October 23rd, 1942 (First Entry)

Journal - pg. 1
© Retelasfilm


Climbed aboard the converted Aircraft Carrier, U.S.S. Long Island at 0930 on North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego, CA.  This is the first U.S. warship I’ve been on since my enlistment in the Naval Service and I wasn’t very thrilled.  I stepped aboard, saluted the flag, officer of the day, and checked the register for my name.  I then proceeded below for my sleeping quarters.  Weighed anchor at 1030 from North Island Pier, with two Navy tugs alongside.  In the harbor were twin Troop transports.  The ship loaded with forty-eight marines, but did not follow us.  I stood on the flight deck and watched the last speck of the California coast fall from view.  Our ship was loaded with over sixty-two planes and hundreds of men.  We set out into the Pacific alone, with only one U.S. Destroyer as protection.  As we kept steady course, our escort would circle around and patrol the area.

With no more sight of land, my memories were drifting to my perfect love and the fun I had with all the friends and shipmates I left behind, perhaps not to be seen for a long time or ever.  But there are things I wish, no matter what happens to me, I pray that God look over my mother, dad, kid brother, and my little Dottie. 

I was assigned to general battle station.  Ships lights were out at 1830.  Found bunk in 2nd and 1st class officers sleeping quarters.  Turned to at 1900, for first night’s sleep aboard ship.



October 24th, 1942


0530 Perfect breakfast.  0700 Alarm for general quarters.  0930 Alarm for “Abandon Ship”, were given orders and life jackets.  1000 Man our “Battle Stations.”  Our Destroyer dropped two depth chargers just aft of us.  This was no drill.  A Submarine was sounded and lurking near. Gosh our first day out and trouble already. 

Outside of action, life is quite dull aboard with the routine of laying out on the windy flight, or in the different quarters, listening to the radio or records, and reading every type of book or papers you can.  Then spend your small change at the Canteen.  The football games are coming in from home: Santa Clara 6 – UCLA 14.  Went topside and departed when night fell.  What a night for romance.  Turned all watches back half an hour at 1900.

October 25th, 1942


0600 Working detail.  1200 Another U.S. Destroyer over took.  1430 Sighted seven of our convoy on the horizon; two Oil Tankers, four Troop Ships, and one Destroyer.  Our Destroyer turned back for the States.  1600 Took load off the convoy.  1615 Set all watch time ahead fifteen minutes.  2000-2400 Stood flight deck watch, no moon visible due to dark overhanging clouds.  0100 Turn watch time back fifteen minutes.

Journal - Press News

October 26th, 1942


0530 General quarters lost track of one Destroyer, not in sight.  0820 Man Battle Stations, two ships of convoy changing position, and nearly ran us down doing it.  0915 Sounding of another Sub!  Alarm abandon ship.  One ship of convoy having trouble, rudder was jammed, and O’Malley was on it.  Went on flight deck and had a bull session with the Pilots.  Boy, they would all just as soon be back in the States.  2000 Turned too.

October 27th, 1942


1030 Fire drill. News of the U.S.S. Wasp Aircraft Carrier lost by the Jap Submarine.  I wrote mother and Eddie, and didn’t sleep a wink all night.

Letter to Mother (pg. 1)
© Retelasfilm
Letter to Mother (pg. 2)
© Retelasfilm
Letter to Mother (pg. 3)
© Retelasfilm
U.S.S. Wasp - Aircraft Carrier
Image courtesy United States Library of Congress

October 28th, 1942


Rough at sea today.  Word being sent around that some person fell overboard last night.  Our Destroyer picked him up.  2000-2400 Flight deck watch.

October 29th, 1942


Routine – Just Sea.

LT(jg) Richard Batten: Buzzard Brigade at Guadalcanal
Journal - News Article

October 30th, 1942


Field day.  Got out of work detail.  Rotten sleep – too darn hot.

October 31st, 1942


0800-1200 Stood flight deck watch.  Got in trouble by officer in charge for reading while on duty.  News about another U.S. Aircraft Carrier was reported sunk.  2000 Turned in.
USS Hornet (CV-8) Battle of Santa-Cruz

November 1st, 1942

Journal - Plan of the Day

0600 Land finally sighted the island of Maui.  0700 Two P.B.Y. planes fly out and patrol the area.  0720 Secured.  0820 Went topside on flight deck.  The day was perfect, and the water was clear and calm as glass.  The islands are beautiful and Diamond Head was first seen as we entered the harbor.  0835 Two U.S. Destroyers and five Troop ships meet up with us.  0915 Entered Pearl Harbor.  Some of the “Old Timers” pointed out to me when the U.S.S. Nevada was sunk in 10 ft. of water. Remains of the U.S.S. Arizona were still there, and the scrap of the U.S.S. Oklahoma, with a floating dry-dock still in use. Much of the harbor has been built up since last year’s bombing on Dec. 7th.

USS Arizona - Battleship
Image courtesy www.history.navy.mil
USS Oklahoma - Battleship
Image courtesy National Archives and Records

Nearly the whole U.S. Fleet was in Pearl Harbor today.  Five U.S. Battleships: U.S.S. Idaho, California, Mississippi, North Carolina, and New Mexico.  The Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Saratoga was undergoing repairs due to the three torpedo hits in the Solomon Islands.  Two Heavy U.S. Carriers, as was the U.S.S. Salt Lake City, which was also in for repairs.  Two U.S. Submarines came in on the surface.  What a mess, they really needed a paint job.  The U.S. Destroyers were many in number and undergoing repairs and supplies.  Now the work began on unloading all the planes and equipment.  O’Malley, really glad to see the old boy.  His trip was on the S.S. Tyler, really rough and rotten.  Two meals a day, no showers, and above all, no liberty to San Francisco, only the officers.  O’Malley jumped ship anyhow and saw his wife for a bit.  Aboard the Tyler was Hal Caroll, as a merchant marine seaman.  This really is a small world.  Met some of my 9-42 class from Alameda, what a reunion.

A U.S. Aircraft Carrier was reported sunk, no name as of yet.  Took all day to unload the planes from the Long Island.  Simmons “Hollywood”, a fellow from Santa Ana, and ex-Lexington survivor, took me around Ford Island.  The whole island is really swell, and everything has really green scenery.  The overturned hull of the U.S.S. Utah is still in the water in the back of our barracks.  Nothing has been done to it since last year.  2100 Really beat, turned to.

Ford Island - Attack on Pearl Harbor
Image courtesy U.S. Navy

November 2nd, 1942


Worked all day completing three T.B.F.'s to become flyable.  First work I ever did!

Grumman TBF Avenger
Image courtesy www.ww2aircraft.net

November 3rd, 1942


Working on more T.B.F. planes on the Liberty.  Knocked off work and checked out the island to go swimming.  Five more U.S. Destroyers came in.

November 4th, 1942


Jumped ship on Liberty with Simmons.  Visited Mr. Abrou, and was taken to the well-known “South Sea” for lunch.  Later, he drove us around to the different views on the island and to the foot of Diamond Head.  Saw the U.S.S. Long Island making its way back to the States.  It had a load of bullet ridden airplanes.  I wish it the best of luck and a safe return.  Mr. Abrou took us to his home for a drink.  Saw many of the homes and stores that were still burned down since last year.  What a place.  White people are very few, the servicemen, plenty.  Took a bus and boat back to Ford Island.  Couldn’t buy anything, cost too darn much.  Had a very nice time, regardless.

South Seas - Dinner Menu Cover
Image courtesy www.arkivatropika.com

November 5th, 1942


Tested T.B.F.’s for check-up and for flying.  Payday: $44.00, went to the Beer Garden with the boys on island to a show.

Journal - Movie Pass

November 6th, 1942


Day off.  Went swimming at Waikiki Beach, and took a couple rolls of film.  Water was swell, except for all the barb-wire fences along the shore.  Turned to for Pearl Harbor.  Our fighting squadron left for Maui.  Simmons and a few were left behind.

November 7th, 1942

Packed sea bags (a little rain). Left all my blues on Ford Island.  No use for them where we're going.  Simmons also left for Maui.  He sure was a swell fellow (all Hollywood).  Loaded on Navy trucks and arrived (20 miles away), at Naval Air Base Barber’s Point.  This air base is just being built, no hanger, roads.  Army style barracks, good chow, perfect weather.

On this point were ex-9-42-10-42. Fellows, little Mahoy was here, Danny Roberts and also Robby.  Glad to see these boys.  Found out Nelson was at Moffet Field for Commando’s School.  Four Army B-24 (PBY-4) are stationed here.  Along with two C.A.S.U.’s, three S.B.D.’s and two T.B.F.’s.  Army also brought a squadron of Q-40’s.  We, being transferred here brought ten T.B.F. planes.  Four were left behind, including mine.  I haven’t a plane as of now.  Later I went swimming on the coral reefs, plenty good.  2000 Turned too with a big fight of mosquitoes.

S.B.D. Dauntless - Dive Bomber
Image courtesy U.S. Navy
Journal - Gunner's Theme Song
© Retelasfilm

Gunner’s Theme Song:
I wished to be a pilot, and you along with me.
But if we were all pilots, where’d the Air Force be?
It takes guts to be a gunner, to sit out in the tail.
When the zeros are a coming, and the slugs begin to wail.
The pilots just a chauffeur, his job to fly the plane.
But it’s we who do the fighting, tho’ we do not get the fame.
If we all must be gunners, then let us make this bet…
We’ll be the best damned gunners, that have left this squadron yet!

November 8th, 1942


Up at 0600, a perfect day.  Had three hops, but O’Malley and I went swimming anyhow.  I took a long distance swim and nearly lost my life.  Same thing happened to me with my swim to Treasure Island in 1940 with my pal Art Gomares.  I made out OK, but never again, at least not until I get more practice for it.

November 9th, 1942


Bomber Squadron Eleven arrived with sixteen S.B.D. planes.  Went swimming all day today, and gathered sea shells to make a necklace for my Dottie.  Torpedo Squadron Eleven is going to raise hell.

Journal - News Article

November 11th, 1942


Armistice Day.  Collected more shells.  Fifth anniversary with my little Dottie.

November 13th, 1942


Jumped ship and met O’Malley in town.  Grabbed a train for Barbers Point and had pineapples and coconuts.

November 15th, 1942


Had a big beer bust with stacks of hot dogs at Navy beach, with Officers and men of Torpedo Squadron.  Alert was sounded for take-off of every plane with full crew.  1730 All of Barbers Point were at their battle stations all night long.  No news of alert yet.

November 16th, 1942


Pay day: $66.00.  Finally received a plane, a T-13, what a wreck.  She was the first model out.

BT-13 Valiant
Image courtesy U.S. Air Force
Journal - News Article

November 19th, 1942


Twenty four gunners were flown to Kanenoha for two weeks training.  My plane left, and O’Malley went on a T-4.  An S.B.D. cracked on field, one of the landing gears didn’t come down – No one was hurt.

November 21st, 1942


Routine hops.  O’Malley and I went up in my T-17.  Flew to Naval Air Station to deliver some laundry for a gunnery school.  From here we flew around and circled the island near the mountains.  Oahu is really small from the air.  Check my plane and turned too.  Listened to Cal vs. Stanford game, 26-7.

Journal - Entry

November 22nd, 1942


Word came through for five plane captains to go on a 5,000 mile hop.  I was one of the five picked out.  This trip was to fly six T.B.F. planes 650 miles northwest of Guadalcanal, 150 miles from Borno.  Our flight was to be over enemy territory.  I was checked out for gun turret and oxygen equipment.  Finally heard from mother, Ann, Dottie, and Tex.