This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Cory Butterfield, AO1
to remember
Watson, Richard G., Jr. (Dick), LTJG.
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Contact Info
Home Town Wenham
Last Address Lakeside Manor,Apt.323 Reno,NV
Date of Passing Jan 17, 2022
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
I am enjolying retirement with family and friends.
Other Comments:
My Naval Assignments have included many reserve squadrons that are not listed in the matrix. They are as follows:
VP-907, Plankowner, commissioned July 4, 1946 and redesignated VP-ML-57 on November 15, 1946. In February 1950, the unit was redesignated to VP-871 at which time I transferred back to active duty in February 1951. The unit was redesignated VP-19 in February 1953.
I was subsequently transferred from VP-871 to VR-5, Moffet Field, CA in September 1952 and remained there until December 1954, upon going to the active reserve with VP-871 until 1957. I was then transferred to ZP-871 (Blimp Squadron) as A/C Maintenence Officer from 1958-1960 and went inactive in 1960.
I am a qualified Flight Engineer in the following aircraft:PBY-5& 5A,PB2Y-3,PB4Y-2,R6D-1,PV-2,and the R6V.While in VR-5 I recieved a FAA Flight Engineers License and a FAA A&E license.I had already gotten my pilots license in 1949.
On November 7 2007 I was honored to be inducted into the Combat Aircrew Roll of honor on the USS Yorktown
CV 10.
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1942
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Last Updated: Dec 24, 2023
Personal Memories
People You Remember Crew#12,PPC LTJG Robert Felmuth,ENS.Chadron Hunter,NAP1c Gordon Merrow,PC,Vernon Holden. January flew 6 patrol missions(11.5-12 hours) out of Segond Channel Espiritu Santos tended by the USS Curtis.These missions were toward the Japanese Island of Nauru and to increase our range we would land at Vanikoro Island in the Santa Cruz group,supported by WW1 destroyers turned seaplane tenders the USS Ballard and the USS Thornton,USS Mackinac also was used.In February we had 6 more patrol missions and the the skipper LCDR Rosy Rosasco,took our crew to Halavo Beach,Florida Island to pick up a coast watcher that was to relieve the coast watcher on the island.We flew 3 more patrols and on Feb 28 we had our first dogfight with a Betty.I had the starboard waist .50 and I was able to get off some good bursts at him and he veered off Felmeth was able to stay away from his 20mm and after about 15 minutes he gave up and headed back to Nauru.March 10 missions with no incident.April7 we made contact with another Betty,he came up on our port quarter and made crossing runs to to our starboard,both waist guns got off some good bursts from about a 300 yard range.We took hits in the cockpit,port wing and tail section,but no casualties.May we were sent to Halavo Beach and on the 14th we went up to New Georgia on the other side of the Island from Munda to provision coast watchers and brought one of them back to Guadalcanal,we had a six plane fighter escort,3 F4F's,2 P-39's and a P-38.Had 2 more patrols that month.June we had 3 more patrols and a night ASW a round trip to Ile Nou and we were relieved on the last of June.I was overseas for 17 months the first trip.
