Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it, so it is said. I decided to make this vlog about part of my historical collection that I am donating to the US Naval History & Heritage Museum - it is the collection of the Covered Wagon Daily News, which was the on-board newspaper of the USS Langley (CVL-27) Aircraft Carrier during the second world war in the Pacific. I am glad that this archive will be preserved as part of the long and proud history of the US Navy.
US Naval History & Heritage Museum website - http://www.history.navy.mil/
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US Naval History & Heritage Museum website - http://www.history.navy.mil/
Fran on Twitter - https://twitter.com/contourcorsets
Fran's Science Blog - http://www.frantone.com/designwritings/design_writings.html
Fran's Daily Updates - http://www.contourcorsets.com/daily/daily.html
Great video. My late father served on the Langley during WWII. I have these same papers you have from my father. Although mine look to be in better condition than the ones you have. I also have some photos he had from on board the ship, his dress uniform, and medals he had received. My dad also talked about some of the boxing matches he had done while he served.
I have an original perfect copy of the this newspaper dated August 31 1944. My namesake was a tail gunner on this ship.
My father was on CVL-27 as a CPO fireman and tail gunner in Cmdr Edward Outlaws plane.
My dad was also on the Langley until 1946 as a Radar Man 3rd Class. He passed in 1998 along with the horrors he witnessed. He would not talk about them, but they were evident in his face and actions during his final days on heavy morphine. While onboard, he made a huge scrapbook with pictures, magazines of the time, the ship's newspaper, and even a self-made chart of every location the ship sailed. This family treasure is with now my oldest brother, a Vietnam veteran. It's so cool to think that our fathers may have knew or bumped into one another at some point.
Where did you obtain those papers from Fran? I don't believe you mentioned that.
I was going to suggest Chris Marks but he's already here already! Chris was kind enough to send me some information on the Langley! Thank you both for your interest in the ship … Mike
A couple of years ago I located the ship's log at a private residence of a crew member but I was never able to get him to respond and let me know what the final resting place was to be for that log.
Thanks, that would be great. I gave a lot of the original art that my father had/created in the print shop while onboard to the historical records section at the Naval museum in Pensacola. Things like the Shellback certificates, the Christmas and Thanksgivings dinner menu and a couple of the ship's news letters that he printed. If I had your email, I send you copies of a few of what I have.
I would really like to contact you about the USS langley. My Father, John Kelly was the printer onboard for the entire period she was in the Pacific and later on Magic Carpet trips in the Atlantic after the war. How can I contact you?
Randall Kelly
Awesome collection!
Very cool. My Father served on the Langley CVL 27 he remembers the paper. Can't wait to show this to him and hope to get a copy of paper as well.
Thanks, Fran for those. I served on the USS John F Kennedy in 1972-1975 and we had a daily which was the POD or the Plan Of the Day. We didn't have a paper per se, but the POD did have both Ann Landers and Dear Abby columns, some news, reports from captain's mast, safety reminders, some cartoons. I crossed the Arctic Circle in the North Sea on board the JFK and became a Bluenose in 1972.
Miss Fran, many thanks and BRAVO ZULU (well done) for your donation. I have a few copies of the ship's newspaper from my father's ship the USS Henrico (APA-45) as well as a couple from the USS Goodhue (APA-107) the ship he transferred after the "Happy Hank" had her bridge sheared off by a Kamikaze on April 2, 1945. I'm grateful fro your work and donating these.
I wonder how much the times has changed in regards of the content describing the enemy in military newspapers in Irak/Afghanistan today.
Ahh where to start… Shellbacks are naval persons who have crossed the equator, pollywogs are those who have not. The USS Langley (CV-1) was converted from a collier (USS Jupiter AC-2) (A ship that carries coal, naval ships were coal powered (verses Oil burning) until the 1920s ) Zeke was the 'official' Allied name for the type 0 (the year of adoption) A6M2 Naval fighter. The original Langley was sunk 27 February 1942. These documents refer to the USS Langley (CVL-27) an Independance Class Light Carrier built using the hull and machinery of USS Fargo (CL-85).
Awesome, Love to see private collections being donated to the public. Your awesome Fran!
Another fantastic video. Thanks, Fran!