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 PPC LCDR G.S.Bogart,LT.Chadron Hunter,ENS.R.Green,PC R.G.Watson,ACMM (CA).We left NAS North Island on 1/30/1944 for Kaneohe for BlackCat training.In April we took CAPT Erdman,ADM Gunthers chief of staff for a tour of all the forward war zone areas.We visited the Treasury Islands,Bougainville,Green Island Island,Tulagi,Munda,Gaudalcanal,Espiritu Santos,Nausori,Fiji and back to Espiritu.On June 20 we were transferred to Green island for BlackCat Op's.We had our first of 8 night missions,barge hunting,truck convoy attacks on New Ireland.On Nov. 21 I was detached to the states for flight training.