)NR/5 PBY-5Bu#2322 10.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 28 1942 Pilots(3)NR/4 PBY-5Bu#2322 10.9hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan 30 1942 Pilots(3)NR/4 PBY-5Bu#2317 15.2hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Jan Flt Time 122.2hrs TFTTD-504.6 hrs

FEBRUARY 1942

• Feb 1 1942 Pilots(3)NR/3 PBY-5Bu#2323 11.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 3 1942 Pilots(3)NR/4 PBY-5Bu#2317 12.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 5 1942 Ens Bagge(3)/3 PBY-5Bu#2318 7.8hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Feb 9 1942 Ens James(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#2317 10.7hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 11 1942 Ens James(2)/5 PBY-5Bu#2322 9.8hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 13 1942 Ltjg Smith(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2323 0.7hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 13 1942 Ltjg Smith(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2323 10.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 15 1942 Ens Gish(2)/5 PBY-5Bu#2320 1.6hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Feb 15 1942 Ens Gish(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#2320 2.0hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Feb 19 1942 Ens Hagen(3)/3 PBY-5Bu#2320 9.5hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 21 1942 Ens Johnston(3)/4 PBY-5Bu#2318 3.0hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Feb 23 1942 Ens Hagen(3)/3 PBY-5Bu#2320 9.2hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb 25 1942 Ens Bagge(2)/3 PBY-5Bu/#2322 13.0hrs Scouting out of SD/J
• Feb Flt Time 100.8 hrs TFTD-605.4 hrs

MARCH 1942

• Mar 16 1942 Ens Hagen (1)/8 PBY-5Bu#2289 1.7hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Mar 16 1942 Ens Hagen (1)/7 PBY-5Bu#2289 2.3hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Assigned Squadron Barracks MAA Duties, supervising 2 to 3 Compartment Cleaners and 1 Captain of the Head, making sure that the Crew living aboard always had a neat and clean home. This included sweeping and swabbing the decks day and a clean sweep down gain in the evening by the Duty Section; waxing and buffing the decks once a week, holding Reveille at 0600 each day except for Sundays and Holidays; seeing that lights were out at 2200, that Fire Watches were posted in the sleeping area during the night till reveille in the morning. That no one smoked in their bunk. Clearing the Barracks of all personnel during General Quarters Drills.
• Boatswain Mate 1st class Bob Hansroth, USN, who I had peddled the Colliers Magazine for in Anacortes in the early 1930’s before he had shipped in the Navy was my supervising Petty Officer, small world. During my off duty time I would get out my fishing gear and take the Bus down to the “Old Coronado Gate” Bridge and fish in the “Spanish Bite” bay, catching Flounder and Sole. Then back to the MAA bunk room where I had a electric grill, clean and make fish sandwiches for every one. I’d go over to the Galley and swap some fish fillets to the Galley Watch Captain for bread, butter etc. Very tasty afternoon snack.
• VP-43 crew would always gather at the “Hole In The Wall Bar” on “C” Street in San Diego for our Refreshments and entertainment with the Bar Girls! Many a interesting evening was enjoyed there as we Swapped Sea Stories of the days events while flying etc.
• MARCH Flt Time 4.0 hrs TFTTD-619.4 hrs.

APRIL 1942

• Apr 7th relieved of MAA Duties and returned to Plane Captain Flight Crew Status.
• Apr 8 1942 Ens George(2)/7 PBY-5Bu#2289 3.9hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Apr 12 1942 Ens George(2)/7 PBY-5Bu#2318 3.7hrs Trng-Inst./C
• Apr Flt Time 7.5 hrs TFTTD-634.9 hrs

May 1942

• May 22 1942 Ens Seagull(2)/4 PBY-5Bu#04438 2.0hrs Trng-Inst./C
• May 23 1942 Ens Seagull(2)/7 PBY-5Bu#04420 3.8hrs Trng-Inst./C
• May Flt Time 5.8 hrs TFTTD-635.7 hrs
• Passed examination for AMM2/c and Promoted to AMM2C May.1941

Refueling at Olgliuga Island Emergency Field May 14th. [Men, left to right] Chandler, Olsen, Barnett, McNair.

Bill Maris

Here is a running synopsis of my flight log and many notes of events that happened during my tour with VP-43 in the Aleutian campaign.

That year flying down the Chain was a real adventure doing what we had to do and now that I remember it, it was a real adventure for sure. At least I didn't come home with a Purple Heart although I thought a couple of times I would qualify. They did see fit to award me 2 Air Medals for my efforts as result of the fun and frolic that I enjoyed being young, fearless and foolish at times.

I always had a wonderful crew that worked together to make it safe in the air and on the tenders or ground stations.

VR GB Bill WILLIAM L. MARIS, LT USN (LDO-6852) (Ret) (VP-43 CAC-3s, AMM1/c USN)

"MUSTANG"!

PDF of entire VP-43 Flight Log available.

JUNE 1942

• VP-43Det. lost a Plane and Crew flying out of NAS Alameda, CA, as they returned from Patrol off San Francisco, crashing in the vicinity of what is now Daly City, while letting down in the fog looking for San Francisco Bay and Alameda. Ens. George with my Crew were assigned to replace them
• June 1 1942 Ens George(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#04449 1.0hrs Test Hop #7/R
• June 2 1942 Ens George(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#04449 2.5hrs T/O for Alameda, Returned to San Diego with Radio Trouble
• June 3 1942 Ens George(2)/3 PBY-5Bu#04449 5.0hrs SD to NAS Alameda/F Transferred to VP-43 Det at NAS Alameda, Ca.
• June 5 1942 Ens. George (2)/3 PBY-5Bu#04449 9.0hrs Scouting West of SF/J
• Upon returning from this flight we were informed of the attack on Dutch Harbor, get packed up as and we would be heading North immediately.
• June 8, 1942 Ltjg. Masterson (2)/7 PBY-5Bu#04449 5.5hrs NAS Alameda/Tongue Pt OR.
• VP-43 was on its way to the Aleutian Island Frontier to assist VP-41 and VP-42 PBY-5 Squadrons already operating there during the “Dutch Harbor” attack by the Japanese 2 June.1942
• June 9, 1942 Ltjg. Masterson (2)/7 PBY-5Bu#04449 7.6hrs TP to NAS Sitka, AK/F
• June 9, 1942 Ltjg. Masterson (2)/7 PBY-5Bu#04449 5.0hrs Sitka -NAS Kodiak/F
• Went over into Sitka that evening and toured the small town, visited the beautiful old Russian Orthodox Church.
• Some our planes were loaded with Torpedoes to take with us on to Kodiak and had a hard time getting off the glassy water, finally the Crash boat made some wake for them and they practically flew on the water getting airborne.
• June 10, 1942 Ltjg. Masterson (2)/7 PBY-5 Bu#04449 4.5hrs Kodiak to Sand Point, Unaga Isl. Territory of Alaska. We operated from one of the seaplane Tenders in the Area. Due to a shortage of Cannery workers some of the Off-Duty men went ashore and worked in the salmon canneries when not flying or in a standby status.
• June 10, 1942 Ens. George (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04449 10.5hrs Search all nite-Rtn SP
• June 15, 1942 Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04444 9.7hrs Scouted Kiska-bad WX
• Didn’t bomb, returned with 4 500lb Bombs. Landed at Chernofski Bay, at the S end of Unalaska Isl. We lived on one of the Sea Plane Tenders (AVP’s USS Avocet, Gills, Hubert or Casco), which became our home. The Plane crews were ferried to their respective planes via the Tenders whale boat and Ships companies boat crew. When we would have a day/night off we would go ashore and stay in the Civilian Contractors Cabins, eating in their galley, drinking fresh milk and eating steak, and eggs for breakfast, played cards, went hiking, swapped our 30cal Machine Gun ammunition to the Soldiers for the use of a rifle and go target practicing down on the beach…The Civilian Contractors were off-loading supplies from civilian freighters and barging them over to the new Army Air Facility they were building on Umnak Island just across the channel from Chernofski Bay. They built a false Cannery to store the material in that they were using to build the secret airfield that the Japanese couldn’t find when they attacked Dutch Harbor.
• They Bull-dozed a runway, covered it with Marston Matting and operated P-38s P-40s B-17s and-B-24s from there The Navy provided PBY Navigators to the Army Air Corp to get them to Kiska and back until they got familiar with navigating the “Chain”.
• June 18, 1942 Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 6.4hrs Headed for Kiska-returned due to bad WX with 4-500lb bombs and landed at Chernofski Bay
• June18, 1942, Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 2.1hrs Chernofski Bay to Dutch Harbor
• June 18, 1942, Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04440 1.0hrs Dutch Harbor to Chernofski Bay
• When operating off the AVP USS Hulbert (our floating home) I would volunteer as “Bow Hook” in the Boat crew in ferrying Flight/Maintenance crews to and from the A/C or the Beach giving me something to do during my off duty hours. I Became a qualified “Bow Hook” on the ships Whale Boat.
• June 23, 1942, Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04440 6.4hrs Search-incomplete due to bad WX Returned to Chernofski Bay
• During this period the Squadron rescued crewmembers from the USS S-27 Submarine that had run on a Reef at Amchitka Island while charging batteries at night due to the wind and tidal current while operating along the South side of the Chain, PBY-5’s landing in moderate swells, the Sub crew had to abandon ship due to salt water getting into the batter compartment and the mixture of salt water and battery acid generates chlorine gas that will kill you. The crew salvaged what they could and hiked over to the abandoned Native village and lived there for 5 days until they were spotted by a patrolling PBY who reported the situation and then more PBY’s were dispatched to pick up the crew and return them to the Submarine Base at Dutch Harbor. They came back via Chernofski Bay so the A/C could refuel, then continued on to Dutch. I write to George one of the crew of the S-27 via E-mail.
• June26, 1942, Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 0.7hrs Transported 9 S27 Sub Crew from Chernofski to Dutch
• June 26, 1942 Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 0.8hrs Dutch Harbor to Chernofski

Adak 1/10/43. [Men, left to right] AMM 1/c Bill Maris, CNAP Bill Dunn, ARM ½ Chandler, AMM 3/c Barnett, AMM 1/c Strattos

Bill Maris

Flight Crew Assignments for Patron Forty Three, June 29, 1942

PPC	2nd Pilot	3rd Pilot	P.C.	2nd Mec.	1st Radio	2nd Radio
Johnston	Peterson	Kasperson	Elliot	Evans	Dalkenburg	Black
George	Dobler	Bolman	McNair	Whitford	Havins	Hasting
Hanson	Carlow	McKinley	Batuello	Davidson	Carty	Defenbaugh
Hagen	Nelson	Million	Whitson	Palko	Palko	Gabral
Dahl	Havu	Bucklew	Pursell	Elsiver	Johnson	Falk
Clark	Arnold	Dunn	Maris	Huppert	Chandler	Zroykowek

P-14

Flight Crew Assignments for Patron Forty Three, June 29, 1942

PPC	2nd Pilot	3rd Pilot	P.C.	2nd Mec.	1st Radio	2nd Radio
Bagge	Glaspey	Fitzpatrick	Gordon	Lundmark	Ebertz	French
Masterson	Stephens	Stitzell	Tant	Young	Stillmaker	Kerney
Gish	Martin	Estes	Sommerville	Eggergluse	McGrosser	Kerney
Davies	William	Pearson	Edmundson	Earnest	Olmschied	Thompson
Green	Nuenzer	Segall	Smith	Heath	Mercer	Hulse
Jacobson	Throckmorton	Buergey	Mandalla	Starrett	Martin	Gillagan
Sorenson	Withee	Coe	Hill	Levette	Hollingworth	Campbell
Smith	Orwig	Grizzell	Strattos	Kimberl	Pollard	Gingrich
Raithel	Shanahan	Fritz	Albrecht	Wilson	Gilmore	McFetridge

Spare Pilots	2nd Pilots
Amme	Dobberstien
Beleu	Wheaton
Raithel	Shanahan

Character of Flight

A	Training and Instruction (regular)
A-1	Basic Instruction (Midshipman)
A-2	Elimination Training (regular)
A-3	Familiarization (non-aviation)
B	Training and Instruction (reserves)
BB-1	Elimination Training (reserves)
C	Training and Instruction (qualified pilots)
D	All flying performed by reserve personnel on extended active duty
E	Familiarization and practice
F	Gunnery
G	Bombing
H	Torpedo
I	Observation
J	Scouting
K	Emergency hop (ambulance)
L	Navigation
M	Transportation of Personnel
N	Ferrying of Aircraft
O	Utility--towing of targets, etc.
P	Photograph and mapping
Q	Aerology
R	Test of Aircraft
S	Experimental
T	Administration
U	Extended Flight Training (cross country)
V	Instrument flying
W	Emergency relief of flying
X	Communication training
Y	Night Flying
Z	Special-flight not falling within any other class

• June 30, 1942 Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04508 13.2hrs

Search from Chernofski Bay, on returning we had to landed at sea near Otter Pt. due to heavy fog; popped some rivets, plugged holes with sharpened pencils that we carried just for that purpose; we always had something for the Metalsmiths to do when we returned; we taxied in to Chernofski Bay using the Direction Finder homing in on the Tenders CW Radio Signals. (MOS)

• June Flt Time 100.0hrs TFTTD-707.7 hrs

Every now and then when on Patrol the PPC would forget to turn on the new IFF and a pair of P-38's would pop out of no-where and pull up on our wing, signaling to Decker with hand signals to turn on the "IFF", wave and disappear back into the clouds or fog-which ever we were hiding in as we cruised along searching with the Radar.

JULY 1942

• July 3, 1942, Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04499 6.8hrs Search Rtn Chernofski/Casco
• July 5, 1942, Ens. Clark (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04442 8.5h Search Rtn Chernofski.
• Made a down wind landing, went right by the Casco on the step, Decker hit full throttle to go around, I seen we couldn’t make it as we would most likely crash into the hill side at the end of the Bay., so I cut the engines fuel supply off and we ended up high and dry on the beach. Burnt off a bunch of rivets, scared Hell out of everyone, but we were alive and no one was injured. Next day the Pilots and Metalsmiths went ashore when the tide was out and replaced missing rivets with machine screws. They dug holes/ditches along each side of the A/C so they could installed beaching gear, then a motor launch from Casco pulled the PBY-5 back into the water at high tide. Never a word was said about the engines quieting.
• July 7, 1942 Ltjg. Johnson (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04442 0.9hrs Chernofski to Dutch Harbor.
• So the local FASRON could repair the bottom of the A/C we put on the beach the 5th
• July 7, 1942 Ltjg. Johnson (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04440 0.6hrs Dutch to Chernofski Bay
• July 9, 1942 Lt. Raithel (2)/8 PBY-5 Bu#04427 7.9hrs Search all night search-rtn Chernofski
• July 10, 1942 Lt. Raithel (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04427 9.0hrs Search all night sea4rch-rtn Chernofski
• July 15, 1942 Lt. Raithel (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04499 6.3hrs Search all night search- rtn Nazan Bay, Atka Isl.
• July 19, 1942 Lt. Raithel (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04444 12.0hrs Anti-sub Nazan Bay, Atka Isl.
• July 20, 1942 Lcdr Jones (CO) (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04425 2.2hrs Nazan to Chernofski Bay
• July 21, 1942 Lt. Raithel (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04444 9.4hrs Search returned to Nazan Bay, Atka
• July 23, 1942 Lcdr Jones (CO) (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04444 3.0hrs Nazan to Chernofski Bay
• July 24, 1942 Lt. Raithel (2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04440 2.6hrs Chernofski to Nazan Bay Atka
• July 27, 1942 Lcdr Ray (XO)(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 11.0hrs Chernofski to Kiska, night bombed Kiska and returned to Dutch. We almost run into the Fuel Farm Point (Hundreds of 50 gal drums of gas and oil) on the take off run at Chernofski Bay, CAP Dunn seen the shadows in the dark just in time to pull back hard on the “Yoke”, getting us airborne as we sprayed water all over everything-otherwise there would have been a big BBQ.
• July Flt Time 79.0.hrs TFTTD-786.7 hrs
• Promoted to AMM1C

Fog, on Bering Sea side of chain, PBY5s, 1942, note new radar antennae [radar antenna pointed out in photo on wing]

Bill Maris

August 1942

• Aug. 1, 1942 Lt Raithel(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04437 5.3hrs Nazan Search-returned
• Dutch; I always had the crew carry their personnel gear with them as we never were sure where we would land at the end of the flight, just might enjoy some liberty. Ha Aug. 5, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04425 8.8hrs Dutch Search rtn Nazan
• Aug. 8, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04444 8.3hrs Nazan to Kiska, bombed ships in Kiska harbor, Could see Red tracer bullets coming at us as we dove in releasing our bombs and pulling out, we were attacked by single float fighter on climb out, I got some hits, seen tracers hit the fighter in the engine and cockpit area, the pilot just sat there and looked at us, then flipped over on his Portside and disappeared diving back into the clouds as we turned to Starboard and back into some more clouds at about 2000ft heading for HOME back to Chernofski Bay
• Aug. 10, 1942 Ens Decker (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04441 10.0hrs Search From Chernofski returned to Dutch
• Aug. 15, 1942 Ens Decker (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04437 5.5hrs Search from Dutch; returned to Dutch. Often when we got back in to Dutch Ens. Decker would invite us up the O’Club for a round of Cheer as we sat outside on the steps as we Enlisted men were not allowed in the O’Club. This is where I learned to like Scotch!
• Aug. 19, 1942 Ens Hanson (4)/13 PBY-5 Bu#04437 4.2hrs Dutch to Kodiak flew along the North the side of Kodiak Island and enjoyed a beautiful trip, could see the mountains and volcanoes on the mainland. Due to main generator failure we had to run the Aux Generator (APU) below me in the Tower, found out latter that night that I had Carbon Monoxide poisoning from a exhaust leak, I went to the movie and got sick, went back to the barracks and to bed with a bad headache, was ok next day. An old friend AMM1/C Mikoli, meet us at the Kodiak hangar and said that they heard we were all dead.
• Did he ever get a happy surprise, we worked together in the VP-43 Beach Crew at San Diego.
• Aug. 21, 1942 Ens Decker (4)/10 PBY-5.Bu#04469 5.5hrs Kodiak to Dutch Had
• Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd & Ophiela, Capt Colilough, Ltjg Grohoski Bercent aboard as passengers. A “Willie Waw” caught us on the take off run in Old Womens Bay, we Water looped and buried our left float and wing tip; we could see no damage on inspection, made a normal takeoff and continued on to Dutch Harbor.
• Edgar Bergen got to sit in the “Right” seat and Decker let him do a little flying.Bergen meets up with the rest of a USO Troupe and did a number of Shows at Dutch then went on down the “Chain” entertaining the rest of the “Troops”.
• Aug. 24, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04427 8.6hrs Search Dutch Ret Dutch
• Aug. 27, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/1 PBY-5 Bu#04508 1.5hrs Ferry Dutch to Chernofski
• Aug. 30, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/9 PBY-5 Bu#04508 1.7hrs Ferry Chernofski to Dutch
• Aug. 30, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/6 PBY-5 Bu#04466 4.2hrs Dutch Search, had along Crew 7 members CAP Fitzpatrick and RM French- we were supposed to return to Nazan Bay but were directed to land at Korvian Bay, Atka because our tender the USS Casco had been torpedoed in Nazan Bay by a Japanese Submarine. Next day Lt. Amme and his crew sighted the Japanese Submarine and dropped Depth Charges on it and sank it, two of the Japanese Crew members managed to escape and were captured and flown to Dutch Harbor for interrogation and security.
• Due to the bad WX we landed in heavy seas and high wind in Korvan Bay, couldn’t anchor due to the sea state so we would taxi out away from the beach and rocks against the heavy waves on our starboard bow and the wind on our port bow. We taxied the rest of day and night with sea anchors rigged, the next morning Aug. 31, at daylight Mr Decker decided it was safest for survival to beached plane. The heavy seas had damaged our port wing tip float and we were shipping water from nosing into the heavy seas. Trying to drive the A/C nose first up on the beach didn’t work, the heavy seas broached A/C port side too, we got a line ashore off the port wing and tied the A/C off to beached logs to help hold A/C to beach, the beach was very steep and this caused the A/C to heave and pitch every time a wave hit it. We salvaged all life saving gear possible, set up camp on a flat spot behind the crest of the beach along side a creek. We improvised a tent out of one of the parachutes, gathered firewood and prepared to spend the night. Ens Arnold.
• Radioman French and 2nd Mech. Huppert started hiking for Nazan Bay for help, they had to hike around a large lagoon to reach the old Atka Native Village over on Nazan Bay where the Casco was torpedoed. Latter that afternoon we heard a Ships Horn sounding and spotted the HUSS Hulbert coming into the Bay.
• The USS Hulbert lookouts spotted us and rescued the remaining crew that afternoon via using a life raft, pulling us off the beach out through the heavy surf and transferring us into the ships whale boat, then back to the Hulbert, returning again for another load until we were all aboard the Hulbert. We salvaged all the electronics gear from A/C as possible. Breaking seas had pounded a big hole in the Starboard side behind the radio gear in the Radio-Nav compartment. We could see Ens Arnold and crew hiking along the ridge on the right side of the bay, so the Ship sounded its whistle many times trying to signal them to come down to the beach, but they never heard the whistle or seen the ship.
• After we were returned to the Hulbert we were treated royally, given dry clothes, a quick check by the Ships Pharmacist-mate, hot food, 2 fingers of “Sneaky Pete” in water and a warm bunk. The Hulbert then departed Korvan Bay, attempting to destroy the beached PBY with gunfire and didn’t succeed, proceeding back to Nazan Bay around the East side of Atka Island to where the Casco had been beached to keep her from sinking. Immediately A/C were airborne on a search mission for the missing Ens Arnold, French and Huppert and they were finally found four days latter, wet, cold, tired and hungry; after in initial check they were flown back to Dutch Harbor to the Hospital for further evaluation and eventually returned to VP-43 for duty no worse for the experience.
• The USS Casco suffered a torpedo hit in the main engine room, blowing a large hole in the ships side. A VP-43 Sailor Sam Cobean, AO-3 went over the side into the water and held a float-light life ring under water until it had burnt out preventing the Aviation Gasoline and Diesel fuel spreading on the water from catching fire. AO-3 Cobean was latter recommended for, and awarded the ”Silver Star” Medal for his heroic actions. After a few weeks of repairs by ships company and Sea Bees the Casco was ready to be floated again, PT boats were brought in and tied along the side of the Casco, using the prop wash from the PT boats, Divers with fire hoses were finally able to washed enough sand out from under the Casco that they were able to refloat her on a high tide, pull her back into deep water and send her back to the States for repairs.
• August Flt Time 64.6 hrs TFTTD-851.3 hrs

Officer quarters at Dutch Harbor, 1942.

Bill Maris

SEPTEMBER 1942

• Sept. 2, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/5 PBY-5 Bu#04437 2.7hrs Nazan to Nazan Searched for Arnold, Huppert and French, didn’t find them.
• Sept. 3, 1942 Ltjg Johnson(2)/8 PBY-5 Bu#04437 4.0hrs Ferry to Dutch Sept. 7, 1942 Ens Decker2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 11.7hrs Search from Dutch-returned to Nazan Bay Atka
• Sept. 8, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04441 6.0hrs Anti-sub Nazan area returned to Dutch Harbor
• Sept. 12, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04444 9.5hrs Search/anti-sub Nazan area
• Sept. 13, 1942 Ens Decker(2)/3 PBY-5 Bu#04444 6.3hrs Anti-sub Nazan returned to Dutch Harbor
• Sept. 17, 1942Ltjg Johnson(2)/10 PBY-5 Bu#04437 5.5hrs Dutch to Kodiak Heading Stateside
• Sept. 20, 1942 Ltjg Johnson(2)/10 PBY-5 Bu$04437 4.9hrs Kodiak to Sitka Liberty in had Sitka, Heading Stateside
• Sept. 21, 1942 Ltjg Johnson(2)/10 PBY-5 Bu#04437 5.9hrs Sitka to Seattle, Home again
• Granted 14 days leave. Informed by the CO that we were designated “Combat Air Crew” with “3 Gold Stars”, indicating combat with the Enemy on Land, Sea and Air. We all went to the Navy Exchange at NAS Sand Point and bought our new “CAC Wings”. Spent 14 days leave with Mom and Dad in Anacortes, I had picked up my Sea Bag coming through Kodiak so spent a few days washing and getting all my clothes cleaned again after being in storage for months in Kodiak.. Was inducted into VFW Post 2982, Anacortes, WA. Sponsored by Comrade Ralph Wagnor and Dewey McFadden.
• Sept Flt Time 56.5 hrs TFTTD-909.8 hrs
• Reported from leave to NAS Tongue Pt. Or, We were bussed to NAS Seattle via Vancouver, WA, so we conned the Driver into stopping at the local Liquor store for refreshments - made the trip more interesting. The next day we were ferried via R4D to NAS Alameda to pick up new PBY-5s

OCTOBER 1942

• Oct. 11, 1942 Ltjg Johnson (2)/17 PBY-5 Bu#04483 6.0hrs Alameda to Seattle (Headed back North) Laid over at Seattle due to bad weather and had good Liberty for 3 days. So foggy you couldn’t see across the ramp to the other hangers.
• Oct. 15, 1942 Ltjg Johnson (2)/17 PBY-5 Bu#04483 5.5hrs Seattle to Sitka Bad WX all the way, couple our Planes turned around and returned Seattle) Mike Mandella and I went ashore and explored the great City of Sitka and had a good time.
• Oct 16, 1942 HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY to ME
• Oct. 17, 1942 Ltjg Johnson (2)/17 PBY-5 Bu304483 4.5hrs Sitka to Kodiak laid over at Kodiak
• Oct. 21, 1942 Ltjg Johnson (2)/17 PBY-5 Bu#04483 4.7hrs Kodiak to Dutch Harbor Home again Operating off the Beach vice a Tender and living in the Barracks.
• Oct. 22, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/6 PBY-5 Bu#04440 5.5hrs Search Sec-11, returned to Dutch Harbor Ltjg Bill Decker’s first hop as a JG
• Oct. 24, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/6 PBY-5 Bu#04483 7.1hrs Search Sec-11, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Oct. 27, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/6 PBY-5 Bu#04437 5.3hrs Search Sec-11, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Oct. 30, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/6 PBY-5 Bu#04430 5.0hrs Search Sec-11, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Oct Flt Time 43.6 hrs. TFTTD-953.4 hrs

NOVEMBER 1942

• Nov. 3, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/7 PBY-5 Bu#04437 6.6hrs Search Sec 12, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Nov. 5, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/8 PBY-5 Bu#04449 5.7hrs Searched Sec 11, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Nov. 8, 1942 Ltjg Orwig (2)/9 PBY-5 Bu#04440 6.3hrs Searched Sec 12, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Nov. 15, 1942, Ltjg Decker (2)/7 PBY-5 Bu#04437 5.3hrs Search, returned to Dutch Harbor
• Nov. 16, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04483 2.3hrs Dutch to Adak-returned to Dutch due to WX
• Had a bad Willie-Waw during this time and lost all of our squadron A/C due to the storm damage while the planes were sitting on the ramp in tie-downs, with dump truck parked around the planes to break the force of the wind, Sea Bees built wooden cradles to slide under the hulls to keep the beaching gear from collapsing and damaging the hulls. A Willie Waw stood #25 up on her nose and she fell over upside down breaking her back at the blisters. We were then reassigned PBY-5A’s from a Squadron departing for the States Squadron to replace our damaged planes.
• Nov Flt Time 26.1 hrs TFTTD-979.5 hrs

DECEMBER 1942

• Dec. 5, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/4 PBY-5 Bu#04470 6.2hrs Search-plenty roughreturned to Dutch Harbor, first flight in our new PBY-5A’s, neat landing on the new runway carved out of the side of the mountain and pushed in to the bay, still working on it to make it wider and longer. The north over-run goes down the Seaplane ramp right into the water. No over-run on the south end—just rocks and water. The PBY-5A had self-sealing( bullet proof) fuel tanks so we only held 1250 gallons of fuel and that restricted our flight hours per flt.
• Dec 15, 1942 Ltjg Decker(2)/4 PBY-5A Bu#04401 6.0hrs Search-returned to Dutch Dec 22, 1942 Ltjg Decker (2)/4 PBY-5A Bu#7297 5.0hrs Search Sec 12, (Our Last flight of the year).
• Dec. 24, 1942 Had a beer party then went up on to Snob Hill and indulged in a little liquid consumption--- all hands came home with a glorious feeling, it was a quite Christmas AM A couple of the guys didn’t show up so we went looking for them and found them a sleep in a snow bank along side of the road...And so ends another year