Description:

World War II



Charles Lindbergh, Chester Nimitz, and 100s More Sign War Dated Palmyra Island Naval Air Station Guestbook

 

A unique relic from World War II's Pacific Theater--a guestbook signed by 300+ individuals who stayed at the Palmyra Island Naval Air Station from September 1942 to June 1945. Of especial interest are the entries dated December 7, 1942--the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor--and V-E Day, May 8, 1945.

 

Signatories include Charles A. Lindbergh, then serving as a civilian aviation consultant; Admiral Chester M. Nimitz; 25+ current or future U.S. Navy Admirals; U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force brass; American and Kiwi politicians including Congressmen and Ministers; Hollywood and vaudeville circuit entertainers; officers; and recruiters from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and modern day Sri Lanka. Although the majority of signees were men, there were also a fair number of female signers; these were almost all affiliated with the American Red Cross, Women's Royal Naval Service, or other nursing units.

 

The guestbook is comprised of folded loose leaf brown paper pages housed within a custom made album. The front cover depicts a line of battleships below a "U.S. Navy" banner. The design features multicolored applied carving; the book opens by way of a dowel hinge. In addition to the 4pp history of the island found at the beginning of the album, and the 26 consecutive pages of autographs, there are 4 pen and ink sketches found within (2 battleships, p. 18 and 22; horseman, p. 24; and face, p. 31.) Expected light surface wear including scuffs, checking, and minor splitting. Isolated spills and stains found within do not affect the text. The guestbook, of which 31 pages are used and the rest are blank, measures 10.75" x 11.75" x 1.75".

 

Palmyra Island Naval Air Station was located on an atoll in Micronesia. Approximately 1,000 miles south of Honolulu and halfway between American Samoa and Hawaii, Palmyra served as a strategic refueling station. Lagoons linking the islands were dredged to accommodate large vessels, and runways made of crushed coral served weary flight crews. Palmyra was an important stop, and, judging by the appreciative messages contained within the guestbook, was universally appreciated for its natural beauty, accommodations, and efficiency.

 

Charles Lindbergh, whose signature "Charles A. Lindbergh" can be found at the center of page 24, autographed this guestbook on May 5, 1944. At that time, Lindbergh was employed by United Aircraft and served as a civilian technical advisor for the military. His first combat mission took place just three weeks later, on May 21, 1944. During his six months in the Pacific Theater, Lindbergh would complete 50 combat missions against Japanese controlled targets, as well as make aviation recommendations, such as how to economize fuel and manage safe take-offs with heavy loads.

 

Significant signers are found below, organized by category and then in alphabetical order:

 

AVIATION

 

1. Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-1974) as "Charles A. Lindbergh," May 5, 1944, p. 24

 

U.S. NAVY

2. Walden L. Ainsworth (1886-1960) as "W.L. Ainsworth - Rear Admiral Destroyers Pacific", November 24, 1942, p. 9

 

3. Daniel E. Barbey (1889-1969) as "D.E. Barbey - Rear Admiral U.S.N.", December 28, 1942, p. 12

 

4. William L. Calhoun (1884-1963) as "W.L. Calhoun, Vice Admiral" along with a lengthy inscription reflecting on the 1st anniversary of Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1942, p. 10

 

5. Worrall Reed Carter (1885-1975), future Rear Admiral, October 3, 1942, p. 6

 

6. Joseph J. Clark (1893-1971), then Captain and future Admiral, January 23, 1943, p. 14

7. Francis Drake Foley (1910-1999), then Lieutenant Commander, future Rear Admiral, December 18, 1942, p. 11

 

8. Matthias B. Gardner (1897-1975), then Captain and future Admiral, November 25, 1942, p. 9

 

9. Artemus L. Gates (1895-1976), Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, 1941-1945; May 29, 1943, p. 19

 

10. H.H. Good (?) as "H.H. Good, R. Adm. U.S. Navy", January 11, 1943, p. 13

 

11. Arthur J. Hepburn (1877-1964) as "A.J. Hepburn Admiral USN (Ret)", February 11, 1943, p. 17

 

12. Gilbert C. Hoover (1894-1980), then Captain and future Rear Admiral, November 25, 1942, p. 9

 

13. William Franklin Knox (1874-1944), as "Frank Knox," then Secretary of the Navy, January 26, 1943, p. 14

14. Charles P. Mason (1891-1971) as "C.P. Mason R. Admiral U.S.N.", November 6, 1942, p. 8

 

15. John S. McCain (1884-1945), 2x signed, first as "John S. McCain R adm U.S.N.", September 25, 1942, p. 5; second as "J.S. McCain", January 26, 1943, p. 14

 

16. Francis X. McInerney (1899-1956), then Captain and future Vice Admiral, March 2, 1944, p. 22

 

17. Marc A. Mitscher (1897-1947) as "Marc A Mitscher Adm U.S.N.", November 1, 1942, p. 7

 

17. Samuel Eliot Morison (1887-1976), then Lieutenant Commander and future Rear Admiral, March 27, 1943, p. 18

 

18. George D. Murray (1889-1956), 2x signed, first as "George D. Murray Rear Admiral U.S.N.", November 6, 1942, p. 8; second as "George D. Murray Rear Adm U.S.N.", October 4, 1944, p. 27

19. Chester W. Nimitz (1885-1966), 2x signed, first as "CW Nimitz Admiral USN", September 24, 1942, p. 5; second as "CW Nimitz", January 26, 1943, p. 14

20. Alfred M. Pride (1897-1988) as "A.M. Pride - Rear Adm., U.S.N.", November 3, 1944, p. 29

21. Albert Cushing Read (1887-1967) as "A C Read Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy…", April 12, 1943, p. 18

 

22. Joseph R. Redman (1891-1968), then Captain and future Rear Admiral, March 12, 1943, p. 18

 

23. John Wesley Roper (1898-1963), then Captain and future Vice Admiral, January 3, 1943, p. 13

24. John F. Shafroth (1887-1967) as "John F. Shafroth - Rear Admiral U.S.N.", February 10, 1943, p. 16

 

25. Forrest P. Sherman (1896-1951) then Captain and future Admiral, September 30, 1942, p. 6

 

26. Frederick C. Sherman (1888-1957) as "Frederick C. Sherman Rear Admiral U.S. Navy", November 11, 1942, p. 8

 

27. Paul D. Stroop (1904-1995), then Commander and future Vice Admiral, September 21, 1942, p. 5

28. Mahlon Tisdale (1890-1972) as "M.S. Tisdale Rear Adml USN", January 16, 1943, p. 13

 

U.S. ARMY & MARINE CORPS

 

29. Harold D. Campbell (1895-1955), then Brigadier General and future Major General who served on Lord Mountbatten's staff, August 20, 1944, p. 27

 

30. Willis H. Hale (1893-1961) as "Willis H. Hale Major Gen U.S.A." on October 23, 1942, p. 7

 

31. Melvin J. Maas (1898-1964) as "Mel Maas, M.C., Col. U.S.M.C." on September 24, 1942, p. 5. Maas was assigned to the staff of Admiral William Halsey, Jr. and General Douglas MacArthur, and was a former Minnesota Congressman

 

32. Christian F. Schilt (1895-1987), then Colonel and future 4-star General, February 3, 1943, p. 15

 

33. William P. Upshur (1881-1943) as "W.P. Upshur, Maj. Gen, USMC", May 24, 1943, p. 19. Less than two months after signing, Upshur was killed following an airplane crash in Alaska.

 

POLITICIANS

 

34. Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. (1902-1985) as "H.C. Lodge jr. U.S. Senator, Massachusetts", September 23, 1943, p. 20. Lodge, Jr. served two terms as Massachusetts senator between 1937-1953; he was succeeded by John F. Kennedy. The two later ran against each other in the 1960 presidential and vice presidential elections.

 

35. Peter Fraser (1884-1950), Prime Minister of New Zealand (term 1940-1949), April 6, 1944, p. 23

 

36. Fred Jones (1884-1966), Minister of Defence, New Zealand (term 1935-1949), February 19, 1943, p. 17

 

37. Dan Sullivan, Minister of Supply and Munitions, New Zealand, October 17, 1944, p. 28

 

ENTERTAINERS

 

38. Eddie Peabody (1902-1970) as "Cmdr. Eddie Peabody + his ComSubPac Entertainers", April 6, 1944, p. 23

 

39. Helen Talbot (1924-2010), a Hollywood actress and pin-up model, May 1, 1944, p. 24. Also features an extensive inscription.

 

This list is by no means exhaustive and should be considered only a fraction of the notable signatures found within. With future research, this guestbook promises fascinating discoveries of a time and place--World War II in the Pacific Theater!

 



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