Photos From My Uncle

Gromit801 · #1 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 04:32 AM

Uncle John and his crew...

ARM1/c Gale H. French (Radioman), Lt. Jg. John S. Ireland (Pilot), ACOM Raymond.F. Monia (Gunner and only survivor)

Some of the TBF's he flew...

None of these shots involved him, and were from the USS Bogue library when VC-19 was aboard...
(We have them as actual photographs)

Prisoner Transfers...
(Note the sailor with the Thompson)

RIP Lt. Jg. John S. Ireland. KIA July 26, 1944

Jan7 · #2 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 09:55 AM

Thanks for share these photos, Gromit801!

What is the uboat attacked/showed in the photos?
Can you give us more details?

Thanks in advance!

Jan.

Gromit801 · #3 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 03:20 PM

I don't have any details at hand, my Uncle didn't provide them to the family. I do recognize the 6th photo (you can see depth charges dropping) as it has been used in several books about the U-Boat war. He wouldn't have known at that stage what boats they were.

Jan7 · #4 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gromit801

I don't have any details at hand, my Uncle didn't provide them to the family. I do recognize the 6th photo (you can see depth charges dropping) as it has been used in several books about the U-Boat war. He wouldn't have known at that stage what boats they were.

Thanks Gromit801......I joined two keywords and locate an article in PDF. Perhaps it solved this extrange question.

PRINCE OF WALES SEA TRAINING SCHOOL

Formato de archivo: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Versión en HTML
homing torpedoes from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft VC-19 off the American escort carrier USS Bogue and by some 200 depth charges from the American ...

Jan.

Gromit801 · #5 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 04:35 PM

Interesting, thank you. I'm sure if my uncles had survived the war, he would have provided all kinds of information and fun stories.

Slipdigit · #6 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 05:41 PM

good pics, Gromit. In the top pic, which is your uncle? Is he the pilot?

Gromit801 · #7 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 05:43 PM

Yes, that's my Uncle John. The pilot in the middle of the three in the top photo. Just added the names of the crew in the top photo.

Slipdigit · #8 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 06:00 PM

Have you related how he died elsewhere in the forum? Did I miss it?

Gromit801 · #9 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 06:11 PM

No sorry, I am remiss in that. In July of 1944, VC-19 was assigned to the USS Guadalcanal. Capt. Gallery was a huge fan of night operations, as by that time U-Boats were getting scarce during daylight patrols.

My Uncle John was one of nine night qualified TBF pilots, and thus, the rotation was short among that group.

That being the case, the official accident report says the night was "very dark," and the seas "moderate." According to the report, his TBF came in high, but the LSO gave him the cut. He evidently hit the deck hard, didn't catch a wire, and bounced over the barrier into another TBF, and both planes went over the bow.

I would think that during night landing operations, you are almost totally dependent on the LSO to bring you in properly (especially on a little CVE), yet the LSO got very little of the blame. "Very dark" and a probably fatigued pilot needs a good LSO.

For the aviation enthusiasts among us, he was flying a TBF-1D, BuNo 24255.

JagdtigerI · #10 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 06:19 PM

Hi Gromit, I did a quick search of your Uncle's plane and came up with this website. I don't know if you have seen it before but it is organized chronologically, and if you go down to July 26, 1944 I believe that might be your uncle. At the top there is a link to order incident reports, don't know if you might be interested in that?

USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List July 1944

Gromit801 · #11 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 06:24 PM

Thanks, I have that one. That was the site that started the trail for much of the information I have. The family never got the true story, or if my grandparents did, didn't pass it along to the next generation.

Jan7 · #12 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 06:26 PM

Gromit and Jeff:

I locate a list who contents at your beloved uncle John: MIA Personnel Table

P.S. Please, Jeff, explain me his tittle, please. I don't understand.
"Service Personnel Not Recovered Following World War II"

Jan.

Gromit801 · #13 (**permalink**) August 20th, 2009, 06:28 PM

Not recovered means lost at sea. They weren't able to recover the body.

Thanks for the link!

CJR · #14 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2009, 01:50 AM

Great Photos, Gromit801.

Skipper · #15 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2009, 08:14 AM

How could I have missed these great pics! Better late than never, so thank you for sharing them

bigfun · #16 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2009, 02:13 PM

I agree, great pics! Thanks so much!

Slipdigit · #17 (**permalink**) October 17th, 2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan7

Gromit and Jeff:

I locate a list who contents at your beloved uncle John: MIA Personnel Table

P.S. Please, Jeff, explain me his tittle, please. I don't understand.
"Service Personnel Not Recovered Following World War II"

Jan.

I'm sorry Jan, I just saw this. It means he was missing in action and his body has not been found or he has not found alive.