indypendenthistory:

V-J Day on the USS Missouri (by The National WWII Museum)

todaysdocument:

Shipshape and Squared Away

Recruit Fred Roberts from Greenville, Tennessee, received his first “G.I.” haircut in this World War II-era photograph, dated September 28, 1943. Roberts enlisted in the Navy’s Seabees.

viaDocsTeach

A burial at sea on board the USS Lexington in 1944, [x]

todaysdocument:

usnatarchives:

In celebration of American Archives Month, the National Archives is teaming up with the The Academy of American Poets. Throughout the month we’ll be publishing original poems inspired by the holdings of the National Archives. To view the poets performing their original work, visit the National Archives YouTube Channel.

Today’s poem, “Much Tattooed Sailor Aboard USS New Jersey” by Jehanne Dubrow, was inspired by a photograph of sailors during World War II.

Lt. Comdr. Charles Fenno Jacobs took this photograph of two sailors in December 1944. Jacobs was part of the Naval Aviation Photographic Unit—a group of military photographers, under the command of Edward Steichen, who documented activities of the United States Navy during World War II.

For the full story, including Jehanne Dubrow’s poem and video, go to today’s Piece of History post:  http://blogs.archives.gov/prologue/?p=14188.

Image: Much tattooed sailor aboard the USS New Jersey. 12/1944. (National Archives Identifier 520883).  http://research.archives.gov/description/520883

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Navy, at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, October, 1917

Wearing his WWI U.S. Navy uniform, a man of Japanese descent arrives at Santa Anita Assembly Center after being forced to leave his home on the West Coast, 4/5/1942.

Series: Central Photographic File of the War Relocation Authority, 1942 - 1945

Record Group 210: Records of the War Relocation Authority, 1941 - 1989

Image description: A gray-haired man in a WWI US Navy dress uniform holds the open door of a car. Another man wearing a trenchcoat and an armband reading STAFF writes on a notepad.

As soldiers returned from overseas after WWII, the question arose: should Black soldiers be segregated when aboard Navy vessels? 

The Navy reiterated “ … no differentiation shall be made because of race or color.” 4/1/1947

File Unit: Navy Department, 1946 - 1947

Series: General Correspondence with Government Departments and Agencies Files, 1946 - 1947

Record Group 220: Records of Temporary Committees, Commissions, and Boards, 1893 - 2008

Transcription:

Navy Dept

[very faint round stamp]

April 1, 1947.

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mr. Robert K. Carr

FROM: Milton Stewart

The following statement of Navy policy on racial minorities was made binding on the whole service in an order of the Secretary of the Navy (Allnav-No. 423) on December 12, 1945. It was transmitted to me by phone by Capt. Stickney, of Planning and Control, the Bureau of Naval Personnel:

Attention of the Navy Department has been called to a recent incident in which a question arose concerning accommodations aboard naval vessels for Negro Army personnel returning to this country for demobilization. In order to avoid any future misunderstanding on this subject the Navy’s policy regarding various racial minorities is re-stated and summarized for information and guidance.

In the administration of naval personnel no differentiation shall be made because of race or color. This applies also to authorized personnel of all the armed services of this country aboard navy ships or at navy stations and activities.

In their attitude and day-to-day conduct of affairs naval officers and enlisted men shall adhere rigidly and impartially to naval regulations, in which no distinction is made between individuals wearing the navy uniform or the uniform of any of the armed services of the United States because of race or color.

(signed) JAMES FORRESTAL

Secretary of Navy

Happy Anniversary!

On October 13, 1775, the U.S. Navy was established. What we have pictured here are some sailors saluting the American flag on the USS Recruit. The USS Recruit was a ship built on dry land, used as a Navy training vessel. In order for sailors to get their sea legs, they would first be trained on the USS Recruit. 

So here at the National Archives at Riverside we thank the fine people of the Navy for going on 244 years of service. 

If you are interested in Naval records on the USS Recruit  please come in and visit us or check out the National Archives catalog.

Click here for more Navy history.

Series: Historical Photograph Files, 1917-1994. Record Group 181: Records of the Naval Districts and Shore Establishments. (National Archives Identifier 295544) 

Fly, Missile, Fly

While reviewing records, Archives Specialist James found some interesting photos that relate to the development of missiles at the Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, California.  These engineers were recording various types of data at Point Mugu and off the coast of California at San Nicolas Island, Santa Cruz Island, and Santa Rosa Island.

This data helped the missiles with guidance, trajectory, aerodynamics, acceleration, and much more.  Photo 1 shows the engineers working on equipment that captured data during the missile test.  Photo 2 shows one of the various ways they were collecting data, which in this photo is a chain radar system.  This chain radar system tracked the missile and relayed the data back to be recorded.  Photo 3 shows what the missile would look like during flight.

For further research into the U.S. Navy base at Point Mugu, California, please visit this website.

Come check out more of the U.S. Navy records we hold here at the National Archives at Riverside!

Series: Central Subject Files, 1947 - 1958. Record Group 181: Records of Naval Districts and Shore Establishments, 1784 - 2000.  (National Archives Identifier 7450439). 

U.S. Navy Machinist Mate First Class Fred M. Jones was 30 years old when he was killed on the USS Arizona, 07 Dec 1941. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1929. Until recently, he was interred in Hawaii with other unidentified casualties of the bombing. His remains were identified by the U.S. Navy and his body was brought back to Lakeside Cemetery in Port Huron, Michigan for burial on May 20, 2017. People with American flags lined the route of the funeral procession along the St. Clair River. A large crowd gathered at the cemetery to pay their respects as Jones was buried with military honors.

The 5"/25 (127 mm) battery aboard the U.S. Navy battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40) prepares to fire during the bombardment of Saipan, 15 June 1944.
Note the time-fuze setters on the left side of each gun mount, each holding three “fixed” rounds of ammunition; the barrels of 20 mm machine guns at the extreme right; and triple the 14"/50 (34.5 cm) guns in the background.

(Source: Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-14162 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command)

A U.S. Navy Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver of attack squadron VA-9A “Tough Kitties” is lifted to the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) in preparation for launch from the carrier. Other squadron aircraft are visible aft, in 1948.
Redesignated from bombing squadron VB-20 in November 1946, VA-9A completed one cruise to the Mediterranean aboard the Philippine Sea during the period 9 February to 26 June 1948. VA-9A was redesignated VA-94 in August 1948 and disestablished in November 1949. Photo date: 1948
Source: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.253.254. (This file is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties.)

vintageblackglamour:

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to each and every veteran who reads this page and gratitude to those who served who are no longer with us. In this photo, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Harriet Ida Pickens (left) and Ensign Frances Wills, the Navy’s first African-American “WAVES” officers, are shown after graduating from the Naval Reserve Midshipmen’s School (WR) at Northampton, Massachusetts, in December 1944. Photo: Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives.

F-35C Completes First Arrested Landing aboard Aircraft Carrier

Japanese Patrol Boat 39 sinking after being torpedoed by American submarine Seawolf, 23 Apr 1943; seen from Seawolf’s periscope.