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A Heritage Publication Horida World War II Heritaee Trai ^

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1999 Governor Job Bush History. The museum exhibit, signed n law providing for the entitled "Florida Remembers World Increation of Florida's World War II," documents the state's re- War 11 Memorial. Since that sponse to the war, including patri- time, the Department of Vet- otic activities on the home front and erans' Affairs has conducted fund- the establishment of military train- raising, concept development, and ing bases throughout the state. This design work concerning this long display was dedicated and opened overdue tribute honoring the sacri- by Governor Bush on December O fices made by Florida's World War 7, 2001 - the 60th Anniversary of II veterans and those who serx'ed at America's entry into World War %D V^^"^ home. II. The exhibit traveled to museums in Pensacola, and Orlando. American History teachers now Florida's World War II Memorial is "Florida Remembers World War II," have a World War II educational a unique, multifaceted living Me- rededicated on Veterans Day 2004, is curriculum supplement on compact morial. The components include: a on display as a permanent exhibit in disks, featuring historical education- World War II exhibit in the Museum the Museum of Florida History. al materials, personal histories and Florida History; site filled of a Web interviews. with historical resources; a World The Department of State developed of War II educational curriculum a Web site (www.floridawwii.com) The Department State, Division of supplement available to high school that includes a statewide network Historical Resources, developed this

American History teachers; this of World War II resources featuring Florida Heritage Trail guidebook, Florida Heritage Trail guidebook military installations, veterans' or- honoring the many contributions dedicated to Florida's involvement ganizations, historic sites, museums, that Florida citizens made at home war. in World War II; and, a permanent libraries, universities, and histori- and abroad during the

World War II in Tallahas- cal societies, accessible to the monument made A permanent stone monument see. public through technology and the dedicated in Tallahassee on Veterans Internet. The initial phase of the Memo- Day 2004 is the final project element. rial project was conducted by the Funded though a grant by the The centerpiece of the monument Department of State, and resulted Florida Department of Education is a replica of Florida's pillar in the in the development of a World War and produced by the Mary Brogan National World War II Memorial in D.C. includes II display at the Museum of Florida Museum in Tallahassee, high school , and a marker for each of Florida's 67 Florida WWII Memorial rendering courtesy of Harvard Jolly Clees Toppe counties. These markers Architects, P.A. AIA and honor local contributions to the overall war effort.

During World War II, 16 mil- lion Americans served in uniform, of which 248,000 were Floridians. In addition to these veterans, thousands of other Floridians contributed to the war effort at home building roads, working in manufacturing plants, building and running military training installations, and operat- ing vital businesses that contrib- uted to the nationwide efforts that preserved the freedoms we enjoy. Today, more than 500,000 World

War II veterans are residents of Florida. K Table of Contents

Home Front-Battlefront: Florida During World War II 2 Northwest 7 North Central 14 Northeast 21 Central 28 West Central 33 East Central 40 Southwest 46 Southeast 49 Ships Sunk by U-Boats 61 Selected Bibliography 64 Glossary 65

- Author, introduction and sidebars Dr. David J. Coles, Professor of History, Political Science and Philosophy, Longwood University, Longwood,

Research and author of site entries - David Gregory, Research Historian and Grants Manager, Division of Historical Resources

Graphic Design: Jonathan Lee Lyons, LyonsDigital Media, Tallahassee, Florida.

On the cover: "Remember Dec. 7th!" Poster by Allen Saalburg, published by the Office of War Information, 1942. The quotation is from the conclusion of 's "Gettysburg Address." The image is from an original WWII U.S. Government-produced poster designed to show American resolve following the .

Many of the sites identified in this publication are listed in the National Regis- ter (NR) of Historic Places, either individually or as contributing resources in a

historic district. The National Register is an official list of historically significant

properties located throughout the country. The list is maintained by the , and includes places that have been documented as being significant in American history, architecture, , engineering, or culture, at the local, state, or national level. For more information on the National Register, con- sult the National Park Service's National Register website at www.cr.nps.gov/ nr/, or call the Florida Division of Historical Resources at (800) 847-7278 or vis-

it www.flheritage.com. 1 MTBA SUNDAY NEWSDEMOCH \T ixm \ Home Front- U.S. AT WAR 'S PLANES AHACK Battlefront: AT PEARL HARBOR AND MANIU Florida During

World War II Timeline World War II 1939 Second World War marked retirees and immigrants, Florida's August 23 - Nazi-Soviet Non- Thethe emergence of Rorida as a population also included more older Aggression Pact signed modern, influential state. The and foreign-born citizens than its

September 1 - German conflict spurred economic develop- southern neighbors. invasion of , start of ment and led to a postwar popula- On December 7, 1941, when Florid- VVt)rld War II tion surge that made Florida one ians learned of the Japanese attack of the most populous states in the September 3 - Great Britain on Pearl Harbor, few could have nation by the dawn of the 21st cen- and declare war on imagined the impact the war would tury. It brought increased prosperity have on their state. A tremendous to both rural and urban areas of the migration of military personnel took 1940 state and hastened the demands of place, with more than 170 installa- May 10 - German invasion of minority groups for greater economic tions established or expanded. Addi- France and the Low Countries and political opportunities. Florid- tionally, civilians came to work in the ians overwhelmingly supported U.S. June 21 - France surrenders to various camps and bases, and in the participation in the "Good War." Germany shipyards and other industries that Through their efforts on both the expanded during the conflict. World August - Commencement of home front and the battlefield they War II, to an extent greater than the brought about the defeat of , previous conflicts, mobilized the Fascism, and Japanese mihtarism in September 3 - for nation's population. Many soldiers, the greatest conflict in modern world Bases deal between U.S. and sailors and marines who served in history. Great Britain Rorida later returned to the state The collapse of the land boom of the to live. The state's population grew September 1 6 - Selective 1920s, followed by the Great Depres- more than 46% during the decade Service Act passed by U.S. sion of the 1930s hurt the state's of the 1940s, and would expand at Congress economic development. Still, by the an even more rapid pace during the

1941 late 1930s and early 1940s Florida's 1950s. World War II served as a cata- January 7 - Inauguration of climate, beaches, and recreational lyst for the state's postwar , Florida's activities annually attracted several growth. 28th governor million tourists to the peninsula. Florida's strategic location made Defense appropriations and New March 11 - Lend Lease Act the state vital for national defense. Deal initiatives also contributed to an passed by U.S. Congress. Planes and ships from Florida's bases economic revival. The state's popula- Authorized military aid to helped protect the sea lanes in the tion on the eve of war numbered just Allies , and under two million, with the largest the Caribbean, and the state was June 22 - Opening of Operation cities being Jacksonville, Miami, and viewed as an important first line Barbarossa, Germany's Tampa. In relation to other south- of defense for the southern United invasion of the ern states, Florida's population was States, the Caribbean Basin, and relatively urban, with two-thirds December 7 - Japanese attack the Panama Canal. Even before the of the population living in cities or on Pearl Harbor, outbreak of the war, new installa- towns. Still, and large tions were built to house the prewar December 8 - U.S. declaration portions of the central and southern defense buildup. For the Army, of war on Japan sections of the state were decidedly near Starke became rural in nature. Because of northern one of the largest training bases in K

the Southeastern , with more volunteered or were drafted nine divisions and many indepen- into service. December 11 - Germany and dent units passing through its facih- declare war on the U. S.; Roridians served in all major the- ties, while Camp Gordon Johnston U.S. reciprocates aters of the war, and thousands paid at Carrabelle served as the Army's the ultimate sacrifice. More than 1942 major amphibious training center. 4,600 Floridians serving in the armed April 9 - Surrender of U.S. Army Air Force bases included Val- forces died during the war, with troops on Bataan, Philippine paraiso's Eglin Field, Drew and Mac- battle deaths numbering 3,174. These Islands Dill Airfields at Tampa, Dale Mabry figures included 3,540 Army soldiers Field in Tallahassee, Buckingham and April 10 - Gulfamerica from Horida who had died of all Page Airfields in Fort Myers, Panama torpedoed off Jacksonville causes, with naval combat casualties City's Tyndall Army Airfield, and Beach (killed and wounded) numbering Avon Park, Boca Raton, Homestead, 2,308. A number of native born or May 6 - Surrender of U.S. Sarasota, and Venice Army Airfields. adopted Horidians rose to high rank, troops on Corregidor, Additionally, civilian contractors including General Joseph Stilwell, Phihppine Islands trained 14,000 cadet pilots, including Lieutenant General Roy Geiger, and many from Great Britain, at Lake- June 4-6 - Lieutenant General James Van Heet. land, Avon Park, and other locations In addition, several Horidians earned June 17 - Landing of German from 1940 tol945. wrecks, high military honors for their brav- saboteurs on Ponte Vedra a legacy from the extensive training ery. Colin Kelly of Madison was one Beach, Horida that took place during the war, still of the war's earliest heroes as a result dot the peninsula and its coastline. August 7 - Beginning of of his actions as a pilot in the Naval bases and air stations were Campaign . Sergeant Ernest "Boots" established or expanded at Daytona Thomas of Monticello led the patrol November 8-14 - Allied troops Beach, DeLand, Fort Lauderdale, that placed the first American flag land in North Africa Green Cove Springs, Jacksonville, atop Mount Suribachi on , , , Miami, Pen- 1943 and Alexander Nininger of Fort Lau- sacola, Richmond, Sanford, and Vero February 2 - Surrender of derdale earned the war's first Medal Beach. In Fort Pierce, some 150,000 surviving German troops at of Honor for leading a counterat- Navy, Marine Corps, and Army Stalingrad tack against the Japanese on Bataan. personnel passed through amphibi- Sadly, none of these men survived May 7-14 - Surrender of ous training, including elite scouts, the conflict. Perhaps the most patri- German and Italian troops in raiders, and frogmen. Even the Coast otic was that of Mr. and Mrs. Tunisia Guard and its women's auxiliary, the Cockman of Groveland, who SPARS, would establish a training July 9 - Allied invasion of sent eight sons into the armed forces center in St. Augustine. during the conflict. July 18 - U.S. Blimp K-74 shot In addition to the hundreds of thou- down by German U-boat off Manufacturing and industrial output sands of servicemen and service- Horida Keys grew dramatically during the war, women who came to Horida from though production in other southern September 3, 9 - Allied invasion other states to train and serve, over states increased at an even faster of Italy 248,000 Floridians, including more rate than Florida. Still, equipment than 50,000 , vol- September 7 - Italy signs and supplies necessary to conduct unteered or were drafted into the armistice with AUies the war were produced in the state, military, some long before America's with shipbuilding being among the November 20-24 - Battle of entry into the war. In September 1940 most significant contributions. Hun- Tarawa a number of Horida National Guard dreds of Liberty ships, patrol units were mobilized into federal 1944 boats, rescue boats, mine- service, followed by the remainder in January 22 - AlUed forces land sweepers, assault boats and other March 1941. Beginning with the first at Anzio vessels were built by the Tampa peacetime draft in American history Shipbuilding Company, the Wain- June 4 - Allied occupation of in 1940, thousands of other Florid- wright Shipyard in Panama City, the Rome ians began the transformation from St. Johns River Shipyard Company in civilian to soldier or sailor. Following June 6 - D-Day—Allied Jacksonville, the Miami Shipbuilding the formal entry of the United States invasion of German-occupied Corporation and other smaller firms into the war in December 1941, many France during the war. "Alligator" amphibi- 4

ous vehicles, which helped win the entered the workplace for the first June 19-20 - U.S. victory in war in the Pacific, were also designed time, while black Americans worked Battle of the and produced at Dunedin. toward the "Double V"~ victory overseas against Fascism and victory October 20 - American troops Agriculture remained one of the at home against racial prejudice. Afri- land on Leyte, Philippines state's major economic contributions can-Americans won several minor to the war effort, though a shortage October 24-25 - U.S. victory in victories over Jim Crow segregation of agricultural workers threatened laws during the war, setting the stage to limit Florida's harvests. The U.S. for the Civil Rights movement of the December 16 - Outbreak of the Department of Agriculture even- 1950s and 1960s. Race relations in , Germany's tually authorized the temporary Florida remained tense, and while last great offensive importation of 75,000 Bahamians no large-scale race riots occurred and Jamaicans to work in South 1945 like those in Detroit and Los Ange- Florida fields. Cotton, tobacco, and January 2 - Inauguration of les, a number of racial disturbances vegetable production all increased, , Florida's did take place in the state. Several as did sugar production, as domestic 29th governor erupted in Tallahassee, where black companies scrambled to make up servicemen clashed with police and February 19-March 16 - Battle for the loss of the sugar crop nor- white servicemen. The State Defense o\ Two Jima mally produced in the Philippines. Council eventually drew up con- Likewise, Florida's citrus growers April 1-June 22 -Battle of tingency plans for the capital and a found increased demand for their Okinawa number of other Florida cities in the products. Processes for both dehy- event of more severe disturbances, April 12 - Death of Franklin drated and frozen citrus concentrate but none ever materialized. Roosevelt, Harry Truman new were developed during the war, and U.S. president millions of cans were sent around Restrictions on travel, and a black- the world. Early in the conflict the out enacted in early 1942 to prevent April 22-May 2 - Battle of Florida citrus harvest passed that of Allied ships from being silhouetted and soon became a $100 against the coastline, hurt Florida's April 30 - Death of million industry. During the war, tourism industry during the early chemists from the U.S. Department months of the war. To compensate May 8 - V-E Day. Defeat of of Agriculture conducted experi- for the loss of tourist dollars, how- ments in an Orlando laboratory with ever, the military took over hotels August 6 - Atomic bomb dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, for use as barracks, and restaurants dropped on Hiroshima or DDT, which would eventually be as mess halls. By the end of 1942, used widely to prevent disease in more than 70,000 trainees attending August 9 - Atomic bomb different theaters of the war and, by various service schools run by the dropped on Nagasaki the conflict's end, as an insecticide to Army Air Force were staying in hotel August 15 - V-J Day. Japan protect crops. Only years later would rooms in Miami and Miami Beach. agrees to surrender terms. its harmful side effects be realized. Servicemen were eventually billeted While Florida agricultural produc- in hotels throughout the state, such September 2 - Formal tion contributed to the Allied victory as St. Augustine's luxurious Ponce surrender ceremony takes in World War II, it did so at a terrible de Leon, while the Women's Army place in Tokyo Bay aboard cost to farm workers, who suffered Corps "invaded" Daytona Beach. U.S.S. Missouri, ending World through degrading living and work- Later in the war the tourist trade War II ing conditions. returned, with Florida promoting itself as a vacation getaway for hard- World War II presented economic working, and now highly paid, civil- opportunities for Floridians who had ian workers. Consequently, in 1943, suffered through the Depression of tourism in Horida increased by 20% the 1 930s. Wages improved and jobs over the previous year, and gambling became plentiful due to the large at racetracks reached number of men in service. Women, all-time highs. Florida's state govern- African-Americans, and Hispanics ment publicized the availability of moved into jobs previously domi- hotel rooms for civilians, and even nated by white males. "Rosie the secured additional trains to trans- Riveter" became a symbol for the tourists. The state's promotion millions of American women who of its tourist industry drew criticism K

in some quarters for its inappropri- Like other Americans every Floridian in the case. And the filling station ateness during a period of national received a ration book limiting what could find a way to give you more sacrifice, but in general, Americans he or she could purchase. This effort gas and new tires." Black marketeer- recognized the need for relaxation to conserve the nation's resources ing could never be eliminated, but and recreation, even in wartime. and to stop inflation proved largely the federal government's ration- successful. ing plans helped direct the nation's Although nearly a quarter of a mil- resources to the more rapid defeat of lion Floridians served in the armed In early 1942, rubber became the Germany, Italy and Japan. forces, the majority of the population first item to be rationed by the fed- fought the battle of the home front. eral government's Office of Price During the war, there were no direct In his address to the state legislature Administration (OPA). Gasoline soon land attacks against the East Coast in 1943, Florida Governor Spessard followed, with mandatory ration- of the United States by any of the Holland stated: ing becoming effective on December Axis powers. Florida, however, was

I, 1942. Floridians received A, B, or prepared for just that possibility. At this tense hour it is wholly C ration coupons, allowing them a Governor Fred Cone had created the unnecessary to remind you specific number of gallons per week, State Defense Council in November of the fact that we meet at the depending on their occupation. 1940 to organize civilian prepared- time of gravest crisis in the life Those unfortunates with "A" stick- ness and defense throughout the of our nation. We are engaged ers were authorized only four (later state. The state legislature officially in a war which is challenging decreased to three) gallons per week. authorized and funded the council our deepest patriotic convic- In 1943, gasoline rationing became the following year. Spessard Holland, tions, and demanding the most even more severe, with all forms of who took office as Florida's 28th effective and sacrificial service pleasure driving becoming illegal. governor in January 1941, served as we can render, as individual Because of driving restrictions, Flo- the council's chairman, with George citizens and as a member of ridians turned to public transporta- L. Burr, Jr., as executive director. The of states ... I feel tion for any type of long distance council consisted of divisions that that every citizen of Florida travel. Trains and buses became dealt with industry and material can say with proper humility crowded as a result of the huge resources; labor and personnel; civil that our state is doing its full numbers of servicemen and service- protection; fire protection and water part in the winning of the war. women travelling from one duty sta- supply; agriculture; food; health and Virtually without exception, Florid- tion to another. housing; communications and trans- ians heeded the Governor's call. portation; power and fuel; finance The rationing of food had a great By 1943, more than 300,000 had and budget; home community ser- impact on the lives of average Florid- volunteered for civilian defense vice; and information, education and ians. As with gas, the government activities, and many more served in morale. The many functions of the issued ration books authorizing the the Red Cross, the U.S.O., on draft council included promoting the sales purchase of only a certain amount and rationing boards, on recreation of war bonds and stamps; providing of various products per week. committees, and in many similar information on rationing; fighting Beginning in April 1942, sugar was agencies. To help finance the war, against the black market; promot- rationed, followed by coffee, meats, Floridians had also purchased more ing the planting of victory gardens; butter, canned goods, dried peas and than $145 million in war bonds and working with Rorida farmers to beans, and a variety of other prod- stamps by 1943. increase agricultural production ucts. In addition to food, consumer and to provide adequate farm labor; United behind the war effort, Florid- products like shoes and clothing administering a "Florida Fights ians joined in both voluntary and were rationed or restricted. Alcohol Inflation" program; helping regulate mandatory efforts to conserve stra- was not rationed but it remained in blackouts and dimouts; conducting tegic war materials. Drives to collect chronically short supply. air raid drills; providing guards for rubber, scrap metals, rags, paper and Most Floridians tried to abide by the and regulating anti- grease became popular, as did "vic- often confusing government regu- measures; recruiting nurses; work- tory gardens" and "meatless" days lations, although a thriving black ing to regulate "juke joints" and to stretch the nation's food resources. market developed. Malcolm Johnson, eliminate prostitution and venereal Shortages and rationing of various Tallahassee correspondent for the disease; organizing a guide service goods also became commonplace during World War to assist the military; promoting during the war. Rationing boards II, later commented that "[TJhere salvage activities, scrap and paper were established in every county was a lot of favoritism. If you were drives, and the collection of women's with the power to regulate the sale a good customer, the butcher had hosiery; forming youth groups; of 90% of all civihan commodities. something for you that didn't show advocating car pooling and headlight ^ and speed restrictions; and the estab- declined dramatically. However the the "Nipponese." Another round of lishment o\ a child care program. U-boats maintained a continued celebrations hit the state after the presence in Florida waters. In July formal Japanese surrender on Sep- lollowing tiie mobilization of the 1943, an American blimp was shot tember 2, 1945. Florida National Guard in 1940 and down by a German in 1941, a Florida Defense Force, later At the end of the war, thousands waters off the . known as the Florida State Guard, of Florida veterans returned home, was established to assume the duties By 1944 it was evident to most Flo- while many wartime plants or ship- of the departed National Guard. By ridians that the war had turned yards closed or severely curtailed

1943 it numbered 2,100 men in 36 in favor of the Allies. Continued their operations. Though most mili- units. Other Floridians served as advances in the Pacific, and the tary bases closed with the war's end, air raid wardens, airplane spotters, invasion of Nazi-occupied others remained operational, con- and civil defense wardens. Civilian in June confirmed this fact. In the tributing to the postwar growth of yachtsmen formed coastal patrol November 1944 state elections. a number of Rorida cities. Rorida's organizations and others volunteered Democrat Millard Caldwell won the tourist industry continued to expand, to help the Coast Guard patrol the governorship. In his opening address and large numbers of veterans who thousands of miles of unprotected to the legislature in April 1945, he had trained in the state would return beaches. The state's vulnerable posi- emphasized postwar development here to live after the war. The state's tion became evident shortly after and economic issues, indicating that minority population, meanwhile, Pearl Harbor. In early 1942 German many were looking forward to the pressed for equal rights, and Florid- opened an offensive end of the war and to Florida's role ians would be on the frontline of the against the virtually undefended in the postwar era. In the spring of later civil rights movement. In the Allied shipping lanes along the East 1945 peace finally came to Europe, postwar years Florida grew into the Coast. Before the carnage was over, and Floridians joined the country in most populous state in the Southeast nearly 400 ships had been sunk, and celebrating V-E Day on May 8, 1945. and one of the largest in the country. thousands of lives lost. Dozens of Still, they knew that Japan remained Floridians of the mid-20th century ships were torpedoed just off Flori- to be defeated. Fears of a costly could look back with pride on the da's Atlantic Coast and others in the Allied invasion of the Japanese home efforts and sacrifices they had made Gulf of Mexico. German submarine islands proved unfounded when in during the war, while looking for- skippers used the lights of coastal August, shortly after the explosion ward to the dramatic challenges and cities to silhouette their targets. of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and opportunities facing the state in the Increased escort and antisubmarine Nagasaki, Japan agreed to surren- future. patrols by ships and blimps of the der terms. "Peace Comes to World," Dr. David Coles U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, as well announced the Florida Times Union on Assistant Professor as by private vessels requisitioned V-J Day August 15, 1945, while the History, Political Science and into government service eventually Fort Lauderdale Neivs and Evening Sen- Philosophy improved the situation off the East tinel reported on the city's joyous cel- Longwood University Coast, and the number of sinkings ebrations as a result of victory over Longwood, Virginia

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Franklin County tion since my days in Yuma, , trained on the revolutionary amphib- ages past," and went on to say, "the ious vehicle called the DUKW, which Carrabelle man who selected that site should proved invaluable during the fero- Camp Gordon Johnston have been court-martialed for stupid- cious battles in the Pacific. African- U.S. Highway 98 ity." In letters home, a camp trainee American soldiers made up a large

One of the most important miUtary simply referred to it as, "Hell-by-the- percentage of the troops that trained bases in Horida, thousands of sol- Sea." at Camp Gordon Johnston during diers were trained in amphibious this period. Many complained of The training also proved rugged and operations at Camp Gordon John- substandard treatment, both at the dangerous, particularly for Bradley's ston, located on the Gulf Coast 60 camp and in Tallahassee. Tensions division. During a March 1943 train- miles southwest of Tallahassee. In ran high, leading to several racial ing exercise, 14 men of the 112th early 1942, the U.S. Army created an disturbances in the capital city in Infantry Regiment died when the Amphibious Training Center (ATC) 1944 and 1945. coxswain of their landing craft inad- administered by the Army Ground vertently disembarked the men into Training continued until Japan Forces Command. The first such deep water. The army disbanded the agreed to surrender terms in August center was to be established at Camp Edwards, , with plans ATC in June 1943, but three months 1945. News of the surrender "hit later Gordon Johnston was Gordon Johnston like a to later move to a training camp in Camp Camp designated an Army Service Forces delayed action bomb." Over the next Florida. Army officials eventually (ASF) training center. this years the dismantled selected the small village of During two camp was period the base was home to more and the leased acres returned to their Carrabelle as the site of the new facil- than 30,000 troops. Airborne exer- owners. Officially closed in March ity. One hundred sixty-five thousand cises in the area structures other evi- acres of land were purchased or were conducted by 1946, a few and paratroopers Fort Benning, remains of the larg- leased, with clearing and construc- from dence what was . The camp housed German est community in the region during tion beginning in July 1942. The base, prisoners of war who worked in the the war. A Florida Historical Marker, known first as Camp Carrabelle and camp, on nearby farms, and in the located on U.S. Highway 98 in Car- later as Camp Gordon Johnston after industry. For the next rabelle, those a Philippine Insurrection Medal of lumber two commemorates who years a steady stream of small boat served at Gordon Johnston. Honor recipient, stretched for some Camp locating select 20 miles along the Gulf Coast. The crews and amphibian truck compa- Contemporary maps nies passed through the They base sites are available at the camp's cadre arrived in September camp. Camp and October 1942 and began prepa- rations for receiving the first trainees. The 38th Infantry Division reached Camp Carrabelle in late November. Other divisions to follow included the 28th and the 4th Infantry Divi- sions. Living conditions at Camp Gordon Johnston were particularly crude. Most of the troops lived in tents or prefabricated barracks with sand floors. Hazards included snakes, wild hogs, , sand fleas, flies, and chiggers. Ironically, a cold winter in 1942-1943 also affected the soldiers, who had expected to enjoy a warm tropical climate. Gen- eral Omar Bradley, who commanded the 28th Division, called the camp, "the most miserable installa- Army The DUKW amphibious truck. i

Gordon Johnston Museum in Car- redesignated Eglin Field to honor Rocket testing in rabelle. A reunion of veterans who Lt. Col. Frederick I. Eglin, a U.S. Florida served there is held each year. Army Air Corps pilot killed in Janu- ary 1937. Eglin was selected as the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum site of an aircraft armament prov- Toward the end of World War 302 Marine St ing ground, and in 1940 it received 697-8575 II, Eglin Arniv Air Field in the (850) the 384,000-acre Choctawhatchee became Operated by the Camp Gordon John- National Forest from the U.S. For- the site of an unusual series of ston Association, the museum exhib- estry Service for that purpose. With experiments to test the vulner- its U.S. Army artifacts, photographs the activation of the Air Corps Prov- ability of German V-1 rocket related to camp activities and the ing Ground in 1941, Eglin became launching ramps. Known as base newspaper. The Amphibian. a major research and development Operation Crossbow, the pro- (R&D) facility consisting of laborato- gram began in early 1944 when Okaloosa County ries, technical buildings, test centers, the Allies discovered unusual Valparaiso and traditional base infrastructure. structures being built along Air Force Armament Museum By the end of WWII, Eglin was the the coast of German-occupied 100 Museum Drive second largest air facility in the France. Intelligence sources United States. Training for the Tokyo indicated the\' were launching (850) 822-4062 Raid by Lt. Col. Jimmie Doolittle's ramps for German V-1 rockets. Founded in 1985 on Eglin Air Force B-25 strike force took place at Eglin To determine the best tactics Base, this facility's mission is to in March 1942 on specially marked for destroying the structures. exhibit and interpret the military his- runways. In early 1944, nine con- General "Hap" Arnold ordered tory of Eglin and the armed forces and brick structures were the construction of a replica at in general. To that end, over 15 constructed to replicate German V-1 Eglin Field. acres of outdoor exhibit area and a missile launch sites on the coast of Later in 1944, the Allies 28,000-square-foot museum build- France. Using these as targets, mili- obtained parts of salvaged ing are utilized. World War Il-related tary personnel developed tactics and V-ls, which were brought to exhibits include a P-51 , B-17 techniques designed to destroy the the United States and used Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, P-47 Nazi installations. This site was iden- in construction of a working Thunderbolt, and a V-1 "Buzz Bomb" tified as Crossbow ( for copy, which became known as replica. operations against the Eventually the the V-weapons). Two National Reg- JB-2. U.S. Eglin Army Air Force Base military ordered some 75,000 ister of Historic Places sites at Eglin The Valparaiso Bombing and Gun- JB-2s, of which 1,300 were actu- are identified as JB-2 (Jet Bomb) nery Base was established in June ally produced. Test launches Mobile Launch sites for the first 1935 as a range for Maxwell Field, near Destin and on Santa Rosa American copy of a German V-1 . In August 1937 it was Island continued from 1944 rocket. Working from a salvaged V-1 until 1946.

After the war, the U.S. military experimented with captured German V-2 rockets while attempting to develop the first large scale, liquid-propelled, two-stage rocket. Additional missile tests took place at over the next several years. The first test launches took place in in May 1948. The National Aero- nautics and Space Administra- tion would later begin opera- tions at Cape Canaveral.

. .^X- - -5 ><• '» % >: ^^"£5^^ fi I liMi -itf"^^-!/ Camp Gordon Johnston, Carrabelle

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bomb, American scientists created a Air Force Museum are the C-47 Sky- new design within three weeks. Tests train, the B-25 Mitchell, and the A-26 were conducted from Eglin in early Invader. For information about base 1945. As with many other facihties access contact the 16th Special Oper- On April 18, 1942, 16 American during the war, Eglin hosted up to ations Wing Public Affairs Office at B-25 led by Lieuten- 300 German prisoners of war (POWs) 884-7464. (850) ant James H. Doolittle in a camp near DeFuniak Springs took off from the and Crestview. One of several Camp Crestview Hornet to bomb Japan. It was Gordon Johnston branch POW Okaloosa County Veterans one of the first offensive actions camps, Germans worked at clear- Memorial of the war and raised American ing fields, preparing railroad track 198 North Wilson Street morale at a time when it was beds, and warehousing duties. Fol- This 14-ton, black onyx wall bears desperately needed. lowing the surrender of Germany in the names of 200 people killed on May 1945, German V-2 rockets were active duty who either lived in Oka- Following the attack on Pearl evaluated at this facility. Eglin Air loosa County or trained at Eglin, Harbor, senior American Force Base (portions NR hsted 1998) Hurlburt or . military officials explored the today belongs to the Air Force Mate- possibility of a retaliatory raid riel Command. The Air Armament Santa Rosa on Japan. Lieutenant Colonel Center is the host unit. Covering Jimmy Doolittle, a World War 1 724-square-miles of reservation and County veteran who had earned fame 97,963 square miles of water, Eglin is Milton between the wars as a test pilot one of the largest Air Force bases in and air-racing champion, NAS Whiting Field was the world. ultimately selected to lead an USS Essex Street attack by flying land-based Eglin- Airdrome Public Affairs Office medium bombers from an U.S. Highway 98 Commissioned July 16, 1943, as an aircraft carrier. Doolittle rec- Hurlburt Field auxiliary to NAS Pensacola, Whit- ommended using the Mitchell Construction began on Eglin Aux- ing Field took its name from Naval B-25, and in an experiment in iliary Field #9 in March 1941. The Aviator #16, Captain Kenneth Whit- early February 1942, two B-25 military occupied the facility, named ing. Coming from squadrons at bombers successfully took off Eglin-Hurlburt Airdrome in honor of both NAAS and NAS from the Hornet, proving the Lt. Hurlburt, a WWII Pensacola, the new aviators took plan was feasible. In late Feb- Distinguished Flying Cross recipient up residence in tents. Constructed ruary and early March, planes who survived numerous combat mis- on 2,920 acres of agricultural land. and personnel from Pendleton, sions only to die in a test crash Whiting's complement eventually , flew to Eglin Field, at Eglin in March 1943. Located six grew to 3,300 officers and enlisted Florida, for training. Over the miles west of Eglin, Hurlburt served men, women and students. Training next several weeks the crews as headquarters for the Electronic took place using SNBs, SNJs, and trained at one of Eglin's aux- Section of Air Proving Ground Com- PBYs. WAVES operated Link Trainers iliary airfields, while their mand. Radar countermeasure train- to simulate flight conditions while on aircraft were being modified. ing took place here as well. Hurlburt the ground. Outlying fields to NAS By the end of their training, rates special distinction because of its Whiting included Choctaw, Holley, the pilots were able to take off size and the significance of the com- Milton "T," and Pensacola airports. using only 350 feet of . mands stationed here. As the home German POWs from the Army of the U.S. Air Force Special Opera- facility at Camp Rucker, Alabama, Doolittle and his men left tions Command, public access to this arrived at NAS Whiting in July 1945 Florida for the Hornet on March facility is restricted. Hurlburt Field for duty on construction and soil 23 and were launched from her Memorial Air Park, located adjacent erosion projects. As many as 225 deck on April 18. They attacked

to Hurlburt Field, is publicly acces- prisoners worked here until March Tokyo and a number of other sible after first checking with the 1946. Little evidence of the WWII Japanese cities before bailing base security at the gate. Dedicated site remains at NAS Whiting Field, out or crashing in . The to all air commandos, a WWII Air home of Training Air Wing Five. Per- raid shocked Japan and greatly Commando/Chindit memorial is mission from the base public affairs improved American morale, present along with a memorial to office is necessary for public access. coming after months of defeat Explosive Ordinance Men and a in the Pacific. Missing in Action Memorial. Aircraft of WWII vintage on display from the d Escambia County 1763. The United States began con- struction of forts at all major harbors Pensacola after the . Work on Pen- Barrancas National Cemetery sacola harbor defenses began in 1829 (NR listed 1998) and continued for 30 years. With the 80 Hovey Road development of ironclad ships and (850) 453-4846 rifled cannon during the Civil War, One of five national cemeteries in masonry forts of this design became Florida, this 55-acre facility became a obsolete. Developed as an artillery- national cemetery in January 1868. It training center prior to World War is administered the U.S. Depart- by II, the 13th Coast Artillery Regiment ment of Veterans Affairs. British occupied this site when the Japanese .1 vcQUELiNE Cochran aviators who lost their lives while attacked Pearl Harbor. Supported by in training at NAS Pensacola during modern coastal defense batteries con- Aviator Jacqueline Cochran World War II are buried there and structed near and the born in 1906 near Pen- was their comrades-in-arms commemo- ruins of Fort McRee, Fort Barrancas sacola. In the early 1920s, while rate their memory every spring. In served as the headquarters for this \\ orking at Saks Fifth Avenue addition, veterans of the decisive area of the coastal defense system. York City as a beauti- m Mew WWII Leyte Gulf naval battle placed As Allied military successes contin- cian, she met her future hus- a commemorative time capsule and ued, by late 1942 the post focused band Floyd Bostwick Odium, plaque on the cemetery grounds. on training artillery units. Removal who encouraged her to learn "Chappie" James House of all guns and equipment occurred to flv. By the late 1930s, she in 1946 and the fort was deacti- (NR listed 2000) had established herself as one 1606 North Martin Luther King vated in 1947. Reopened in 1980 by of America's leading female Boulevard the National Park Service, this site pilots, winning the transcon- is open to the public on a regular Born in this house on February 11, tinental Bendix Race in 1938. schedule. 1920, Daniel "Chappie" James, In July 1941, Cochran went Jr., became the first African-American, to to observe how Fort Pickens (NR listed 1972) four-star general in the history of England was using women Santa Rosa Island the United States military. General pilots. On her return to the (850) 934-2600 James attended his mother's school U.S., President Roosevelt asked Constructeci on the western edge of on this site and, after graduation her to find ways to use female Santa Rosa Island between 1829 and from Washington High School in pilots in the U.S. Army Air 1834, Fort Pickens is the largest of 1937, attended Tuskegee Institute Corps. The following summer, four forts designed to defend Pen- in Alabama. While there, General Cochran returned to Britain sacola after the War of 1812. With the James completed instruction in the with 25 American women evolution of weaponry and tactics Civilian Pilot Training Program and who helped ferry planes for following the Civil War, construc- then served as a civilian instructor in the British Air Transport Aux- tion of a number of coastal defense the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet iliary. Soon, General Henry artillery batteries took place near Program until January 1943. James "Hap" Arnold asked her to this site. The last two batteries, com- received his commission as a second establish a program to train pleted in 1943, were never armed lieutenant in July 1943 after complet- progress of American women to fly. In because of the favorable ing this same program. , Cochran formed the war. Fort Barrancas, on the main- training followed next at Selfridge the Women's Airforce Service land, served as headquarters and Field in . He subsequently principal barracks facility for the 13th Pilots (WASPs). Although it served as a pilot in both the Korean was a civilian organization, Coast Artillery Regiment. The tower and Vietnam Wars. General James Cochran and her pilots trained at Battery Worth served as Harbor died in February 1978, shortly after B-17 turret gunners and staff Entrance Control Post and Harbor his retirement as special assistant to pilots, test flew and Defense Command Post and the Fort the chief of staff, U.S. Air Force. ferried planes across the coun- Pickens area provided a checkpoint for coastal convoys. Closed in 1947, try. The WASP program was Fort Barrancas (NR listed 1966) National dismantled in December 1944. NAS Pensacola this area is now part of the Park Service Gulf Islands National For her role in the WASPs, Managed by the National Park Seashore. Cochran was awarded the Dis- Service as part of the Gulf Islands tinguished Service Medal. National Seashore, the first fort was built by the British on this site in

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John C. Pace Library Auxiliary Base Field under the Naval University of Air Training Center in 1934. With the Death from the Air 11000 University Parkway buildup to WWII, primary training (850) 474-2492 of American and British pilots took Members of the Cosson Family The Special Collections Department place at Corry and anti-submarine lived on farmland southwest of the John C. Pace Library provides patrols, air-sea rescue, and target tow of DeFuniak Springs. On the reference services to research materi- planes flew from this site. In addi- evening of August 11, 1944, als which document the history and tion, naval aviators received train- they gathered at the home development of Pensacola and the ing in dive-bombing and torpedo of Jim Cosson, just one-half West Rorida region from earliest bombing at this site. Corry Field mile east of Eglin Army Air- settlement to the present time. This is operated the Instructors School for field. The sound of bombs at the largest West Florida research col- NAS Pensacola until August 1943. nearby training ranges was a lection and a major repository deal- With six outlying fields in 1944, the frequent occurrence. As the ing with Rorida and the Gulf Coast station complement consisted of family gathering broke up, the region. World War II materials in the over 2,500 officers, enlistees, and sound of approaching engines collection include base newspapers, students. Planes operated from this could be heard. The Cossons yearbooks, photographs, and a civil- site included SNBs, R4Ds, R50s, PBY ran for cover, but before they ian component, including school Catalinas, and a J2F and SNV. Access could reach safety a number scrapbooks. to Corry Field is restricted to persons of bombs exploded around the who have obtained prior approval. NAAS Corry Field family. Jim Cosson and his son 640 Avenue NAAS Saufley Field were killed instantly. Alfred Originally constructed in 1923 on a 6490 Saufley Field Road Cosson was running with his site north of Pensacola, relocation Originally known as Felton's Farm niece Winnie Lee when a bomb became necessary with the city's Field, this site later became NAAS exploded between them, killing encroachment on the base. Follow- Saufley Field in 1939 to honor Lt. him instantly. Winnie Lee suf- ing the donation of 530 acres from Junior Grade Richard Caswell Sau- fered a fatal head wound. Frag- Escambia County, the U.S. Navy fley. Naval Aviator #14, Saufley died ments seriously wounded four dedicated Corry Field on November in 1916 in an airplane crash off Santa others, including young David

1, 1928. This designation honored Rosa Island while attempting an Cosson, who lost a leg and was Quincy native and endurance record. NAAS Saufley paralyzed. The survivors were recipient Lt. Cmdr. William M. Corry, began operation in August 1940 as rushed to a nearby civilian

Jr., Naval Aviator #23, who was killed an auxiliary field to NAS Pensacola, hospital and then to the base while attempting to save a fellow with training on SNJ Texans and hospital at Eglin Airfield. aviator from a burning plane. One Link trainers beginning in November The military later concluded of the first fields with hard-surfaced 1940. Home to both flight instructor that a mechanical error had runways, Corry Field became an and fighter pilot training, activity caused a delay in the release of several bombs. After the war, the government provided only modest financial assistance to the family. In 1980, Congress passed a bill providing David Cosson, the most seriously injured survivor, a yearly pay- ment. While other training accidents took place in Florida, the Cosson tragedy was the worst of the war.

Fort Barrancas, Pensacola

11 1 increased to se\'en days a week and complement of 438 officers and 5,538 outside Building 624 in 1991. Access around the clock bv the time of the enlisted men. By war's end, 1,000 to specific sites within the compound attack on Pearl Harbor. Commis- seaplane and hydroplane aviators is allowed to those persons present- sioned a naval auxiliary air station on had been trained at this site. Aviation ing a valid photo identification. NAS

March 1, 1943, training was provided cadet training began in 1935 on Che- Pensacola was designated a National to a\'iators from Allied nations as valier Field, named for early Naval Historic Landmark in 1976. well as those of the U.S. Before Hight Aviator #7, Lt. Cmdr. Godfrey D.G. National Museum of Naval training demands slowed near the Chevalier. Flight instructor training Aviation end of 1444, the number of aircraft began at this site in 1940. With the 1750 Radford Boulevard reached a peak of nearly 160. With entry of the United States into World (850) 452-3604 a 1944 station complement of 1,800 War II, flight instruction increased Established in 1962, the National officers and students, facilities were to 2,500 students per month from a Museum of is one of strained. Saufley continues in use as pre-war level of 800. NAS Pensacola the largest air and space museums in a restricted access training facility for played a key role in the Navy's war the world. Exhibits include over 140 naval a\-iators and is the home to a efforts. Flight training was provided restored aircraft representing Navy, Federal Prison Camp. on such aircraft as OS2U Kingfishers Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Avi- and PBY Catalinas. NAS Pensacola NAS Pensacola (NR listed 1976) ation. The West Wing is devoted to served as home to the School of 190 Radford Boulevard WWII carrier aviation and includes Aviation Medicine, the Naval Pho- NAS Pensacola has been described as a full-size replica of the aircraft car- tography School, and the Aviation both the "Cradle of Naval Aviation" rier USS Cabot's flight deck. Several Metalsmith and Aviation Machinist and the "Annapolis of the Air" in WWII aircraft including the Corsair, Mates Class A School. Other com- recognition of its role in the history Dauntless, and Hellcat are on dis- mands operating from this facility of naval aviation. First constructed in play. IMAX films can be viewed and during WWII were the Naval Air 1826 as a U.S. Navy Yard five miles a motion-based is Transport Service and the Naval Air south of Pensacola, this site was also available. The human side of Ferry Command. NAS Pensacola and virtually destroyed during the Civil naval aviation is presented through auxiliary fields trained over 28,000 War. Despite reactivation after the the extensive use of personal memo- naval aviators by the end of the war. war and activity during the Spanish- rabilia. Researchers may use the Emil Among those, 2,775 British and 59 American War, the Pensacola Navy Buehler Naval Aviation Library on French pilots received their wings. Yard closed in 1911. As the need site. Naval aviators during WWII per- for aviation training became more formed with a 14-to-l aerial combat World War II Memorial apparent, the Navy's first Aeronautic ratio and over 15,400 enemy aircraft Adjacent to and Viet- Center opened in 1914 on the site destroyed. To memorialize the 4,000 nam War Memorials in Admiral of the abandoned Navy yard. As British and Commonwealth aviators Mason Park on Bayfront Parkway. the naval aviation training facility trained at NAS Pensacola, the Royal Designed by Bullock-Tice Architects during World War I, NAS Pensacola Air Force dedicated a monument and Capt. Bob Rasmussen of the on Armistice Dav in 1918 carried a National Museum of Naval Aviation,

this memorial is composed of a large marble "11" with a bronze V-for-vic- tory in the forefront. Five bronze life- size figures, located within the fifty- foot stone circle, honor the 16 million men and women who served on land, at sea, in the air, and at home

during World War II.

WWII training aircraft displayed at the National Museum of Naval Aviation 12 ^ County became known as the Naval Coastal Jackson Systems Station. Because this facility

Marianna is an active military installation, prior Marianna Army Air Base arrangement with the Public Affairs Industrial 3689 Municipal Drive Office is required to visit the base. Marianna Municipal Tyndall Airbase (850) 482-2281 Army Beginning with the unpaved run- 445 Suwannee Road ways of the Marianna City Airport, in of World I the Pilot Training Command at Max- Named honor War well Army Airfield converted the and Florida native, Lt. B. Tyndall, the first of field for pilot instruction purposes. Frank group Using the North American-built AT- men arrived on base in August 1941. Eventually encompassing over 28,000 6, advanced single-engine training the of this began at Marianna in mid-year 1942. acres along Gulf Mexico, Several classes of 100 students would site originated as a diversified gun- school. Classes in early Roy Stanley Geiger train at any one time. Airfields iden- nery began 1942 with graduates during the tified as Ellis #1, Malone #2, Bascom 8,000 #3 and Alliance #4 served as training first year of operation. Hollywood Roy Stanley Geiger was born in idol Clark Gable received gun- Middleburg, Florida, on and auxiliary fields. A detachment movie Janu- after ary attended the of WACs served as instructors in nery training here attending 25, 1885, and the Link Trainer Department begin- Officer Candidate School in Miami Florida State Normal School in enrolling ning in 1943. The community estab- Beach. Graduating in January 1942, DeLand before to in in . Geiger lished USO facilities for both white Gable went on combat duty and African-American servicemen. Europe. Another notable trainee, received his LL.B. degree in Adjacent to the Marianna Municipal Detroit Tiger and future Hall-of- 1907 and briefly practiced law Greenberg, received his before enlisting in the United Airport office is a monument dedi- Famer Hank cated to the personnel of this facility gunnery schooling at Tyndall, but States Marine Corps where he between 1942 to 1946. to much less fanfare. Cadets from was quickly commissioned a France and China also received gun- second lieutenant. By 1916 he Bay County nery training at this site. Students returned to Florida for comple- used shotguns in ground training, tion of the Navy aviator's Panama City which evolved to moving target course at Pensacola. He served

Naval Section Base practice on the ground and ulti- in World War I as part of the Naval Coastal Systems Center mately in the air with sleeves towed First Marine Aviation Force 6703 West U.S. Highway 98 by other aircraft. Although consid- and earned a Navy Cross. After (850) 235-5317 ered to be a B-24 Liberator base, the war, Geiger was director Created as a Naval Section Base much of the training employed the of Marine Corps Aviation, and in 1942, this site became the U.S. use of the B-17 Flying Fortress. by the late 1930s commanded Naval Amphibious Training Base, Marine Air Group One. With After the Allied victory, Tyndall St. Andrews Bay before mid-1944. the outbreak of World War II, became Tyndall Air Force Base, home Although the base was deactivated in Geiger was sent to the Pacific, to the . Accord- June 1945, the U.S. Navy Mine Coun- where he commanded the ingly, public access is limited to per- termeasures Station was established famous "Cactus Air Force" sons with advance scheduling. here in July 1945. This facility later on Guadalcanal in late 1942. After staff duty in Washington,

Geiger led Amphibious Corps I and III at Bougainville, , Peleliu, and Okinawa. After the death of U.S. Army General Simon B. Buckner, Geiger was temporarily placed in com- mand of the 10th Army, mark- ing the first time that a U.S. Marine general was given com- mand of a field army.

13 1 North Central

Alachua County A. Smathers Library includes the WAVES were stationed here later in P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History the war, serving in meteorological ALACHUA and University Archives. Considered services, administrative support, and Alachua County War Memorial the state's preeminent aircraft maintenance. The airfield Criminal Alachua County collection, it includes the papers of southeast at Lake Butler served as an Courthouse Spessard Holland, Florida's governor outlying field and Cedar Key, Ala- 220 South Main Street from 1941 to 1945. Miscellaneous col- chua and Gainesville provided aux- The Alachua County war memorial lections include diaries, photographs, iliary fields. The Woman's Club and honors 330 citizens who have been and other material from the war the Presbyterian Church opened their killed in war or other hostile action. period. The University Archives also facilities for recreational use by ser- The names on the two slabs of black contains a collection of war-related vicemen during their training in the granite recognize veterans since the photographs. community. Operation terminated in Ci\'il War. March 1946. The former NAS site is today the home of Lake City Munici- Gainesville Columbia County pal Airport, Lake City Community Alachua Army Airfield Lake City College and TIMCO-Lake City air- Gainesville Regional Airport NAS Lake City craft maintenance facility. 3880 N.E. 39th Avenue Lake City Municipal Airport Constructed on the site of the U.S. Highway 90 East Airport & Gainesville Municipal Airport, the Lake City Community College Madison County Alachua Army Airfield began opera- Commissioned in December 1942, Madison tions within months of the December NAS Lake City was located on the Monument

7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl site of the Lake City Flying Club Corner of Range and Base Streets Harbor. Part of the Air Technical Ser- airfield east of town. Established as (850) 973-2788 vice Command, this site saw duty as one of several support facilities to This monument is dedicated to the an air support school of applied tac- NAS Jacksonville, this field was used memory of World War II hero and tics and a primary flight school. to train Navy and Marine pilots in Madison native. Army Air Corps

PV-1 Venturas and PV-3 Harpoons. Captain Colin P. Kelly, Jr, who was George A. Smathers Library Maximum complement at the sta- killed early in the war during a tion reached 290 officers and 1,150 bombing mission against Japanese (352) 392-9075 enlisted personnel. As many as 200 shipping. As a result of the mission. The Special Collections of the George

« MUNlfcrp^A'^rHVoRT

Lake City Municipal Airport

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Kelly posthumously received the Distinguished Service Cross. The Four Freedoms Monument derives

its name from remarks made by Pres- ident Franklin Roosevelt in his 1941 Annual Message to Congress. In that speech, President Roosevelt spoke of freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, , and every- where in the world. These became the fundamental ideals of of Florida policy. Designed by Walter Russell and funded by the Women's National Institute, the monument was dedi- The University of Florida at cated June 14, 1944. A Florida His- Gainesville is one of the two torical Marker is located on this site. oldest institutions of higher In August 2000, the U.S. Post Office Colin P. Kelly, Jr. . With the in Madison was renamed to further Colin P. Kelly, Jr., of Madison, adoption of the military draft honor Captain Kelly. Florida, died just three in 1940, and after U.S. entry days after the American into the war in December 1941, entry into World War II and Jefferson County many students and faculty of posthumously received a MONTICELLO the then aU-male institution left Distinguished Service Cross "Boots" Thomas Memorial for military service. Freshmen (DSC). A 1937 graduate of West West Washington Street classes and overall enrollment Point, Kelly was a B-17 pilot This monument, dedicated Febru- declined sharply during the stationed in the Philippines in ary 22, 1981, honors Marine Sgt. war. Over 10,000 University December 1941. On December Ernest I. "Boots" Thomas and his of Florida alumni served in 10, his plane was sent on a fellow Marines for their role on Iwo the military. More than 400 bombing mission to sink the Jima during WWII. The face of the are known to have died in the battleship Haruna. Kelly's plane eight-by-five-foot structure presents war, including two former stu- might have bombed a large a relief of the raising of the first U.S. dent body presidents. Perhaps transport or light cruiser, but flag over Mount Suribachi on Febru- the most famous University neither sank. While returning of Florida alumnus was Paul to Clark Field, a Japanese Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay, fighter damaged Kelly's plane. which dropped the atomic He ordered his crew to bail bomb on Hiroshima. out but was unable to exit

To compensate for the dwin- the plane before it crashed. dling number of students, the In the rush to publicize a college administration entered rare American victory, the into agreements with the U.S. details of Kelly's sacrifice government to train enlistees were misconstrued. Many on campus, including an offi- Americans believed that he had cer's candidate school and air- received the Medal of Honor crew training program. Faculty and some reports indicated members and graduate stu- that he had crashed his plane dents took part in government deliberately into the Haruna. In research projects, including one reality, Kelly received the DSC that developed an electronic because of the belief that he proximity fuse for bombs and had damaged or destroyed the artillery projectiles. In 1947, the Haruna, and because he stayed Rorida Legislature passed a with his damaged plane until law making the University of his crew bailed out. Florida coeducational. Four Freedoms Monument, Madison

15 i

ary 23, 1945. Thomas, a Monticello An airplane hanger and a bunker are

resident when he joined the Marine still present on the site of the airfield. Corps in May 1942, received the A Florida Historical Marker recog- Navy Cross posthumously for his nizing the WWII significance of the combat service on Iwo Jima. He was site is present on Forest Park Drive killed in combat on March 3, 1945, at the entrance to the Forest Capital just one week before his 21st birth- Museum. day. The sidebar at left, provides fur- ther information on Ernest "Boots" Leon County Thomas. Tallahassee Ernest "Boots" Library Thomas Taylor County Monticello resident Ernest Perry 636 West Call Street "Boots" Thomas led the patrol Perry Army Airfield (850) 644-9305 that planted the first Ameri- Perry-Foley Airport Located in the Claude Pepper Center U.S. Highway 19/98, Alt. 27 (south on the Florida State University can flag on I wo Jima's Mount Suribachi during the ferocious of Perry, use Forest Park Drive to campus, the Claude Pepper Library battle early in 1945. Unfortu- the Forest Capital Museum and Air- houses Congressman Pepper's natel\-, this achiexement would port Drive to Perry-Foley Airport) personal and public papers, photo- be overshadowed by a second Developed on 862 acres on the site graphs, audiovisual recordings and flag raising later the same day. of the Perry Airport, Perry Army memorabilia documenting his nearly Airfield became operational on June 60-year career in public life, includ- "Boots" Thomas graduated 9, 1943. As a sub-base to Dale Mabry ing his service in the United States from Monticello High School Field in Tallahassee, this airfield Senate from 1937 to 1950. The collec- in 1941 and enlisted in the operated under the authority of the tion reflects Pepper's involvement Marine Corps in 1942. His first 338th Fighter Group of the 3rd Air during this historic period, including combat was at Iwo Jima, the Force. Pilots received their final train- WWII. small, strategically vital island ing in P-40 Warhawks, P-47 Thun- a French II south of Japan. Thomas was derbolts, and P-51 . With World War Monument of the 28th Regiment 229 Lake Ella Drive member the close of hostilities, the last pilots of the Fifth Marine Division, This concrete monument near the left Perry AAF in September 1945. which capturecl Mount Suri- American Legion Post in Lake Ella Deeded to Taylor County by the War bachi. February 23, 1945, Park is a road marker from "Liberty On Assets Administration in April 1947, Sergeant Thomas led a platoon Way" road in France. It is a gift to the the field reverted back to civilian to raise flag citizens of Florida the people of sent an American aviation purposes. Present-day-use from its France in gratitude for America's role on summit, an event pho- includes an industrial park and the tographed by Louis in liberating France from Nazi rule. Lowery Forest Capital Museum State Park. of Leaiherncck magazine. Later that day a larger flag was raised, and the first flag care- fully preserved. This second flag raising was immortal- ized by Joe Rosenthal in what became the most famous image of the . Thomas was later killed in action on Iwo Jima. His family received the Navy Cross he had been awarded for his service. A monument honoring Thomas and the forgotten marines who raised the first flag over Mount Suribachi was placed in Mon- ticello in 1981, along Highway 90, West Washington Street. On tUe £i*te. P-40 Warhawk, Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee

16 b

Dale Mabry Field Pensacola Street and Appleyard Drive Through the pohtical influence of U.S. Senator Claude Pepper and Florida Governor Spessard Hol- land, Tallahassee's Dale Mabry Field became a U.S. Army base on January 24, 1941. Local officials named the field in honor of Tallahassee native. Army Captain Dale Mabry, who died in a dirigible crash in 1922. Military activity began in October 1940 with the construction of a railroad siding Governor Spessard Holland Governor Millard Caldwell and drainage improvements to over- come the swampy conditions at the site. Originally 530 acres, the airfield Florida Governors in World War II grew to 1,720 acres and 133 buildings during the course of the war. Spessard Holland and Millard war development, and served as Caldwell served as Florida's war- president of the Council of State Despite the closing of the field to time governors, guiding the state Governments. In 1962, he was general aviation, commercial airlines through the greatest conflict of the appointed a justice on the Florida such as Eastern and National contin- 20th century. Holland, a native of Supreme Court and was elected ued to use the field during the war Bartow, served in the air service Chief Justice in 1967. Caldwell and received runway preference over in France during World War 1 and died in Tallahassee in 1984. student pilots. Aircraft and trainees began his political career after the Several future Florida governors arrived in May 1941. The first aircraft war. He won the 1940 Democratic served in World War 11. Fuller consisted of P-39 Airacobras, P-40 primaries, and faced no organized Warren, who served as governor Warhawks, and P-47 Thunderbolts. Republican opposition in the from 1945 to 1949, was a Navy Training on the highly regarded general election. During the war, gunnery officer in the Atlantic, P-51 Mustang did not occur at Dale Holland oversaw the activities of while Daniel McCarty, who was Mabry until later in the war. Chinese the State Defense Council, which elected governor in 1952 and and French cadets received training administered all civil defense died in office in 1953, earned here in 1942 and 1944. In 1942, Lt. activities within Rorida. Holland the , Bronze Star, Col. Benjamin Davis's 99th Fighter also worked with the federal gov- Purple Heart, and Croix de Guerre Squadron, part of the famed "Tuske- ernment in the establishment of with the 7th Army in Europe. gee Airmen," received advanced dozens of military installations LeRoy Collins completed Daniel training at Mabry Field. Training throughout the state. In 1946, he McCarty 's term from 1954 to 1955, activity peaked in mid-1944 with the was appointed to the U.S. Senate, was reelected in 1956 and served base complement averaging 1,300 a position he held until 1971. until 1960. was a naval officer officers, 3,000 enlisted men and He the war, women, and 800 civilian employees. In 1945, Millard Caldwell suc- during as was Haydon as in Burns, governor from 1965 to Students used a gunnery base at Alli- ceeded Holland governor the closing of the war. 1967. Claude Kirk, enlisted in gator Point and a bombing range at months Jr., in the States Sopchoppy on the Gulf for training. Born near Knoxville, , United Marine Corps Caldwell arrived in Florida after high school in 1943 and was Placed on inactive status in July 1945, 1897, the former base property eventu- during the 1920s. He served in later commissioned a second Florida the lieutenant. served as ally became the home of Tallahassee both the and United He governor 1967 to 1971. Community College. A Florida His- States House of Representatives from Wayne Mixson for governor. After enlisted in the Na\'y in 1942 torical Marker stands on the south- before running and close victories in the 1944 served aboard blimps on antisub- ern border of the campus, at the edge Demo- of the old runway. cratic primaries, he easily defeated marine patrols. He served as gov- Republican Bert Acker in the gen- ernor for three days in 1987 when eral election and took office in Jan- resigned to take the uary 1945. Caldwell subsequently oath of office in the United States oversaw Florida's explosive post- Senate.

17 4 Florida's Medal of Honor Wall New State Capitol Building 400 South Monroe Street

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. The State Florida State College of Florida recognizes and honors those who are credited, or FOR Women associated by birth, to the State African-Americans in of Florida, who through their Established in the 1850s the conspicuous bravery and gallantry as World War II Florida Seminar)' West of the Suwanee during wartime, and at considerable the Florida State College for risk to their own lives, were made World War II provided new Women (FSCW) was autho- recipients of the medal. The seven opportunities for Florida's Afri- rized by the World War 11 Medal of Honor can-American population and recipients are: in 1909. When World War II Cecil Hamilton underscored the social, politi- began, college administrators, Bolton, Robert Edward Femoyer, cal, and economic inequalities worried about the 2,000 ser- David McCampbell, Thomas under which they lived. World vicemen at nearby Dale Mabry Buchanan McGuire, Jr., Robert Miller War II is often viewed as a cata- Army Airfield, forbade stu- McTureous, Jr., James Henry Mills, lyst for the civil rights move- dents from leaving the campus and Alexander Ramsey Nininger. ment of the 1950s and 1960s. after 6:30 p.m. except in groups Institute on World War II and the of four or more. The admin- The war brought increased eco- Human Experience istration ultimately allowed nomic opportunities for black 430 Bellamy Building dances and musical events to Floridians, thousands of whom Florida State University Campus students invite worked in defense plants, which could (850) 644-9033 servicemen. After the U.S. shipyards, and military bases, The Institute on World War II and entered the war, many male and, for the first time, attained the Human Experience originated in FSCW faculty enlisted or higher-paying positions pre- were 1997 with a mission to preserve the drafted. A campus defense viously reserved for whites. memories and artifacts of the men council taught classes in first Thousands of African-Ameri- and women who served in WWII. aid, defense mechanics, radio can servicemen were stationed The Institute maintains a collection of code, and mapmaking, while in Florida, and more than diaries, letters, photographs, memo- victory gardens were 50,000 black Floridians entered tended rabilia, and comparable materials across campus. the service. of the A number of One most related to the everyday experiences alums joined the armed forces famous black units of the war of the participants in WWII. The larg- and one, Phillips was the 99th Fighter Marion of the Squadron, est and most significant collection Army Nurse Corps, died while the , which is that of newscaster Tom Brokaw, on active duty. trained for a time at Tallahas- author of The Greatest Generation, The see's Dale Mabry Air Field. In May 1945, the Westcott Greatest Generation Speaks, and An Tower chimes played "The EXiring the war the NAACP Album of Memories. Brokaw donated Star Spangled Banner" in won court victories that his collection of letters and other celebration of V-E Day. Build- granted equal pay to black materials used in research for these ings at Dale Mabry Field were teachers, and blacks began best-selling books. Access to the converted into classrooms as to serve on juries in several Institute is available to the public by part of the new Tallahassee Florida counties. After the 1944 appointment. branch of the University of Supreme Court Smith ik All- Leon County WWII Memorial Florida. In 1947, as hundreds wright decision outlawed the Leon County Courthouse of veterans used the GI Bill to white-only primary, large num- 301 South Monroe Street attend college, bers of blacks registered FSCW became and This bronze piece, titled "Poppies," the coeducational Florida State voted in post-war elections. honors the service members of World University. War II. Nationally recognized sculp- tor W. Stanley "Sandy" Proctor cre-

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ated this life-size statue depicting the war years are two valuable a WWII veteran paying tribute to resources documenting the World

his fallen connrades. Personalized War II . In addition, bricks are incorporated as part of the the Florida Photographic Collection memorial, located on the grounds of provides a wealth of images related the Leon County Courthouse. to this period of Florida history. Florida Department Museum of Florida History 245-6400 OF State (850) The Museum of Florida History col- R. A. Gray Building lects, preserves, exhibits, and inter- 500 South Bronough Street Florida Agricultural prets evidence of past and present AND cultures in Florida. As the state his- Mechanical Florida State Archives tory museum, it focuses on artifacts College State Library of Florida unique to Florida's development and (850) 245-6700 on roles that Floridians have played The Florida Collection contains The Florida Agricultural and in national and global events. The one of the most comprehensive Mechanical University (NR permanent exhibit, "Florida Remem- collections of Roridiana. Books, listed 1996) began in 1887 as bers World War 11" highlights Flori- manuscripts, maps, memorabilia, the State Normal College for da's participation in the war. Colored Students, in 1909 newspaper articles, and periodicals and became the Florida Agricul- are among the 60,000 items in the Florida World War II Veterans' tural collection. The Florida State Archives Memorial and Mechanical College for Negroes. Between 1924 and is the central repository for state gov- The focal point of Florida's World 1944 the college grew to 48 ernment documents. It is mandated War II Veterans' Memorial is a 36- buildings and 396 acres of land by law to collect, preserve, and make ton, granite pillar, carved from the with 812 students and a staff of available for research the histori- same quarry, and an exact replica of 122. The war disrupted life at cally significant records of the state, the Horida monument that stands Florida A&M as many faculty as well as private manuscripts, local as part of the World War II students left government records, photographs, Memorial in Wash- members and for military service and other materials that complement ington, D.C. A or higher- paying wartime jobs. R. the official state records. The Florida walkway James Polkinghorne, State Defense Council records and Jr., was the first Florida the papers of the governors during A&M student accepted in the Army Air Forces, and the first FAMU student to gradu- ate from the Tuskegee Army Flying School on February 16, 1943. Tragically, his plane was lost during a strafing mission to Sezze and Terracina, Italy in May 1944.

In 1942, the college con- structed a new facility to train war workers. Training at the college's Division of Mechani- cal Arts qualified graduates for high paying defense-related jobs, while the Agricultural Division increased production of milk, butter, cream and other foods. The college received uni- versity status in 1953.

19 Shipbuilding in Florida

Florida companies produced a significant number of ships Wakulla Springs Lodge used in the defeat of Germany, Itah', and Japan. Panama City's of 67 plaques recognizes the contri- wealthy brother-in-law of Alfred 1. Wainwright Shipyard built butions of each Florida county to the duPont, Ball used this facility as his 108 ships, including standard war effort. Dedication of the memo- private retreat. During WWII, the Liberty Ships and those modi- rial is scheduled for November, 2004. facility became a recreational venue fied for transporting tanks, for officers and men from Camp airplanes and tankers. Con- Gordon Johnston near Carrabelle and struction continued until the Wakulla County Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee. The fall of 1945. In front of the port Wakulla Springs lodge provided housing for families authority office is a granite Wakulla Springs State of Camp Gordon Johnston's officers, memorial recognizing the con- Park and Lodge (NR listed 1993) including the wife of General Omar tributions of the Wainwright 550 Wakulla Park Drive Bradley. The fresh water spring pro- Shipyard. In 1939 the Tampa (850) 224-5950 vided the setting for a Grantland Shipbuilding and Engineer- Adjacent to the archeologically and Rice Academy Award winning film, ing Company secured a con- historically significant site of Wakulla "Amphibious Fighters." The State of tract from the U.S. Maritime Springs, the lodge was opened in Florida acquired the lodge and prop- Commission to construct four September 1937 by Edward Ball. A erty, now known as the Edward Ball cargo ships. Later known as Wakulla Springs State Park, in 1986. TASCO, it was Tampa's largest employer by 1943. A second Servicemen enjoy dinner on the grounds of Wakulla Springs Lodge. shipyard. Hooker's Point Yard, constructed cargo ships built with reinforced concrete. Firms in Jacksonville built Liberty Ships, minesweep- ers and patrol craft. Most prominent was the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company, which, between 1943 and 1945, constructed 82 Liberty Ships and 12 tankers. In 1939, the Miami Shipbuilding Company received a contract to build

the first patrol-torpedo boats for the U.S. Navy. Additional vessels were built in Pensacola and Orlando.

20 b Northeast

Nassau County began at Fort Clinch in 1942 with the German Submarine closing of the site to the public and Offensive Along Fernandina Beach placement of barbed wire entangle- Florida's Coasts Fort Clinch (NR listed 1972) ments around the fort. The United Fort Clinch State Park States Coast Guard operated a horse 2601 Atlantic Avenue patrol of area beaches from the fort's At the outbreak of the war, (904) 277-7274 southeast corner. Installation of a the Navy Department had Fort Clinch was named for radio direction beacon on the east just a handful of ships and War General Duncan L. Clinch. Con- corner of the fort's storehouse by the planes to defend the entire struction on the fort began in 1847. U.S. Navy provided training assis- eastern U.S. coast and Gulf Although the fort was unfinished at tance to seaplane pilots. The U.S. of Mexico. This small force the time of the Civil War, both Con- Army 209th Anti-Aircraft Coastal proved inadequate. During the federate and Union forces occupied it Defense Battalion operated there first seven months of the war, at different times during the conflict. during 1941 and 1942. In 1943 and German U-boats sank nearly Restored by the Civilian Conserva- 1944, the 138th Anti-Aircraft Coastal 400 U.S. ships, including nearly tion Corps in the 1930s, Fort Clinch Defense Battalion Florida National 40 off Florida's coast. Perhaps became one of Florida's state parks in Guard operated 90 millimeter guns the most dramatic sinking took 1936. World War Il-related activities at various locations on Amelia place on April 10, 1942, when U-123 torpedoed the tanker Gulfamerica off Jacksonville Beach. The resulting fiery explosion was clearly seen onshore and curious crowds gathered to view the ship's destruction. In response to the sinking, Florida Governor Spessard Holland ordered a blackout of lights that could be seen at sea and which could silhouette Allied ships and make them easy targets. The Navy's failure to act quickly and decisively in 1942 led to some of the heaviest maritime shipping losses in American naval history. Eventually, Navy combat ships were employed in convoy duty, anti-submarine craft were built, and the assisted as spotters. Once these defensive measures were implemented, losses from U-boat attacks along the American coast declined dramatically in 1943 and virtually ended in 1944-1945.

For further information, please see "Ships Sunk by U-Boats" on pages 61-63.

Blackout bulbs for use in coastal areas 21 Island. Every year on Memorial Day The station complement numbered Mothball Fleet at weekend, the Fort Clinch State Park over 2,000 officers and enlisted men Green Cove Springs hosts a WWII military display, which in March 1944. With the end of the includes vehicles, field pieces, and war, NAAS Green Cove Springs firing demonstrations. became the Clay County Port and at Green The Reynolds Industrial Park. The con- Cove Springs was established Clay County struction of 13 piers in the St. Johns in 1941 as an auxiliary base for River provided dockage for a major Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Green Cove Springs U.S. Navy "mothball fleet." WWII- becoming a naval air station in NAAS Green Cove era structures remain in use on the I'-HS. At the war's end. Green Clay County Port and Reynolds site. Cove Springs was selected to Industrial Park berth ships selected for deacti- Southeast of Green Cove Springs vation. on State Road 16 Duval County Lee Field opened in Green Cove Jacksonville The construction of berthing Springs in March 1941 on the site NAAS Mayport Naval Station facilities began in December of the municipal airport. Named Mayport Road (County Road 101, 1945 and lasted for several in honor of Ensign Benjamin Lee, east of Jacksonville) years. Some 100 deactivated who lost his life in England during Originally planned as an aircraft ships were anchored in the WWI, this field served as an auxil- carrier base. Naval Auxiliary Facil- St. Johns River waiting to be iary to NAS Jacksonville. Primary ity Mayport became active in March "moth-balled" or "zippered." flight training in Stearman and Ryan 1943 while still under construction. Beginning in July 1947, these Recruit aircraft occurred until July Initially serving to refuel and rearm ships were moved into per- 1942. At that time basic training aircraft from NAS Jacksonville, the manent berths and the pres- began using SNJs, Curtiss SNCs, and base later received designation as a ervation process commenced. OS2U Kingfishers. In August 1942 an Base providing mainte- About 500 ships were eventu- instructors' school and intermediate nance and refueling of submarines. ally "moth-balled" at Green pilot training using 400 SNJs, F3Fs, Formally commissioned a Naval Cove Springs. This procedure and SNCs was present. Commis- Auxiliary Air Station in April 1944, consisted of the sealing and sioned as NAAS Green Cove Springs Mayport became an Out-Lying Field protection of the vessel's hull, in February 1943, the site continued to NAS Jacksonville. In this capac- machinery, and armaments. to be known as Lee Field. Aircraft ity, the station provided training Crews thoroughly cleaned, checkout and carrier qualifications overflow on gunnery and torpedo removed rust, and painted the using F4F Wildcats and F4U Corsairs activities using Corsair aircraft. As vessels, sealed all openings, began in May 1943. Outlying fields many as 50 WAVES from NAS Jack- protected all equipment with used were at St. Augustine, Switzer- sonville were stationed here at any lubricants, and set up dehu- land, and Reming Island with gun- one time and the U.S. Coast Guard midification systems. The Flor- nery flights operating from Palatka. Beach Patrol operated from this site. ida Group, Atlantic Reserve

Fleet at Green Cove Springs, 84- Main Gate, V. S. Naval Air Station. Jacksonville, Fla was the largest of seven "moth- ball" fleets maintained by the Navy.

During the of 1950-1953, 175 ships "moth- balled" in Green Cove Springs were reactivated. Upon the conclusion of that conflict, many of these ships returned to the Reserve Fleet, which by 1960 numbered over 300 vessels. The Navy decommis- sioned the station in 1962.

NAS Jacksonville

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The aircraft carrier stationed here at Cecil Field, Green Cove Springs, provided actual take-off and landing and Mayport served the aviators General Joseph W. for cadets. in from this station. experience the Later Stilwell the war, NAAS Mayport was home- Camp Blanding transferred German port for a minesweeping group. An POWs to NAS Jacksonville beginning anti-aircraft school and a degaussing The highest ranking officer in June 1945. Eventually a total of school operated at this site as well. from Florida to serve in World 1,614 prisoners worked on projects Deactivated by the Navy in 1946, War II, General Joseph W. that included golf course construc- NAAS Mayport was reactivated in Stilwell commanded American tion and the removal of a railroad 1948 and is the third largest fleet forces in the China-Burma- spur line. Housing POWs at a naval concentration area in the continen- India (CBI) Theater for much facility under the administration tal United States. As a closed base, of the war. Stilwell's father was of the Army created an unusual access is granted only to groups a native who in the arrangement. having received prior approval early 1880s moved his family to Florida and ran a through the Public Affairs Office. Both Joseph Kennedy, Jr., and John lumber F. Kennedy spent duty time at NAS business near Palatka. Joseph NAS Jacksonville Jacksonville. The former ambassa- W Stilwell was born on March Roosevelt Boulevard (U.S. 17) dor to England, Joseph P. Kennedy, 19, 1883. The boy subsequently In 1939, recognizing the need for an pinned naval aviator's wings on his lived with his family in improved coastal air defense system. namesake on June 5, 1942. Later in Massachusetts and New York. Congress acted on the recommen- the war, the future president and He entered the United States dations of the Hepburn Board, and wartime PT boat captain, John F. Military Academy in 1900 and named Jacksonville the site of a naval Kennedy, received medical care in graduated four years later. air station. From October 15, 1940, to the base hospital. Stilwell served several tours in the close of World War II in August the Philippines and first visited 1945, with construction costs in With the victory over Japan in 1945, China, beginning his long excess of $68 million, NAS Jackson- Jacksonville assumed its new NAS association with that country. ville became one of the three largest role as one of the largest separation He served in France during naval air stations in the world. To centers in the country. Several of the World War I, earning the establish the base, the City of facilities at Jacksonville have Jack- NAS Distinguished Service Medal. sonville acquired the site of the Flor- been dedicated in honor of naval offi- Following the outbreak of ida National Guard's Camp Foster cers. Of these, facilities were named hostilities with Japan, Stilwell through a local bond issue. This sta- for WWII-era Admirals John Towers was ordered to China as chief tion was originally intended for use and , Commander J. of staff to Chiang Kai-Shek and as an operating and repair base, but Andrew Crinkley, Ensign William to command American forces the outbreak of the war in Europe Teouni, and ace pilot Roy Voris. in the CBI. With the defeat of quickly changed this plan. Primary This is a closed base with access Allied forces in Burma in 1942, pilot training began in January 1941 allowed to groups of no more than the general won fame for his using N2S Stearmans. Within a 50 that have obtained prior approval dramatic "walk-out" to India few months intermediate training through the Public Affairs Office. and his frank comments on began on PBY Catalinas and SNJs. conditions in the CBI. Over the PBYs from this base became part of Flagler County next two years "Vinegar Joe" the Atlantic antisubmarine patrols Marineland served in a number of demand- during the war. Eventually the Naval Marineland (NR listed 1986) ing positions which forced him Air Technical Training Center, the 9600 Ocean Shore Boulevard to perform as a diplomat as Naval Air Gunnery School and the (904) 460-1275 well as a soldier. His relation- Assembly and Repair Department ship deteriorated, The world's first oceanarium and with Chiang operated from NAS Jacksonville. underwater motion picture studio, and in October 1944 Stilwell With a peak of 1,000 aircraft, two Marineland opened on June 23, 1938, was recalled. The Florida takeoffs and landings occurred each on a narrow strip of land between native died in 1946. minute, around the clock, during the Atlantic Ocean and the Inter- 1943 and 1944. One of the primary coastal Waterway. With American economic factors in Jacksonville military involvement in World War during the war, by 1945 NAS Jack- II, Marineland closed to the public sonville had 30,000 military and civil- in December 1941. The U.S. Coast ian employees and an annual payroll Guard used the facility for train- of $247 million. The auxiliary fields

23 . 4 F^ h I V 1

Florida National Guard

When World War II began, the Florida National Guard consisted oi over 3,000 citizen-

soldiers. After World War I, the Florida Guard quelled civil disturbances, assisted in relief efforts, and enforced health quarantines. After France fell in T-Ul), President Franklin Hotel Ponce de Leon, St. Augustine Roosevelt urged Congress to institute the first peacetime ing combat dogs. Government- In March 1980, an official memorial draft in American history. He contracted research at Marineland plaque was erected at the Kay Larkin began federalizing certain on shark repellents resulted in the Municipal Airport terminal entrance National Guard units, includ- development of a product included by the Putnam County Veteran's ing Florida's. The men's origi- in sea survival kits used by downed Council and the Spaceport Center nal one-year term of service Army and Navy pilots. Count Ilia Chapter of 99' s, an organization of was extended in the fall of Tolstoy, one of the original found- female flyers. 1941. Unless discharged sooner, ers of Marineland and grandson of most remained on active duty Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, left the St. Johns County until 1945. To provide for facility during the war to become St. Augustine Florida's protection, Florida President Roosevelt's personal repre- a Hotel Ponce de Leon Defense Force, later know^n as sentative to the Dalai Lama in Tibet. (NR listed 1975) the Florida State Guard (FSG), After a $250,000 restoration. Marine- was established. land returned to full operation as a 74 King Street tourist attraction in May 1946. Florida's National Guard (904) 829-6481 units were initially part of the The present-day site of Flagler Col- Army's 31st Division. Camp Putnam County lege, the Spanish Renaissance style Blanding, near Starke, was the Palatka Hotel Ponce de Leon opened in May division's mobilization and Kay Larkin Field 1887 as one of 's hotels. training site from late 1940 Kay Larkin Municipal Airport However, the Great Depression through the summer of 1941 4015 Reid Street caused guest occupancy to decline The 31st Division saw combat In October 1942, the Palatka City 10 percent by 1932. Fundraisers for at New Guinea and the Philip- Commission named the newly con- British relief efforts were conducted pines. Elements of the Florida structed local airfield for the first there prior to the United States entry Guard's 124th Infantry Regi- Putnam County war casualty, Jaspar into the war. With the virtual col- ment, by then reattached to the Kennedy "Kay" Larkin. Military lapse of Florida tourism after Pearl division, earned Distinguished activity began at this site in June 1943 Harbor, the owners of the Ponce de Unit Citations for their perfor- when the U.S. Navy designated the Leon were willing to lease the facility mance. At least field as an auxiliary to NAS Jack- to the U.S. Coast Guard as a train- 158 guardsmen I * sonville. Gunnery flights were also ing facility. From 1942 to 1945, 2,500 died during the conducted between Kay Larkin Field recruits trained and resided in sev- St. Augustine resort hotels. war. ^^. y and NAS Green Cove Springs to the eral of the north. Returned to the city in 1946 by The Hotel Monson and the Hotel the War Assets Administration, the Bennett also served the Coast Guard. in Florida State Guard patch site resumed use as a civilian airfield. With the Allied victory August

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1945, the Ponce de Leon returned to tary service during World War II, the service as a luxury hotel. With the St. Augustine Pilot Club presented German Saboteurs business, the hotel this memorial to the city in 1946. decline of tourist Land on Florida Coast reopened as Flagler College in the The six-foot-square masonry shaft, late 1970s. Tours of the former hotel finished in shell-dash stucco, origi- conducted by Flagler College include nally listed the names of only those In , as part of an an exhibit which recognizes the who died during WWII. In later ambitious German plan called United States Coast Guard training years, bronze plaques were added to , U-boats that took place there during WWII. include those who died in Korea and landed agents in Florida and Vietnam. on New York's to St. Augustine Lighthouse and sabotage several aluminum Museum (NR listed 1981) plants and other targets. Eight 81 Lighthouse Avenue Clay County men who had lived in America (904) 829-0745 Starke and spoke fluent English were The St. Augustine Lighthouse first Blanding Camp recruited for the mission. After saw use in 1874. With striking black State 16, 11 miles east of On Road training near Berlin, the sabo- and white spiral bands, the light- Starke teurs crossed the Atlantic in house is still the tallest structure in During World War II, more service- U-boats. On June 13, 1942, four St. Augustine. During World War II have through men may passed Camp of them landed on Long Island, the United States Coast Guard sta- Blanding than any other training soon after encountering a tioned armed lookouts at the site, facility in the state. Many divisions Coast Guardsman, whom they keeping one man on watch at the supporting units that helped and tried to bribe. The American top of the tower at all times. The the against win war Germany and reported the incident, and an beacon's light was dimmed to pre- Japan learned their trade in Camp armed patrol soon uncovered vent friendly ships from being sil- Blanding's In the early piney woods. a large cache of houetted in the beam, when German 1930s, the Florida National Guard and other equipment the U-boats patrolled the Atlantic. Today trained at Camp Foster, located on saboteurs had buried. The Ger- the lighthouse is maintained a as the St. Johns River near Jacksonville. mans themselves had already navigational aid. The St. Augustine Department hoped to The Navy boarded trains for New York Lighthouse and Museum is open establish a Naval Air Station in the City. to the public. A WWII Coast Guard vicinity, and consequently the Army barracks building on site serves as Meanwhile, the Florida group offices and an archaeology labora- landed on Ponte Vedra Beach Anasiasia Light House before dawn on June 17. This tory. near St. Augustine. Kla. party consisted of team leader St. Augustine National Cemetery Edward Kerling, as well as 104 Marine Street Herbert Haupt, Werner Thiel, (352) 793-7740 and Herman Neubauer. They Located on the grounds of a Span- buried their explosives and ish Period Franciscan monastery, the equipment, then boarded a bus property became a national cemetery for Jacksonville, where they in 1881. Remains of the soldiers spent the night before leaving killed with Major Francis Dade in the for New York and . in 1835 were However, George Dasch of moved to this cemetery in 1842 for the New York band defected reinterment. World War II soldiers and contacted the FBI. Using are buried at this site, including some his information the FBI soon veterans were disinterred in who rounded up the remaining for reburial here. The site men. A military court sen- features a Rorida Historical Marker tenced all to death, but Dasch's commemorating "Major Dade and sentence was commuted to His Command." 30 years as was another infor-

World War II Memorial mant's to life imprisonment. Charlotte Street and Cathedral Place The others were executed on In memory of citizens of St. Johns August 8, 1942. County who gave their lives in mili- St. Augustine Lighthouse

25 4

agreed to give up Camp Foster if ful and unfinished condition the Navy compensated the State Conscientious eventually became the subject Armory Board, enabling it to estab- Objectors of a congressional investiga- lish a new training site. The board Conscientious objectors (COs) tion, but the continually arriv- selected a site in Clay County near refused military service in ing soldiers needed a home Starke. It consisted of 30,000 acres, World War 11 primarily because and, led by the Division's and was named after Major Gen- of religious convictions. Most engineers, they put in a drain- eral Albert Blanding, a prominent of the 100,000 COs agreed to age system and completed Florida guardsman who commanded alternative service, which they construction of the necessary a brigade in World War I, and was performed in Civilian Public buildings in just a few hectic then Chief of the National Guard Service Camps established weeks. Bureau. Initial construction began in throughout the United States, 1939 with facilities erected to accom- Described as Florida's fifth largest including Florida. Some 6,000 modate one brigade. In early 1941, city, the camp was the site of train- COs who refused to perform when President Franklin Roosevelt ing for more than 800,000 recruits any type of service, or who mobilized the National Guard, the between 1940 and 1945. Basic train- based their objections on poUti- War Department leased the entire ing and field training were provided cal grounds, were jailed during camp from the Armory Board and for the 1st, 29th, 30th, 31st, 36th, the war. began construction of sufficient 43rd, 63rd, 66th, and 79th Infantry Ci\ ilian Public Service Camps facilities to house two full divisions. Divisions. Other units included in Florida were located at Over 170,000 acres were eventually a variety of infantry regiments, Crestview (with an auxiliary brought under the control of the cavalry regiments, tank camp at Milton), Jacksonville, camp by purchase or lease. Crystal battalions, field artillery brigades, Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, Lake Air Base was located on the site. field artillery groups, field artillery Mulberry, and Miami. The COs Historian Robert Hawk has written regiments, field artillery battalions, usually constructed their own of early conditions at Blanding: engineer regiments, and engineer barracks and camp buildings, battalions. In addition, 43 battalions Since its land was lower than and experienced shortages of passed through the camp during the water level of a nearby lumber and other materials. the latter stages of the war when it lake, the camp was a huge They often faced either overt served as an Infantry Replacement swampy sponge. Its dread- or subtle hostility from local Training Center. In January 1942, citizens who questioned their status.

Florida COs concentrated on eradicating hookworm and constructing privies to prevent soil contamination. At the Crestview Camp, COs con- structed 262 privies, drilled 31 wells, dug 25 septic tanks, and

screened 12 houses during its first year of operation. They worked on typhus experi- ments, isolated tuberculosis patients, tested dairy herds for disease, and experimented with low-cost housing tech- niques. They performed $22 million worth of work for less than $5 million. After the war, many COs volunteered for relief work in Europe and in Latin America.

Artillery practice at Camp Blanding, Starke

26 " i

Camp Blanding became home to ing. Founded in 1990, the museum's detained German citizens deported mission is to collect artifacts and from Central America, and later that archival materials to preserve the year, to German U-boat captives. history of the camp and the vet- Before the close of the war, Blanding erans and units that are a part of would become the largest POW base Blanding's past. Interior exhibits deal camp within the state with upwards with the role of Camp Blanding as a of 1,000 prisoners at any time. In major U.S. Army training center and 1945 the facility became a separa- include WWII Allied and Axis infan- tion center. Reverting back to Florida try weaponry, as well as photographs National Guard control. Camp Blan- and documents from that period.

ding today is a military installation Visitors to the grounds will find in excess of 70,000 acres serving the numerous WWlI-era vehicles includ- training needs of National Guards- ing an M4 Sherman Tank, M3 Half men and Army Reserves. Track, and a M16 Half Track. Located

in the Memorial Park is the Florida German Prisoners of Camp Blanding Museum and Regimental Memorial, dedicated to War IN Florida Memorial Park the service and memory of Florida On State Road 16, 11 miles east of National Guardsmen. Monuments Starke During World War II, about to all major Army units that trained (904) 533-3196 378,000 German and Italian at the camp are present in the park. Located in a WWIl-era military bar- prisoners were sent to prisoner Expansion is underway to allow the racks building, this Florida National of war (POW) camps in the facility to include exhibits related to Guard-operated museum is dedi- United States. Florida, with its the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian cated to the history of Camp Bland- military bases, warm climate, Gulf wars. and agriculture and lumbering activity, was an ideal location for camps, and Souvenir pillow cover sent to friends and family about 10,000 German prisoners were eventually incarcerated in the state.

The two major camps housing German prisoners were Camp r^ Blanding and Camp Gordon Johnston. Beginning in 1942, some 7,500 prisoners were held

Ton)l at Blanding and at 20 branch or side camps. Starting in 1944, 2,500 prisoners were confined at Camp Gordon Johnston and its three branch camps.

'lb ^Fnand Enlisted personnel worked in a 1 M iiiicR sAicfifis as iKjf wil! variety of positions inside and sldcrlaiul. In jcTuelsfll outside the camp, and noncom- slil' Bui I Kavea"! L-iure Oner A I'Vieno oauumaffslaii. missioned officers performed

M I'V unul -iJolp I'iw t!ty faulkcan » supervisory functions. German IrOivii.upsJ) un;',. IruS; officers and noncommissioned AaiFakTuaal i>U^U«bb« officers maintained discipline A t-VtoviJ^ o

'iwmMi'MWiSlif^'' * '-'

27 ^ Central

Lake County Park, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, made 60 double Altoona rooms available to officers and their McTureous Homestead and families. Training for B-17 Flying For- Museum tress and B-26 Marauder crews took 42118 State Road 19 place here. Targets at the Avon Park (352) 669-2288 Range included a simulated 555-acre The McTureous Homestead and town on the shore of Lake Arbuckle, Museum features an early 19th- a large floating frame on Lake Kis- century Cracker home that is the simmee, and an eight-mile railroad boyhood home of U.S. Marine and bombardment target. A special incen- World War II Medal of Honor recipi- diary target was constructed for use ent, Robert M. McTureous, Jr. Many by the School of Applied Tactics from of McTureous' medals and other Robert M. Orlando. Avon Park Army Airfield personal effects are on display in the became inactive in September 1945 McTlJREOus, Jr. museum's Military Room. Adjacent with its facilities assigned to MacDill. to the home is the McTureous Memo- Reactivated as Avon Park Air Force Ultimately a Medal of rial Park. Range, multiple military functions Honor recipient, Robert M. continue there. Some of the WWII- McTureous, Jr. was originally Highlands period structures remaining at the classified 4F by his local draft site are still in use. In 1957, the Avon board. McTureous personally County Park Correctional Institution was financed two operations to Avon Park established at this site and staff has correct a physical condition Avon Park Bombing Range responsibility for the main gate. In which, once corrected, altered 29 South Boulevard April 1993, the Florida Highlands his draft status. Private Avon Park Airfield Chapter of the Air Force Associa- McTureous enlisted in the Ten miles east of Avon Park on tion erected a three-blade propeller Marines in 1944 and was County Road 64 memorial next to the base headquar- mortally wounded June 7, The Avon Park General Bombing and ters building in tribute to the many 1945 on Okinawa. The Medal Gunnery Range opened in March military personnel to have served at of Honor citation reads, "By 1942 on 107,059 acres of swamp and this facility. his fearless initiative and bold scrub and was considered the largest Avon Park Museum tactics (Private McTureous) . bombing range in the world. Acquisi- Three North Museum Avenue, . . succeeded in neutralizing 1943 tion of 111,165 acres in February north of East Main Street the enemy fire, killing six in County increased the Okeechobee (863) 453-3525 Japanese troops and effectively site 352-square-miles of territory. to Located in the historic Seaboard Air disorganizing the remainder a Avon Park Army Airfield became Line Railroad Station, a Memorial of the savagely defending fully integrated air base in November Room in the museum contains scrap- garrison." He is buried in the 1943. The military population peaked books, photographs, uniforms, and Glendale Cemetery in Umatilla. at contrasted dramatically 10,000 and other artifacts related to WWII activi- His boyhood home, an early with Park's 1942 civilian popu- Avon ties in Avon Park. 19th-century Cracker home lation of 3,000. These figures do not located in Altoona on State include support civilians, military Lodwick Aviation Military Road 19, is now the McTureous families, or Lodwick Military Avia- Academy Airport Homestead and Museum. tion Academy staff and students. Avon Park Municipal With the resultant housing shortage, On the south side of State Road 64, His Medal of Honor is exhib- military personnel took residence west of U.S. Highway 27 ited at the Lake County up Air Corps in resort facilities and towns as far Beginning in 1939, Army Museum in Tavares. away as Lake Wales and Wauchula. (later Army Air Force) Chief, General The Pinecrest Lakes Club near Avon Henry "Hap" Arnold, turned pri-

28 b

mary pilot training over to civilian hosted a dance for the first graduat- in what had been Lake Wales Ridge contractors to allow military person- ing class on December 6, 1941. Severe scrubland. The first B-17 Flying nel time to concentrate on later stages housing shortages contributed to Fortress arrived later that month. of training. A number of civilian problematic turnovers at both LAMA The first class from the new Combat pilot training schools were employed and Avon Park Army Airfield. Lod- Crew School graduated on April 15, for training purposes. Avon Park's wick Aviation Military Academy was 1942. At the height of operations, as town leaders aggressively sought closed on November 6, 1944. During many as 7,000 weekly takeoffs and such a school, to be located at the the three years of operation, 3,413 landings were common. A comple- site of the Avon Park Municipal recruits graduated and over 300 civil- ment of 2,600 officers and enlisted Airport. Negotiations with Albert ians were employed during peak men staffed the facility, which once Lodwick, co-owner of the Lakeland periods. The economic loss to Avon included 80 WACs. Early in the School of Aeronautics, resulted in the Park was dramatic. At the end of the war, B-17s flew from Hendricks on 1941 opening of Lodwick Aviation war the facility reverted back to the submarine patrol along the Atlantic Military Academy (LAMA) at the city for operation as the Avon Park Coast. Auxiliary fields were Conners municipal field, creating a primary Municipal Airport. The Air Force Field in Okeechobee and Immokalee training school using 50 Stearman Association placed a plaque at the Municipal Airport. Deactivated

PT-17 trainers. It provided recruits field dedicated to the men of the 61st in December 1945, the Hendricks with accommodations more luxuri- AAFFTD in February 1995. facility is now Sebring Municipal ous than most other Army installa- Airport and Sebring International tions. The Jacaranda Hotel in Avon Sebring Raceway, site of the Sebring 12-Hour Park, listed in the National Register Hendricks Army Airfield Endurance Race. Visitors can see the of Historic Places, reserved a room restored WWIl-era control tower as for use as a Cadet Club. Cadets paid Named for Florida native Woodruff well as a collection of photographs $1.00 monthly for membership and Hendricks, Jr., Hendricks Army Air- and other artifacts in the Sebring field was established in January 1942 Regional Airside Center. The Air Force Association dedicated a plaque on Veterans Day in 1995 to commem- orate the significance of this field.

The plaque is now located in front of the refurbished airport's WWIl-era control tower.

LODWICK SCHOOL OF AERONAUTICS

contract with the 1 Owned and operateo "7 ""»• Shadanilitialenrolhnent of 40 -de^ « P^ 500 civiban employee*. enroUment of 300,and almost ?>«^?»«''*^=*^.. nine original schools m An outgrowth of one of the program, the Lodwick School of the AAC pilot training school to open in Aeronautics was the first primary theEastemFlyingTrainingCommandandoneofthelast^ closed Atigust 7, 1945, it ha^^ to close. When the school pilots. graduated over6,000 American and 1^00 British

City of Lakeland Elected May 12,199 Historic Preservation Board

^^ir^^

Lodwick Aviation Military Academy, Avon Park

29 d

Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. USS Highlands Memorial served MacDill Army Airfield in Memorial Building 600 South Commerce Avenue Tampa as an emergency field. Today George Boulevard, west of Located on the lawn of the High- the Bartow Municipal Airport & U.S. Highway 27 lands County Courthouse, this Industrial Park is located on this site. Three miles south of State Road 17 marker honors the service of the The flight operations lobby (Build- and U.S. Highway 27 USS Highlands and her gallant crew ing 420) features a WWII Memorial

LiKMtod adjacent to the Florida in the Pacific during World War II. which includes historical narrative

Medal ot Honor Park in Sebring, the Launched July 8, 1944, and named and photographs. county health department building for Highlands County, this Attack is named for Highland County's Transport saw duty at both Iwo Jima Lakeland Field onl\' Medal of Honor recipient. and Okinawa. Spearheaded by the Drane Lakeland Linder Regional Airport Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. A 1938 Highlands County Veterans Council, 3400 Airfield Drive West graduate of Sebring High School, the marker was dedicated October 5, Major McGuire was the second high- 1993. Lakeland Army Airfield was origi- nally constructed for est ace before his death in combat in the City of Lakeland in mid-1942 and named early 1945. McGuire is credited with Polk County Drane Field to honor local state rep- downing 38 enemy aircraft while Bartow flying combat missions in his P-38 resentative and congressman Herbert Bartow Army Airfield named Piid^y. Memorials to Florida's Jackson Drane. An auxiliary base Bartow Municipal Airport other Medal of Honor recipients can to MacDill in Tampa, this site was On the east side of U.S. Highway 17, officially designated Lakeland Field also be found at this site. Two mark- six miles north of Bartow #2 in 1942. ers in tribute to Major McGuire are September The Lodwick Local officials persuaded the Army School of Aeronautics, a contract located in Sebring, one at the site to develop the site of the Bartow pilot training school, pilots of his boyhood home in front of the produced Municipal Airport in early 1942. The present-day Sebring Elks Lodge, for B-17 and B-24 service at this site. established a train- Pilots Britain, the other across the street from the from , and other ing program on this Army Auxiliary nearby Kenilworth Lodge. countries were trained here and at Field in 1942. Fighter pilots trained the Bartow Army Airfield. Com- using the Stearman biplane. As the memorative markers are present at war wound down, Bartow Field Lakeland Linder Airport to honor the 320th Bombardment Group (M) and the 344th Bomb Group (M). While no buildings remain from the WWII era,

some foundations are still present on the Lakeland Linder site. Haldeman- Elder Airport, also known as Eaton Park, served as an auxiliary field to this base.

James H. Mills Memorial East Lemon Street Bicentennial Park 12 Lake Beulah Drive This 14-foot marble structure honors James H. Mills, one of seven Florida Medal of Honor recipients during

World War II. Dedicated Memorial

Day 1998, its bronze plaque describes Mills' heroic actions as an Army pri- vate on May 24, 1944. Near Anzio, Mills demonstrated "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk

of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Mills' actions allowed his

platoon to take its objective with- out casualties. Many years later, in 1973, James Mills was murdered Maj. Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. Memorial Building, Sebring

30 b near Gainesville by a thief posing Marion County as a municipal airport after the sur- as a stranded motorist. For years, render of Japan in August 1945. friends and community members DUNNELLON raised funds to erect this tribute. Dunnellon Army Airfield OCALA The Florida Legislature designated a Dunnellon Airport Ocala/Marion County Veterans portion of the Polk County Parkway On County Road 484, five miles Memorial Park in Lakeland the James Henry Mills east of Dunnellon 2601 S.E. Street Medal of Honor Parkway in further The Dunnellon Army Airfield (352) 401-5346 recognition of Mills' heroic service to opened in 1942 to serve as an Air The Ocala/Marion County Veterans his county. Support School to the Army Air Memorial Park is dedicated to vet- Forces School of Applied Tactics, erans of all services and wars, from Lakeland Public Library Orlando. Troops trained as pilots and 1610 to the present. The 8.5-acre park 100 Lake Morton Drive crewmen of the British-design Horsa features specially designed areas (863) 284-4269 glider and as C-47 Skytrain pilots. related to World War II, including The Lakeland Public Library Special Soldiers saw duty in North Africa, recognition of the Greenville Avia- Collections contains photographs Europe, and the China-Burma-India tion School, Medal of Honor recipi- and documents relating to WWII in theater in this capacity. Units sta- ents. Merchant Mariners and veter- Lakeland and Polk County. Of par- tioned at Dunnellon during the war ans of specific European and Pacific ticular significance is the collection included the 27th Troop engagements. related to Albert I. Lodwick and the Carrier Squadron, 894th Lodwick School of Aeronautics. Airborne Engineers, Polk County Historical & 805th Medical Air Evacu- Genealogical Library ation Unit, 898th Guard 100 East Main Street Squadron, and the 426th (863) 534-4380 Squadron. Located in the east wing of the His- This site returned to use toric Polk County Courthouse (NR listed 1989), the library maintains one of the largest genealogical and histor- ical collections in the Southeast. The collection includes documents and photographs related to the WWII-era Bartow Auxiliary Training Field. Sumter County BUSHNELL Sumter Florida National Cemetery 6502 S.W. 102nd Avenue (352) 793-7740 The 400-acre Florida National Cemetery is the largest national cemetery in the state. Dedicated in March 1988, the first burial took place in June of that year. The cemetery contains the Florida National Cemetery Memorial Trail. Along the trail, visitors will find monuments dedicated to military organizations and individuals, many

of which are related to World War II.

James H. Mills Memorial, Lakeland

31 4 County County 34-foot-diameter concrete base, fea- turing the insignias Orlando of the 41 infantry KiSSIMMEE and armored divisions involved in Battle of the Bulge Memorial Osceola Warbird Restoration the battle. Five lights, one on each Lake Eola Park, downtown Orlando, Museum of the star, provide continuous east of Interstate 4 231 North Hoagland Boulevard illumination. The American, Belgian, Dedicated on December 16, 1999, the (407) 933-1942 and Luxembourg flags stand in a 55th anniversary of the Battle of the semicircle The museum provides both static behind the statue. Veterans Bulge, this site honors participants and dynamic displays of WWII-era of the Bulge and WWII are specifi- in that engagement and all WWII cally classic airplanes. Visitors can observe recognized through the use of veterans. bronze, six-foot-tall A in restoration work in progress and named bricks the adjacent "Circle statue depicting a victorious GI is the of Honor." \'iew many flyable warbirds. The col- The Chap- focal point of the memorial. Crafted ter of the lection includes a Stearman PT-17, (#18) Veterans of the Battle by Orlando sculptor Chris Scala, P-51 Mustang, B-17 Flying Fortress, of the Bulge sponsored the memorial. this near duplication of a statue in and P-38 Lightning. A commemorative ceremony is held Clervaux, Luxembourg, rests upon there each year on December 16. a bronze-outlined white star set in a Seminole County

WWII ration books Sanford Museum of Seminole County History 300 Bush Boulevard (407) 321-2489 Located in the historic 1926 Seminole County Home (NR listed 1999), this museum's collection includes pho- tographs and miscellaneous artifacts related to NAS Sanford.

NAS Sanford Orlando Sanford Airport Designated as a base for Naval Air Operational Training Command, commissioning occurred Novem-

ber 3, 1942. The station trained pilots in flying PV-1 Venturas, PBO Hudsons, and SNBs, and conducted navigational, bombing and gunnery techniques training. Fighter pilot training began in 1944 using FM-1 Wildcat and F6F Hellcat carrier- based aircraft.

Sanford Museum 520 East First Street (407) 302-1000 Founded in 1957, the museum col- lects and exhibits items dealing with the development of the City of Sanford from territorial times to the present. The NAS Sanford exhibit includes WWII artifacts in addition to the museum's collection of NAS Sanford records, photographs and .several WWII-era issues of the Saii- toni Herald.

32 b West Central

Pinellas County War Veterans Memorial Park Bayboro Harbor Maritime Base 9600 Bay Pines Boulevard University of South Florida Bay Pines (727) 549-6165 830 1st Street South Bay Pines National Cemetery Facing Boca Ciega Bay, the 122-acre The Bayboro Harbor Naval Base 1000 Bay Pines Boulevard North Pinellas County park was dedicated originally supported United States (727) 398-9426 April 6, 1974, to honor veterans of all Coast Guard (USCG) antibootlegging The cemetery was developed as a wars and services. This site features operations before it was decommis- final for resting place veterans who a 3.5-ton granite sundial surrounded sioned in 1933. Reopened in 1939 died at the Bay Pines Department of by five plaques commemorating by the USCG, the facility became a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. the military branches of the United training base for merchant seamen. States. Two vessels, the Joseph Conrad and St. Petersburg the American Seaman, served as train- Bay Pines Veterans Hospital ing ships. Faced with other demands, Bay Pines VA Medical Center Albert Whitted Municipal Airport the Coast Guard transferred training 10000 Bay Pines Center Boulevard 107 8th Avenue S.E. duties to the U.S. Merchant Marine (727) 398-9442 Named in honor of former Navy avi- Service in 1942. More than 25,000 Constructed by the Veterans Admin- ator Albert Whitted, killed in a 1923 seamen received training at Bayboro istration in 1933, this Mediterranean airplane crash over , during the war. The Army Transport Revival Style facility provided exten- Whitted Airport opened in 1927 on Corps Marine Officers Cadet School sive medical care services to military the site of a former landfill in Tampa used these facilities for training personnel as a 150-bed "Veterans Bay. U.S. Coast Guard antisubma- junior deck and engineering officers. Home" during WWII. Bay Pines VA rine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico In 1939, with a growing concern for Medical Center continues to serve began operating from this site in the presence of German U-boats in ailing veterans. 1939. Using Stearman and Waco the Gulf of Mexico, antisubmarine biplanes, Whitted became a Naval Florida Holocaust Museum patrols began operations from the V-5 pilot primary training facility in 55 Fifth Street South adjacent Bayboro Harbor USCG Air 1942. With the end of hostilities, this St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Station. On May 22, 1945, a memorial site reverted to civilian use as Albert (727) 820-0100 to Merchant Mariners was installed Whitted Municipal Airport. (800) 960-7448 at the harborside entrance of the The Florida Holocaust Museum present day USF Marine Science honors the memory of millions of Building. Deactivated after the war. innocent men, women, and children S.185 U. S. VETERANS' HOSPITAL AND ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT BAY PINES who suffered or died in the Holo- caust. The Museum is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides.

St. Petersburg Museum of History 335 Second Avenue N.E. (727) 894-1052 The St. Petersburg Museum of His- tory collects, preserves, and inter- prets the history of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Peninsula. Exhibits throughout the museum feature

World War 11 artifacts including a collection of WWIl-era photographs, ST. PETERSBURG, FLA "THE SUNSHINE CITY posters, and scrapbooks.

33 Donald Roebling and THE Alligator

Donald Roebling, son of a wealthy New York industrial-

ist, designed a revolutionary amphibious vehicle that helped win the war in the Pacific. Named the "Alligator," the

Navy later christened it the Landing Vehicle Tracked, or LVT. later version was nick- A Don CeSar Hotel, St. Petersburg named the "Water Buffalo." Eventually more than 15,000 of

the x'ehicles were produced. the base became home to the prede- Vinoy Park Hotel East cessor of . In 1968, the listed In the early 1930s Roebling (NR 1978) began work on an amphibi- University of South Florida opened The Vinoy Club its St. Petersburg on this 501 Fifth East ous tracked vehicle that could campus Avenue North site. The Department of Marine (727) 894-1000 be used to rescue survivors USE Science the Elorida Institute of of floods and hurricanes. and Opened in 1926 as a 375-room Medi- the loca- terranean Revival hotel, the Roebling spent eight years Oceanography now occupy owners tion of the former Merchant Marine almost closed the facility at the out- perfecting his design, with ini- Training Base. break of WWII due to low occupancy. tial development at Dunedin. But in the summer of 1942, the Army Propelled by tractor treacis, the Don CeSar Hotel Air Corps quartered its soldiers vehicle could travel 25 miles (NR listed 1975) there. The structure was also used as per hour on land and 10 at The DonCe Sar Beach a military cooks and bakers school. sea. In 1939 he demonstrated Resort and Spa the Alligator to Marine Corps 3400 Gulf Boulevard Dunedin officials, who recommended (727) 678-8946 Amphibian Tractor Detachment purchasing a vehicle for fur- Renowned as a luxury resort hotel Alternate U.S. Highway 19 ther testing, and in 1940 funds when completed in 1928, the Don Originally formed at Quantico, were appropriated to purchase still the effects CeSar experienced Virginia, this Marine detachment a prototype. The first models of the Depression at the time of moved to Dunedin on May 2, 1941, were delivered to the military American entry into World War II. to establish a training center for driv- shortly before Pearl Harbor. Purchased by the federal govern- ers and mechanics of the new LVT The vehicle was first used at ment in July 1942, the Don first amphibious vehicles. Developed Guadalcanal. During the war served the war effort as a hospital for locally under the direction of inven- newer versions were produced MacDill Eield and the St. Petersburg tor Donald Roebling, these vehicles with improved specifications Basic Training Center. In early 1944 were manufactured in Food Machin- and a variety of armaments. the facility became a rehabilitation ery Corporation plants in Lakeland, Roebling refused royalties for center for Army Air Eorce person- Florida and Riverside, California. To the Alligator design, returning nel. hotel After the war, the saw duty assure reliability, every tenth vehicle $4,000 in production costs to as a Veterans Administration office. manufactured at the Lakeland plant the government. Renovated in the mid-1970s, the Don received performance testing at the serves as a premier resort hotel. Dunedin site.

34 b

Originally quartered in the Hotel Largo Dunedin, the contingent's newly Pinellas County Historical Museum constructed barracks and storage 11909 125th Street North facilities were established near the (727) 582-2123 intersection of Curlow Creek and Located on the grounds of Heritage Alternate U.S. 19 in September 1942. Village, the museum seeks to pre- Upon completion of training, these serve the historical resources and men became members of newly cultural heritage of Pinellas County. forming units of the Marine Corps The collection and exhibits focus 1st Tractor Battalion. The Dunedin primarily on the early history of the Servicemen's Lounge, at the north- county. The 3,500-volume library and west corner of Main and Broadway, archives contain a collection of docu- provided food and entertainment to ments relating to Donald Roebling, James Alward Van these leathernecks. Closed in August inventor of the Alligator amphibious Fleet 1944, all that remains of this site is a vehicle used by the Marine Corps in James Van Fleet was born in historical marker on Alternate U.S. the Pacific. Jersey in 1892, after his Highway 19 in Dunedin. New family moved north from Polk County to escape a yellow fever epidemic. The Van Fleets returned to Polk County in 1893. Van Fleet graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1915. He subsequently par- ticipated in the Mexican Puni- tive Expedition and fought in France during WWl with the Sixth Infantry Division. During the 1920s and 1930s he led the ROTC detachment at the Uni- versity of Florida, and in 1923- 1924 he was head coach of the University of Florida football team.

In 1941, Van Fleet took com- mand of the Eighth Infantry Regiment, which he led ashore on D-Day and throughout the Normandy Campaign. Van Fleet rose to brigadier general and was assistant commander of the Second Irvfantry Divi- sion. He then commanded the Fourth and the 90th Infantry Divisions before ending the war as a major general in com- mand of the III Corps.

In 1951, he was placed in com- mand of the Eighth Army and of troops in Korea. Van Heet retired in 1953 at the rank of full general. He died at his ranch near Polk City in September 1992 at the age of 100. Spanish-American War era mortar at Fort De Soto, Tierra Verde

35 4 TiERRA Verde Hernando County Fort De Soto (NR listed 1977) Fort De Soto Park Brooksville Brooksville 3500 Pinellas Bayway South Army Airfield Hernando County Airport (727) 866-2484 16110 Aviation Loop Drive Located on Mullet Key at the Located seven miles southwest of entrance to , Fort De Soto Brooksville, operations at this field originated in 1898 as part of the began in November 1942 with the coastal defense system developed arrival of the during the Spanish-American War. 1st Bomb Squadron. Constructed on 2,014 acres offered The area became a bombing range by the town, the Ninth Bombard- for MacDill Army Airfield and other Florida's Motorcycle ment Group trained on B-17 Flying training bases during World War II. Fortresses and B-24 Liberators. Corps The island was used for bombing Brooksville crews regularly made practice by Paul Tibbits, the pilot practice runs to Avon Park Bombing In 1940, Tampa resident Guy who later dropped the atomic bomb Range and Osprey Bombing Range. H. Allen organized members on Hiroshima. Military personnel A tactical bombing school operated t)i a local motorcycle club into stationed on the island operated the at this site under the direction of .1 quasi-military unit called the radio control tower and performed Orlando Air Base. With the end of Motorcycle Defense Troops. In other range-related functions. Repur- hostilities, Brooksville AAF became June 1940, Allen contacted the chased by Pinellas County after V-J the Hernando County Airport in late War Department proposing to Day, Fort De Soto Park occupies this 1945. Only a large concrete bunker organize a local defense unit. A site. The Fort De Soto Quartermas- (approximately 25' x 100'), used in second unit was established in ter Store House Museum maintains the testing and alignment of aircraft St. Petersburg, with plans for several displays and a touch screen machine guns, remains from WWII. an Orlando chapter. Receiving computer with information related to no immediate response, Allen WWII in the and the Hernando County Veterans continued to organize his units Mullet Key Bombing Range. Roll of Honor with support from local cham- 20 North Main Street (at the old Clearwater bers of commerce. U.S. Senator courthouse) Pinellas Army Airfield Claude Pepper also expressed The original Hernando County Vet- St. Petersburg-Clearwater his support for the Motorcycle erans Roll of Honor, dedicated March International Airport Corps. 10, 1946, recognized the service of State Road 686 (Roosevelt county veterans during WWI and Following the mobilization of Boulevard) WWII. Replaced on Veteran's Day the Florida National Guard in (727) 535-7600 1990, the 9-by-18 foot granite wall late 1940, Allen tried to incor- Constructed on the site of the Pinel- honors, by name, the 1,088 Hernando porate his units into the Florida las County Municipal Airport, Pinel- County residents who served in the Home Guard. Eventually they las Army Airfield became operational armed forces during two world wars. served as part of the State in August 1942, and maintained a Defense Council's Division of technical training school, provid- Spring Hill Transportation and Communi- ing training for replacement fighter Hernando Veterans Memorial Park cation. Members escorted mili- pilots and air crews. As many as 12254 Spring Hill Drive tary convoys and performed 1,500 Third Army Air Force train- This 21 -acre park, dedicated on Vet- other civil defense work. the As ees, flying P-40 Warhawks and P-51 eran's Day 1993, honors veterans of war progressed, many enlisted Mustangs, served at this site. General all services in all wars. The primary or were drafted into the armed James H. Howard, WWII Medal of focus is an American flag, flanked services. Gasoline tire and Honor recipient and the last wartime in a semicircle configuration by the curtailed their activi- shortages base commander, is honored in an flags of each of the five branches of ties. the military Gradually exhibit in the St. Petersburg-Clearwa- American military service. took over most of the functions ter International Airport terminal. of the Motorcycle Corps.

36 b Citrus County SS American Victor}/ is designed as field. Heavy bombers began opera- both a static and dynamic museum tion at Drew Army Airfield in May Crystal River and memorial. Visitors tour a vessel 1940. With the completion of Mac-

Douglas Munro Memorial with much of the World War II Dill, Drew became a separate base

123 N.W. Highway 19 equipment still present, particularly and headquarters for the 111 Fighter (behind City Hall) on the . Command. Encompassing 15 square Crystal River miles and hosting a complement of City of Tampa Archives Dedicated September 27, 1995, this as many as 25,000 personnel, this & Records Service site honors the only member of the facility provided large signal air- 1104 East Twiggs Street U.S. Coast Guard to be awarded warning training and engineering (813) 274-8030 the Medal of Honor during WWII. aviation training for heavy bomber The Archives and Records Service Located in Little Spring Memorial crews. During the war, 1000 combat Division is responsible for the man- Park, the memorial is the result of bombing crews trained at Drew. In agement of the City of Tampa's efforts by personnel at the USCG August 1944, German POWs arrived public records and committed to Station Yankeetown and members of from Camp Blanding to work in collecting the historically significant the Crystal River Fraternal Order of quartermaster workshops, kitchens, records and photographs of the city. Eagles. Petty Officer Douglas Munro canteens, and warehouses. Three Records relevant to WWII include the died September 27, 1942, while in miles from Drew Field, this camp Mayoral Papers of Robert Chancey charge of 24 Higgins Boats involved held 395 Germans between August (1931 to 1943), Curtis Hixon (1943 in the rescue of several hundred U.S. 1944 and March 1946. Within the to 1956) and the City Clerk's Papers Marines trapped by enemy fire on camp, internal conflicts took place as (1939 to 1945). Guadalcanal. The inscription on the a result of Nazi sympathies among memorial cites Munro's courage: "By Drew Army Airfield some of the prisoners. Drew Army his outstanding leadership, expert Tampa International Airport Airfield was returned to the City of planning, dauntless and devotion 5507 Spruce Street Tampa in 1946 and is now Tampa to duty, he and his courageous com- Drew Field Municipal Airport International Airport. rades undoubtedly saved the lives opened in 1928 on land previously of many who otherwise would have owned by developer John H. Drew. perished. He gallantly gave his life With the prospect of war, the U.S. for his country." Government leased the field for use as a subpost to MacDill Army Air- Hillsborough County Tampa SS American Victory (NR listed 2002) Mariners Memorial & Berth 271 708 Channelside Drive (813) 228-8766 Named after American University in Washington, D.C. and launched in June 1945, the SS American Victory served as one of 414 Victory ships

constructed during World War II. As a replacement for the Liberty ships, the Victory class offered greater speed and hull flexibility, leading to the loss of fewer ships. Shipment of 85% of Allied war materiel during

World War II is credited to the Mer- chant Marine. To honor the vital role of the U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Navy Armed Guard in achiev- ing victory, reconditioning of the ship began in 1999. Saved from scrap, the SS American Victory

37 4

JlB~loading Bombs on Flying Fortress at Mac Dill Field, Tampa, German POWs from Camp Bland- ing arrived in December, eventually reaching a maximum number of 500. POWs performed janitorial services, automotive repair, mosquito control, mess, and laundry duties during their stay. Despite numerous opera- tional changes following the close of hostilities in August 1945, MacDill continues to serve as a vital United

States Air Force facility. MacDill is a closed base; however, groups of 20 to 40 people may be allowed access by prior arrangement with the Public Affairs Office.

University of Tampa Macdonald-Kelce Library 401 West Kennedy Boulevard (813) 253-6231 Fort Dade (NR listed 1978) MacDill Army Airfield The Macdonald- Egmont Key State Park MacDill Air Force Base Kelce Library maintains a collection Located in Tampa Bay Dale Mabry Highway South of primary source materials and Access by boat only One of six super air bases authorized photographs relating to WWII in Located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, by the National Defense Act of 1935, Tampa. Included in this collection are Egmont Kev is historically significant construction on the Southeast Air records relating to the Army Cadet to the defense of the Tampa area. The Base began September 1939. Formal Battalion that trained at UT in 1942- U.S. Light Service constructed a light dedication to honor aviator Army 1943. Microfilm records of the Tampa tower support buildings this I veteran Colonel and on and World War Tribune and the Tampa Times and the site in 1848. With the development of Leslie MacDill occurred on April University of Tampa newspaper from the coastal defense system during the 16, 1941. The Hillsborough County this period are available. Spanish-American War, construction Commission purchased and donated of Fort Dade began in 1898. Five artil- the 3,500-acre parcel to the federal lery batteries were constructed on government, which was designated the island as well as a town complete Third Air Force Headquarters. The with railroad, school, movie theater, first troops arrived in March 1940. and other facilities. The U.S. Coast Transitional training began using Guard conciucted training operations B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft in April from this site beginning in the early 1941. The expression, "One a day in 1930s. With the outbreak of the war, Tampa Bay," originated here during observation towers served as part of training on B-26 Marauders. Sixty- the coastal watch system. In-bound three B-26s crashed in Tampa Bay in merchant ships were required to stop 1943. Training of B-29 Superfortress at Egmont Key to off-load munitions crews began at MacDill in late 1944. before entering the bay. These muni- Antisubmarine patrols originated tions were stored on the key and from MacDill. Engineer training reloaded upon the vessels' return. took place here as well. Auxiliary Other military activities during this fields included Henderson and Drew period include amphibious warfare Fields in the Tampa area in addi- and aerial gunnery exercises. Desig- tion to Zephyrhills and Brooksville nated a National Wildlife Preserve in Fields. As many as 15,000 military 1974, this site is jointly managed by personnel were stationed here at the Florida Park Service and the U.S. one time. WACs saw duty at Mac- Fish and Wildlife Service. Dill beginning in 1943. The Howard Hawks movie, "Air Force," starring John Garfield and Gig Young, was filmed in part at MacDill in 1943. Florida Tourism booklet

38 b

P-51 Mustangs at Zephyrhills Army Airfield

University of South Florida Pasco County of Europe. Simulated combat condi- Tampa Campus tions were maintained as much as 4202 East Fowler Avenue Zephyrhills possible, even to the use of tents as (813) 974-2731 Zephyrhills Army Airfield barracks and support facilities. One The Special Collections Department Zephyrhills Municipal Airport exception to this policy was the 40' of the University of South Florida 39550 South Avenue X 100' infirmary building. Moved Main Library maintains a significant (813) 780-0030 in 1997 to the northwest side of the collection of WWll-related materials. Developed in the late 1930s as a municipal airport, the building has Items in the collection include plans municipal airport, the Zephyrhills been restored for use by the city, the for Henderson Field, as well as news- Army Airfield was acquired by the airport and the community. The 10th papers, photographs, and postcards U.S. Army in 1942. Pilots received air Fighter Squadron maintains a col- from Drew and MacDill Army Air- defense tactics training using P-51 lection of artifacts in the building. field base. The Tony Pizzo, Hampton Mustangs. Nearly 500 men of the In addition, a large concrete bunker- Dunn and WWII Letters Collections 10th Fighter Squadron trained here like structure, used in testing and 1943 are also of particular interest. between January and March alignment of World War II aircraft 1944. The 10th Fighter Squadron sub- machine guns, remains on the site. Veterans Memorial Museum sequently saw duty over Normandy and Park during the June 1944 Allied invasion 3602 Highway 301 North (813) 744-5502 Veterans Memorial Museum and

Park, officially opened on July 4, 1991, "is dedicated to American service personnel that have served their country, both in the past and present." On the park grounds are the WWII Submarine Memorial, the Veterans Freedom Memorial, and a WWII Stuart tank dedicated to the 14th Armored Division of WWII. Museum WWII-era artifacts include WACs and WAVES uniforms and submariner articles.

Grouping of Army Air Force aviation insignia

39 d East Central

Brevard County ing worked at NAS Banana River on Memories is a Peace Monument and cleanup details. At its peak, the base a special monument to the Tuskegee complement included 278 aircraft, Airmen. NAS Banana River 587 civilian employees, and over Patrick Air Force Base Valiant Air Command Warbird 2,800 officers and enlisted men. The 45th Space Wing Museum base closed in September 1947 after Authorized by the Naval Expansion 6600 Tico Road gradual deactivation. In September Act of 1938, NAS Banana River was (321) 268-1941 1948, the facility transferred to the commissioned October 1, 1940. With The Valiant Air Command Warbird Air Force to become Patrick Air the start of the war, the Navy began Museum, a nonprofit educational Force Base, headquarters for the U.S. antisubmarine patrols along the museum, opened in 1977 at the Space Air Force Eastern Space and Missile Florida coast using PBM Mariners Coast Regional Airport. During Center. based at this facilitv- PBMs returned WWII, the Airport was an outly- to training duty in March 1942 when TiTUSVILLE ing field of NAS Sanford and NAS replaced on patrol by OS2U King- Titusville Veterans Memorial Banana River. fisher seaplanes. Landing strips con- Exit 1-95 on State Road 406 east Melbourne structed in 1943 allowed shore-based Broad Street and the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum aircraft to operate. Military activities, Indian River Lagoon 1601 Oak Street including a blimp detachment, an The Titusville Veterans Memorial (321) 727-1776 Aviation Navigation Training School, consists of a Circle of Memories Designed as a memorial to United an experimental training unit, "Proj- containing ten granite monuments States veterans of all wars, the Lib- ect Baker," and a major aircraft repair with bronze plaques designed to erty Bell Memorial Museum features and maintenance facility took place commemorate the lives sacrificed in one of 25 known replicas of the at this facility. A small detachment of each of the ten United States wars. original Liberty Bell. The museum German POWs from Camp Bland- Located in the center of the Circle of

40 exhibits WWII military uniforms and equipment and displays a copy of r7 loint Long Range Proving Grounds. Banana River, FJa. the surrender document ending the "The Guided Missiie Base"

World War II Pacific Theater hostili- ties. Annual commemorative events occur for Armed Forces Day, Memo- rial Day, Rag Day, and Veterans Day. NAS Melbourne Melbourne International Airport One Air Terminal Parkway NAS Melbourne was commissioned in October 1942 on the site of the Eau Gallie-Melbourne Municipal Airport. By June 1940, a Civilian Pilot Train- ing facility was authorized at the field to provide standardized flight training. Pilots received advanced flight training in SNJ Texans, F4F Wildcats, and F6F Hellcats. Peak Merritt Island training occurred in mid-1944 with Volusia County Brevard Veterans Memorial 150 Hellcats and as many as 1,500 Ormond-By-The-Sea naval personnel on base. WAVES Museum Coastal Observation Post were stationed at NAS Melbourne in Veterans' Memorial Center 2162 Ocean Shore Boulevard 1944. In 1945, German POWs labored 400 South Sykes Creek Parkway Established by the Rorida Defense in the base laundry and mess facili- (321) 453-1776. Council and the U.S. Army's Third ties. The station closed in February This museum houses artifacts from Interceptor Command, 489 observa- 1946 and reverted back to the local all wars in which the United States tion posts were completely organized for civilian use. One fought, from swords and cannon in Rorida by October 1941. Plans extant structure is the base Ship's balls to World War II rationing called for the eventual establish- Service and Recreation Building, stamps and V-mail. ment of 850 such posts throughout used during the war to host bas- Cocoa the state. Local citizens, trained to ketball games, movies, dances and Alma Clyde Field recognize aircraft, became volunteer lectures. A Rorida Historical Marker Library of Florida History members of the Ground Observ- at this site commemorates the Mel- (formerly Tebeau-Field Library of ers Corps. Working in two-person bourne Naval Air Station. The Mel- Florida History) teams on two-hour shifts, observers bourne Military Memorial Park, a 435 Brevard Avenue maintained 24-hour coverage. This two-acre park off Hickory Street, (321) 690-1971 observation post is thought to be the contains a centrally located memorial As the research library of the Florida only remaining such structure on the dedicated to those killed while train- Historical Society, the Alma Clyde Rorida coast. ing at Melbourne Naval Air Station. Field Library of Rorida History Daytona Beach Melbourne Village maintains a large collection of Ro- Halifax Historical Museum NAS Banana River ridiana. The World War II collection 252 Street Barracks Building includes flags, photographs, camp (386) 255-6976 Melbourne Village newsletters and other items relat- Located in the former Merchant's Community Center, Hall Road ing to Camp Gordon Johnston, NAS Bank building since 1984 (NR listed With the deactivation and closing Banana River {The Banana Peel), NAS 1986), the museum's mission is to of NAS Banana River in Septem- Melbourne, and St. Petersburg-area provide a source of local histori- ber 1947, several military buildings military facilities. cal information through a research returned to useful service in the com- library and archives. A permanent munity of Melbourne Village. The war-related exhibit includes WWII building moved to Hall Road in 1948 uniforms, weapons, photographs, and became a community center. and other artifacts of that period. Other than modest alterations, the exterior remains as constructed in the mid-1 940s.

41 4 NAS Daytona Beach Orange City International Airport Orange City Memorial South of International 205 East Graves Avenue Speedway Boulevard (386) 775-5415 With the assistance of U.S. Sena- In the lobby of the Orange City Town tor Claude Pepper, Daytona Beach Hall (NR listed 2002), this memorial leaders convinced the U.S. Navy to plaque lists the names of all veterans

locate flight training at the Daytona of World War 11 living in Orange Beach Municipal Airport. Com- City when they entered the service. missioned in December 1942, SBD Dedicated in 2001, this new memo- Dauntless scout-dive bombers and rial replaced an earlier one erected in SNC-1 Falcons were the first air- 1948. Mary McLeod Bethune planes deployed at this site. They were later replaced by F4F Wildcats, Ponce Inlet The daughter of former slaves, FM-ls, and F6F Hellcats. Four outly- Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Mary McLeod was born in ing fields were employed at New (NR listed 1972) in 1875, and Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, Bun- 4931 South Peninsula Drive educated in nell, and Spruce Creek. The New (386) 761-1821 and Chicago. She married Smyrna field included a launch cata- First lighted in November 1887, this Albertus Bethune in 1898. pult and arresting gear equipment to facility converted to World War 11 After teaching in Georgia and accommodate basic carrier training. service in December 1941 with the Florida, she established the In addition, an air-sea rescue crash closing of the installation to all visi- Da\'tona Normal and Indus- boat facility operated from the New tors and the establishment of around- trial School, which merged Smyrna Yacht Club. Nearly 1,500 offi- the-clock watches. With the abolition with Jacksonville's Cookman cers and enlisted men were stationed of the Lighthouse Service in 1939, Institute, and became known at NAS Daytona Beach. With the end this station came under the control of as Bethune-Cookman College. of hostilities, the field reverted back the United States Coast Guard when Bethune served as president to the local municipality and became war broke out. With the realization of the four-year, coeducational the present-day Daytona Beach that the lighthouse beacon exposed institution from the 1920s to International Airport. A commemo- Allied vessels to German subs, a 50-

1942, and from 1946 to 1947, rative plaque is located at the central watt bulb replaced the 500-watt bulb remaining on the college's approach to the terminal. used in peacetime. A 24-hour radio board until her death in 1955. watch continued until 1952 when the tower light was fully automated. In 1935 Bethune founded the Restored and opened to the public National Council of Negro in 1982, this site was designated a Women, and in 1936 was National Historic Landmark in 1998. appointed by President Roos- evelt as director of the National Youth Administration's Divi- sion of Negro Affairs. During

World War 11, Bethune mobi- lized support for the war effort, promoting war bond drives and serving as a special assis- tant to the Secretary of War for the Women's Army Corps. Bet- hune was instrumental in the selection of Daytona Beach as the site of a major WAC train- ing base in the United States. She later served as a consultant to the American delegation during the 1945 conference which established the United Nations.

42 b DeLand NAS DeLand St. Lucie County DeLand Memorial Hospital DeLand Municipal-Sidney H. Fort Pierce Museum (NR listed 1989) Taylor Field Airport St. Lucie County Historical 230 North Stone Street (386) 740-5808 Museum 414 Seaway Drive (386) 740-5800 Offered to the U.S. Navy by the City 462-1795 The DeLand Memorial Hospital of DeLand in 1942, the municipal (772) The St. Lucie County Historical Museum, located on the third floor airport became NAS DeLand on Museum maintains a WWII exhibit of the DeLand Memorial Hospital, November 17, 1942. The facility pro- that includes uniforms, photographs, includes two galleries dedicated to vided training on the Lockheed PBO and copies of the USNATB-Fort Florida with a sig- Ventura, Douglass SBD Dauntless Pierce base newspaper. The Mock-Up. nificant collection of WWII uniforms, dive bombers, and in 1944, on the monument was dedicated January equipment, models of airplanes used F6F Hellcat carrier-based fighters. A 1993 marking the 50th anniversary at NAS DeLand, and related memo- Advanced Carrier Navigation train- of the base and honoring men and rabilia. The Robert M. Conrad Edu- ing for pilots was provided later in women who served at that site. Adja- cational and Research Center, located the war. As many as 331 officers and cent to the museum is an Attack Boat adjacent to the Henry A. DeLand 1,140 enlisted men were stationed at Association display of Hig- House on 137 W. Michigan Avenue, this site by early 1944. NAS DeLand a WWII gins Boat and a later version of the contains a significant collection of maintained an outlying field at WWII photographs and documents. Spruce Creek for carrier landing same vessel. The association hosts training. Boat facilities on Crescent an annual Veterans Day recognition DeLand Naval Air Station Museum Lake and at DeLeon Springs were ceremony. A marker recognizing the 910 Biscayne Boulevard used in rescuing downed pilots. training and sacrifice of the attack (386) 738-4149 Nine Mile Point on Lake George was boat crews is on this site. Located in a WWll-era military used as a bombing practice site with St. Lucie County Library residence, this National Museum a Navy PBY stationed there as well. 101 Melody Lane of Naval Aviation qualified facility Reverting back to the city after the (772) 462-1615 seeks to commemorate the activities war, the DeLand Municipal-Sidney The Fort Pierce Branch of the St. and history of NAS DeLand during H. Taylor Field Airport operates at Lucie Library maintains the period 1942-1946. Local excava- County a this site. collection of primary source material tions and many generous donations related to WWII in Fort Pierce and have made possible a presentation of USNATB Fort Pierce in particular. uniforms, aircraft models and parts, — Included are microfilm copies of the practice bombs, ammunition, histori- base newspaper. The Mock-Up. cal newspapers, books, photos and video at the museum and historical hangar.

43 4

UDT-SEAL Museum here in early 1943. Servicemen were 3300 North AlA trained as small and large landing (772) 595-5845 craft crews, combat engineers, sal- Founded in 1985, the museum vage crews, members of beach bat- m'^ * STAR is located at the place where the talions, and Construction Battalions MEMORIAL HIGHWAY Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) (CBs, or Seabees). A joint Army-Navy A trained in ,. ,. tribute to Florida during World War Scouts and Raiders School and a the Nations Armed Forces 11. It is dedicated to preserving the Naval Combat Demolition Unit "'ho served in Vforid W^r II. artifacts and the history of America's (NCDU) program were estabhshed Navy Frogmen and SEALs. The on the base. Among the troops who museum's outdoor displays include trained at the former facility were specialized patrol craft, underwater members of the Second Ranger Bat- vehicles, space capsules, a Seawolf talion, which stormed Point Du Hoc, , and a captured gunboat. Normandy on D-Day. The Navy's Blue Star Highways Inside the museum is a collection of first Underwater Demolition Team diving gear, weapons, parachutes, class graduated here in July 1943.

During World War II, the Blue uniforms, photographs, and original Training in the use of various land- Star Service Flag was dis- memorabilia used from WWII to the ing craft designs (LCVPs, Higgins played in the homes of men 1980s. The museum is located on Boats, and LVTs) was conducted at and women serving in the U.S. North Hutchinson Island off AlA at this site. More than 110,000 soldiers, military. In 1944, Mrs. Lewis M. Pepper Beach State Park. sailors, marines, and coast guards- Hull, president of the Garden men were trained here before the United States Naval base was decommissioned in Febru- Club of , and Mrs. Amphibious Training Base ary 1946. At its height, the facilities Vance R. Hood of New Jersey's North Hutchinson Island housed more than 18,000 trainees. Blue Star Drive Committee, ini- 3300 North AIA tiated a program to recognize A Volunteer Service Organization in Allied and in the service and sacrifices of Fort Pierce established three U.S.O. Africa and the Pacific Islands con- recreation enter- World War II veterans. Work- clubs to provide and vinced U.S. military leaders of the ing with the state's highway tainment. need for instruction in amphibious department and the approval combat techniques. Protective bar- of the New Jersey State Legisla- rier islands along the Rorida Atlan- ture, a six-mile stretch of high- tic Coast made Fort Pierce an ideal way was designated a memo- location for training in amphibious rial and the Blue Star named warfare. The Navy established an Drive in of honor New Jersey Amphibious Training Base (ATB) veterans. At its annual meeting in 1945, the National Council of Trainees receiving instruction on the Thompson submachine gun, State Garden Clubs proposed U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base a nationwide expansion of the program. Highways would be dedicated in each state, with Blue Star markers placed at appropriate locations. Blue Star Memorial Highways were to be landscaped with flower- ing trees and plants. Over the next several decades. Blue Star Highways were dedicated throughout the nation, includ- ing many in Florida. While the program originally honored

World War II veterans, it was expanded in 1951 to honor vet- erans who had served through- out American history.

44 b

U.S. Navy frogmen NATIONALDEFENSE

Florida Women in World War II

World War II provided a cata- lyst for improved economic, social, and political conditions among American women. More than six million women entered the workforce for the first time between 1941 and 1945. In addition to clerical and secretarial jobs, they worked in shipyards and aircraft plants. Many stayed home to raise children and keep house while Hf^ waiting for their husbands to return, fighting the battle of the home front, as rationing and shortages of goods and ser- sea rescue of downed pilots. Over Indian River vices posed challenges. Other 237,100 hours of flight time occurred women enlisted in the armed between 1942 and the base closing County services. Some 272,000 women, in 1946. The former NAS site serves Vero Beach including many Floridians, today as the Vero Beach Municipal NAS Vero Beach joined the Women's Army Airport and is home to the Piper Vero Beach Municipal Airport Corps. The Army established Aircraft Corporation. Two WWII-era 3400 Cherokee Drive a major training facility for the buildings are in private use in the (561) 567-4526 WACs at Daytona Beach, where complex. A Florida Historical Marker Originally a small municipal airport some 20,000 women eventually dedicated to the memory of the men used for refueling and maintenance trained. Similar organizations and women who trained at this site by Eastern Airlines, this field became Uke the Navy's WAVES and is located at the north side of the ter- NAS Vero Beach in November 1942. the Coast Guard's SPARS were minal. Naval and Marine aviators as well as also estabUshed. In addition WAVES and women marines trained Indian River County Library the WASP, or Women Airforce here. NAS Vero Beach was used as 1600 21st Street Service Pilots, was a civilian a Marine Air Squadron Base and as (561) 770-5060 organization utilized by the Air a training facility for Hellcat, Buc- The Florida History /Genealogy Transport Command for ferry- caneer, Wildcat, and Tigercat pilots. Department has an extensive collec- ing and training duties. Rorida In December 1944, the mission of tion of photographs, letters, newspa- native Jacqueline Cochran was the field changed to night fighter per clippings, and documents related selected to organize the WASP. training using F6F and F7F aircraft. to NAS Vero Beach. After the war she became the The Fort Pierce site provided air- first woman to break the sound barrier.

45 4 Southwest

DeSoto County The Oak Ridge Cemetery Lee Lee Avenue, S.W. County

Arcadia This cemetery is the final resting Lehigh Acres Carlstrom Field place of 23 British RAF cadets who 5847 S.E. Highway 31 died here during training. A special Lehigh Acres Airport Carlstrom Field, named for World marker at the cemetery recognizes 15191 Homestead Road I pilot Lt. Victor Carlstrom, fill War their service and a ceremony is held To the Army Air Force's need for ser\'ed as the Army's principal flying in their memory each year on Memo- a flexible gunnery school, local Fort school until 1923. With the need for rial Day. Myers officials acquired 6,500 acres World War II primary pilot train- in Buckingham, a rural community Dorr Field ing, Carlstrom reopened in March in the northeast quadrant of Lee DeSoto Correctional Institution 1941 under the operation of Riddle County. This site was leased to the 13617 S.E. Highway 70 Aeronautical Institute Division of Army in early 1942. Activated in July (863) 494-3727 Embry-Riddle School of Aviation. 1942 as , an Army One of the four Riddle aeronauti- ". Contracted to train Royal Air Force colonel described the site as . . the cal institutes in Rorida, Dorr Field aviators. Riddle graduated its first ugliest field in the entire nation." opened in early 1942. Located on the class in August 1941. Carlstrom Field Among the 483 buildings erected site of a World War I base, maximum became the site of the G. Pierce Wood were seven mess halls, one hangar, enrollment reached 700 students Memorial Hospital after the war. who 228 barracks, and 24 hospital build- received their training in Stearman Many WWII-era buildings were used ings. Flying the B-17 Flying Fortress training planes. Purchased the by the hospital. Former plane han- by and the B-24 Liberator, Buckingham State of Florida in it is the site gars served as maintenance buildings 1947, trained 50,000 aircrew gunners. With of the DeSoto Correctional Institu- and the band shell remains on the the establishment of the Central tion. Some World War II structures site. Instructors School in December 1942, remain in use at the facility. all instructors took their training at

46 k this facility. B-17s from Sebring and for live performances. Duke Elling- Hendry County Sarasota used Marco and Sanibel ton, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King and Islands as targets for bombing and other nationally famous perform- Clewiston machine gun practice. Returned to ers appeared at this venue. During Riddle Field

the City of Fort Myers in September World War II, the second floor facility 1945, Buckingham Field now serves served as a USO for African-Ameri- 3200 Airglades Boulevard as the Lee County Mosquito Control can troops stationed at Page and Six miles Northwest of Clewiston District (LCMCD) airfield and office. Buckingham Fields. The McCollum Directed by McCay-Riddle Aero- World War II period maps, photo- Hall structure remains, while the nautical College, Riddle Field was graphs, and annuals may be viewed second floor dance hall became a one of several private flight schools at the LCMCD office with prior rooming house in the mid-1980s. in Florida during World War II. It arrangement. opened in 1941 to provide primary, Page Army Airfield basic, and advanced training for both Airport Cape Coral British and American pilots. Identi- 501 Danley Drive Iwo Jima Memorial fied as No. 5 British Flying Training Named for Captain Richard Chan- Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve School (BFTS), over 1,300 British ning Moore Page, the former Lee Southeast 23rd Terrace cadets learned to fly at this site using County Airport was leased to the Commissioned by the Gulf Ameri- PT-17s, BT-13S and AT-6s. Local vol- Army Air Force in February 1942. can Corporation in 1964, Felix W. unteers established a Cadet Club Page, a WWI hero, became the first de Weldon, sculptor of the original in what was known as the Pioneer Floridian to join the Army Aviation memorial in Washington, D.C., cre- Building (on Ponce de Leon Street Corps during that conflict. Operated ated this replica for the Rose Garden behind present day U.S. Sugar Cor- by the Third Air Force, the B-24- in Cape Coral. Restored by the sculp- poration), where dances and games equipped 98th Bombardment Group tor in 1981, this one-third-scale re- were offered. The Clewiston Inn (NR arrived for training in March 1942. In creation of the original Marine Corps listed 1991) also served as a meet- May, the 93rd Bomber Group arrived War Memorial is one of three in exis- ing place for officers and cadets. The to replace the 98th. B-24s were used tence. The sculpture was refurbished No. 5 BFTS Association of former to patrol for submarines over the and rededicated at this location on students continues their contact with Gulf of Mexico. Fighter pilot training February 22, 1998, with the support the Clewiston community through began in February 1943 using P-39 of the Marine Corps League. periodic visits. A memorial honor- Airacobra pursuit aircraft. The P-40 ing the British cadets and the school Fort Myers Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, and the they attended is located in Civic Fort Myers Historical Museum P-51 Mustang airplanes saw service Center Park, in front of the Clewiston 2300 Peck Street at Page. Russians used hundreds of Inn, 108 Royal Palm Avenue. One (239) 332-5955 Airacobras during World War II and hangar currently used for storage at Photographs and artifacts related to flight instructors trained a^ this facil- Airglades Airport is the last existing in Lee are ity. Colonel Doolittle's unit WWII County on perma- Jimmy WWII-era building remaining from nent display. Of particular interest of modified B-25 bombers landed Riddle Field. is the engine and cockpit of a P-39 at Page Field in early 1942 while Airacobra which was recovered conducting training for its famous Charlotte from a local crash site. The museum raid on Tokyo. The complement of archives include photographs of both officers, enlisted men, and women County Buckingham and Page Fields as well stationed at this facility reached Charlotte as issues of the Buckingham Field 4,000 during the height of training. Harbor Charlotte County Historical newspaper. Some 225 German POWs from Camp Center 22959 Bayshore Road Blanding saw duty at Page Field in McCollum Hall (941) 629-7278 early 1945. Returned to civilian use 2717 Martin Luther King, Jr. The permanent exhibit includes in September 1945 as the Lee County Boulevard uniforms and the U.S. Page Field Airport, some World War WWII Navy Constructed in 1938 by Clifford flag that was raised to signal the first Il-era buildings remain in service on McCollum, Sr., McCollum Hall wave of landings on Omaha Beach this site. became a commercial center in the during the June 1944 D-Day inva- Dunbar Community, an African- sion. Exhibits include items high- American subdivision named after lighting the over 200 Florida WWII the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. The military training facilities. second story was designed to house a large dance hall with a raised stage

47 d

PUNTA GORDA acres to the site in the course of its 4,000 military and civilian personnel. Punta Gorda Army Airfield use. The 97th Bombardment Group Factory-staffed engine schools from Charlotte County Airport transferred in March 1942 from Tam- RoUison, Republic, Rolls-Royce and 28000 Airport Road pa's MacDill to begin training on the Pratt operated at the base to enhance In September 1^)43, this site served as B-17 Flying Fortress. In June of that training efficiency. Referred to as a training base as an auxiHary field year, the base changed focus from "Sail-jers," Army personnel used to the Third Air Force faciHty at Sara- bombers to fighters. Because the run- speedy crash boats to rescue pilots sota Armv Air Base. Pilots trained ways could not withstand the weight downed in the Gulf of Mexico as well on P-40s/P-47s, and P-51s. The 27th of bombers, the 69th Fighter Squad- as to salvage equipment from sunken Service Group served as the base ron transferred to Sarasota from planes and other naval operations. detachment with the 502nd Fighter- Drew Army Airfield in Tampa to In 1944, 400 men of the 14th Chinese Bomber and 490th Fighter Squadrons train on P-39 Airacobras. Local civic Service Group trained at Venice training here. The Experimental Air- groups created recreational facilities using P-40 Warhawk pursuit air- craft Association presently uses one for white airmen at the Municipal craft. Aircraft based at this location VVVVU-era structure. Numerous iron Auditorium (NR listed 1995) and at included P-39 Airacobras, P-47 Thun- tie-downs that secured fighter planes the Municipal Pier. African-American derbolts, and P-51 Mustangs. Some are still visible and are used today airmen found their entertainment 200 German POWs from Camp Blan- for cix'ilian aircraft. This base became and amusement in a segregated ding were placed here with work the Charlotte County Airport after facility in Sarasota. By late 1947 the assignments ranging from carpentry the war. Army had transferred the land back to duty in the officer's mess. Fol- to the airport authority for civilian lowing the war, this facility became Sarasota County use of the field as Sarasota Bradenton . Runways International Airport. To recognize are all that remain of the 1,600-acre

Sarasota the significance of this site, the Sara- World War II base. Airfield Sarasota Army sota County Historical Commission Heritage Park and the Sarasota Bradenton placed a historic marker in front of International Airport Veterans Memorial the main terminal in 1996. Unit-spe- 6000 Airport Circle 500 Block, West Venice Avenue cific commemorative plaques are to the Air Corps in Venice Army Airfield personnel are Leased Army found in the main terminal building. early 1942, the newly constructed commemorated through a one-third- Sarasota Bradenton Airport became Venice scale re-creation of the distinctive air- entrance found in Heritage Sarasota Army Airfield. Initially a Venice Archives and Area base Park in Venice. Adjacent to this site is 620-acre facility, the Army added 250 Historical Collection 351 South Nassau Street the Veterans Memorial honoring all The Venice Archives and Area His- veterans of the Venice community. torical Collection features a collec- tion of photographs, documents, Collier County and construction plans related to the Venice Army Airfield. Copies of the Collier County Museum base newspaper. The Venice Aerial, 3301 Tamiami Trail East are present as well. The archives is Naples, Florida 34112 listed housed in the Triangle Inn (NR (239) 774-8476 1996). A Sherman tank, on permanent dis- Venice Army Airfield play, was acquired from a private col- Venice Municipal Airport lector. Designed in 1940 and named 150 East Airport Avenue after Civil War general William (941) 486-2711 Tecumseh Sherman, the Sherman of the Amer- The U.S. Army opened Venice Army tank was the workhorse World Airfield in December 1942. Tasked ican and Allied armies during first the with training third echelon main- War II. It saw its action with (S-««''^s«« British 8th Army in 1942, and played Grapefruit Juice tenance crews, it was used jointly I Df VCKHn VITAMm c by the Third Air Force and the Air a key role at the battle of El Alamein Technical Services Command. This in North Africa. site had a complement of more than Magazine ad promoting Florida grapefruit juice.

48 b Southeast

Martin County Stuart NAAS Witham HoBE Sound Airport Camp Murphy 1871 S.E. Airport Road Jonathan Dickinson State Park The U.S. Navy used MacArthur Field 16450 S.E. Federal Highway as an auxiliary field to NAS Vero The Blimp vs U-Boat The 11,200-acre site of Camp Murphy Beach and for night fighter training. Battle served as a top-secret radar training The site was renamed NAAS Witham OnJulyl8, 1943, the U.S. faciUty, operated by the Southern in honor of the first naval aviator Navy Blimp K-74 engaged the Signal Corps School for the Army from Stuart to be killed during the German submarine U-134 off from April 1942 until November war, Paul "Homer" Witham. In 1947 Islamorada in the Florida Keys. 1944. Named for Col. William Her- the facility returned to civilian use as The K-74 was patrolling the bert Murphy, a U.S. Army pioneer Witham Field Airport. Few buildings Florida Straits for enemy sub- in electronic equipment, the camp remain from the World War II period. marines, protecting two mer- provided research and develop- chant ships behind it. It carried ment resources to the military. A Hutchinson a crew of 10, commanded by large number of buildings were Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge Lieutenant Nelson Grills. constructed for use by 854 officers (NR listed 1974) and 5,000 enlisted men stationed Gilbert's Bar House of At 11:30 p.m., the crew spotted here during this 31 -month period. Refuge Museum U-134. Grills began an attack Pilots from NAAS Witham at Stuart 301 S.E. MacArthur Boulevard. on the German vessel at 11:50. flew training missions over Camp (561) 225-1875 While machine guns from the Murphy to provide "targets" to the The Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge blimp strafed the submarine, students learning to use the radar first saw duty in 1876 as a U.S. Life German deck guns scored sev- equipment. Camp Murphy became Saving Service station. The structure eral hits on the U.S. , Jonathan Dickinson State Park when served as an aid station to shipwreck damaging its engines. The acquired by the State of Florida after victims for many years, operated by Americans sent distress signals the war. Two WWIl-era buildings the U.S. Coast Guard between 1914 and attempted to bomb the remain in use by the Park Service. and 1940. In 1941, the U.S. Navy sub, but the bombs remained took control of the facility and with stuck in their rack. Within five U.S. Coast Guard personnel, oper- minutes the blimp slowly fell to the sea and settled into the water. The crew spent the night near their blimp, which sank the following morning. The men were rescued by the U.S.S. Dahlgren, but not before Petty Officer Isadore Stessel was attacked and killed by a shark.

The U-134, its main ballast and a diving tanks damaged, was ordered to France for repairs but was sunk enroute. Grills and another crewmember received for wounds, and the lieuten- ant later received the Distin- guished Hying Cross.

Gilbert's Bar Housp' of Refuge, Hutchinson

49 4

ated coastal patrols to guard against AAF during the last year of the war. U-boats and hostile aircraft. Coast In December 1948, the town of Boca Guardsmen used the structure as Raton acquired this location from the quarters while manning the watch- War Assets Administration. Today tower and patrolling the beach. the and the Boca Horses and dogs were used in coastal Raton Campus of Florida Atlantic patrol duties along the Atlantic University occupy the site. Several Coast. Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge WWII-era barracks buildings remain ^ CG'8343l was the nation's last operational life in use on campus.

saving station. It became the prop- erty of Martin County when deac- JUPITER Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Barracks Coast Guard tivated in 1945. In 1969, it became the House of Refuge Museum. The (NR listed 1973) museum features permanent exhibits Jupiter Lighthouse Park In 1942, the Navy Department and WWII photographs, including a U.S. Highway 1 and AlA authorized the U.S. Coast map identifying the location of ships (561) 747-8380 Guard Auxihary Flotilla No. sunk by U-boats in the Atlantic off The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse went 2 to establish a Coastal Picket the Florida coast. into service in 1860, just prior to the Patrol manned by individuals beginning of the Civil War. It is the wlio would serve short periods oldest surviving structure in Palm ships capable of at Palm Beach on spending Beach County. United States Coast least 48 hours at sea. ships The Guard personnel operated the light- were private vessels loaned, County Boca Raton house beginning in 1939. Like other purchased, or requisitioned by Atlantic coast lighthouses, during the government. This flotilla Boca Raton Army Airfield World War II its beacon was dimmed w^as popularly called Boca Raton Airport the Cor- to protect Allied ships in the Atlantic. sair Reet, 3700 Airport Road, Suite 304 Navy, Mosquito or Higher intensity lights used prior the Florida Atlantic University Hooligan Navy. They car- to the war would silhouette vessels ried guns, radios, In 1942 the Boca Raton Airport was machine and at night and make them vulner- occasionally depth charges, converted into an Army Air Force able to attack by German U-boats. A radar training station by 3,500 con- and patrolled the coast, rescu- WWII-period barracks building on ing survivors reporting struction workers and $11 million in and site, restored by the Florida History government appropriations. In Octo- U-boat sightings. As the war Center, serves as the visitors center. progressed, the regular Coast ber 1942, Boca Raton AAF provided Guard took control of the courses for airborne radar operators, West Palm Beach patrols. mechanics, and electronics officers. Lake Worth Inlet The heavy volume of Atlantic mari- Coast Guard Station The Seventh Naval District time traffic provided ample oppor- Peanut Island in Lake Worth Inlet beach patrol also patrolled tunity for practice in radar applica- (561) 842-8202 the coastline and was charged tions. Using B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, and The restored United States Coast with detecting enemy vessels, B-26s, radar-bombing runs were Guard Station on Peanut Island is preventing attempted ship-to- frequently made on the nearby Avon a two-story frame Colonial Revival shore contact, reporting enemy Park Bombing Range. Training for style structure constructed in 1936. landing attempts, and provid- B-29 crews took place at Boca Raton During World War II the station was ing assistance to survivors of torpedoed ships.

The Coast Guard curtailed beach patrols in fall 1943 and discontinued their use in Feb- ruary 1944. For a time person-

nel continued to man watch- Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse towers along the coast, but by September 1944 these, too, were discontinued.

50 b

one of only four such stations in Florida, serving as a base for coastal patrols and rescue missions. Visi- tors may reach Peanut Island by one of two ways. Boat tours leave from Currie Park near Flagler Boulevard in West Palm Beach. Water taxi ser-

vice is available from the marina in Phil Foster Park near the Blue Heron Bridge. Palm Beach Morrison Army Airfield Palm Beach International Airport 1000 Turnage Boulevard Morrison Field, dedicated to Grace K. Morrison, a county airfield pio- neer, was opened in 1936. In 1941, David McCampbell Daniel "Chappie" James the U.S. Army Air Corps began the Prominent Floridians military conversion of Morrison Field. The 313th Materiel Squadron, Seven native or adopted Florid- and a Bronze Star. , previously operating at the Miami ians received the Medal of Honor, also a future U.S. Congressman, Municipal Airport, moved to Mor- the nation's highest award for her- parachuted into Normandy early rison in April 1942. Charged with oism. Awardees included Craw- on the morning of June 6, 1944, maintaining aircraft of the Ferry fordville native Cecil Bolton, for with the famed 101st Airborne Command and handling air cargo his actions with the 104th Infantry Division. Future Senator George and airport facility maintenance, Division in Holland; Robert Fem- Smathers served in the Marines the 1,000-man cadre worked around oyer of Jacksonville, an Army Air and rose to the rank of lieutenant the clock seven days a week to keep Corps officer who saved the lives colonel, while Sumter Lowry of the planes in the air. Base personnel of his crew despite fatal wounds; Tampa commanded the 56th Artil- overhauled and repaired aircraft and Navy pilot David McCampbell lery Brigade on New Guinea, and then tested planes for airworthiness of West Palm Beach, the top scor- received a Distinguished Service before releasing them to service. As ing ace to survive the war with Medal. many as 250 WACs served at Morri- 34 aerial victories; Thomas B. son. The facility became Palm Beach Other prominent Floridians McGuire, Jr., of Sebring, an Army International Airport upon deactiva- included Paul Tibbets of Miami, Air Force pilot who destroyed tion in June 1947. In 1988, a terminal who piloted the Enola Gay in 38 Japanese planes; Robert M. was dedicated in honor of Palm August 1945 when it dropped the McTureous, Jr., of Altoona, for Beach County Medal of Honor recipi- first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, heroic actions on Okinawa; James ent, U.S. Navy Commander David and Pensacola native Daniel MiUs of Fort Meade for heroism McCampbell. "Chappie" James, who served at Anzio Beachhead in Italy; and with the famous Tuskegee Airmen Ream Army General Hospital Alexander R. Nininger, Jr., of Fort in WWII, flew fighters in the (NR listed 1973) Lauderdale for valor in the Philip- Korean and Vietnam Wars, and One South County Road pines. Only Bolton, McCampbell in 1975 became the first African (561) 655-6611 and Mills survived the war. American to reach four-star rank. The luxurious Breakers Hotel was William Braswell was a Florida In the late 1970s, General James converted to a military hospital in Guardsmen who earned a Distin- was tapped as a potential candi- anticipation of casualties from the guished Service Cross, a Bronze date for lieutenant governor of Allied invasion of Africa. The Ream Star with "V" device, and two Florida but died of a heart attack Army General Hospital opened in Purple Hearts. Future U.S. Con- just a few weeks after his retire- December 1942. Named in honor of gressman Charles Bennett joined ment. a flight surgeon killed in action, the the Army and saw combat in 500-bed facility specialized in neuro- the Pacific, earning a psychiatry and plastic surgery. Offi- cers and nurses used the oceanfront "Breakers Cottages" as barracks.

51 d l\ilm BtMch matrons deviated their Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport, tinu' as \\)lunteers and nationally respectively. A young Ensign George known dignitaries, including Elea- H. W. Bush served here as a pilot nor RoosoxL'lt and Senator Harry trainee from June 16 to August 20, Truman, \isited the hospital patients. 1943. On his 18th birthday, June 12, In 1944, the Breakers resumed opera- 1942, George Herbert Walker Bush tion as a hotel. graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and enlisted Broward County in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman 2nd Class. Receiving his wings and com- Fort Lauderdale mission on June 9, 1943, while still 18 NAS Fort Lauderdale years old, he was the youngest pilot 320 Terminal Drive in the Navy at that time. For his cou- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood rageous service in the Pacific Theater International Airport during the war, the future U.S. Presi- Merle Fogg Field, constructed in 1929 dent was awarded the Distinguished on an abandoned golf course, served Flying Cross and three Air Medals. as the local municipal airport prior to WWII. NAS Ft. Lauderdale was com- NAS Ft. Lauderdale may be best missioned in October 1942 and pro- remembered as the home base of the vided training for pilots and crew- "Lost Patrol." Five TBM Avengers George Herbert Walker Bush men of the TBF/TBM Avenger tor- left this station on a routine training pedo plane. Lacking a practice carrier mission on , 1945, and deck for takeoffs and landings, simu- were lost under mysterious circum- men who lost their lives at this sta- lated land decks were used. As air- stances. A PBM launched later that tion. craft carriers became more plentiful, day from NAS Banana River to locate Nininger Statue and Memorial the U.S.S. Solomons saw duty at this the missing patrol never returned. In On the Riverwalk station to aid in carrier-based pilot 1948, the site reverted back to civilian North side of New River training. Radar school and air-sea use as the present day Fort Lauder- Dedicated on Memorial Day 1994, rescue training were also provided. dale-Hollywood International Air- this bronze statue on a marble base Over 700 pilots were intentionally or port. The Broward County Women's commemorates the life and heroic accidentally dropped in the Atlantic Council of the Navy League erected military service of Lt. Alexander to provide experience for pilots and a memorial at the airport in 1971 to Ramsey "Sandy" Nininger. The work crews. Auxiliary fields to this site honor the naval aviators who served by sculptor Enzo Gallo depicts Lt. were located at North Pompano and at NAS Ft. Lauderdale during the Nininger as he might have appeared West Prospect. Those fields today war. On December 5 each year, a just prior to his death on January 12, are Pompano Beach Airport and memorial service pays tribute to the 1942. The mosaic tile mural behind

the statue is dedicated to all veter- ans. The names of over 300 Broward County war dead are inscribed in special bricks surrounding the marble base of the monument. The citation accompanying Lt. Nininger's Medal of Honor reads in part: "...[Nininger] repeatedly forced his way to and into the hostile position. Though exposed to heavy enemy

fire, he continued to attack with rifle and hand grenades and succeeded in destroying several enemy groups." The sidebar on page 53 provides further information on Lt. Alexander Nininger.

C- J 7 Ocean View, Breakers Hotel, Palm Btocb, Fla.

The Breakers Hotel, Palm Beach

52 b Miami-Dade Miami Historical Museum of County Southern Florida Homestead 101 West Flagler Street (305) 375-1492 Homestead Army Airfield The museum's Research Center is Homestead Air Reserve Base a repository of hundreds of photo- 29050 Coral Sea Boulevard graphs, period maps, posters and South Dade County Airport became related materials reflecting the sig- Homestead Army Airfield in Novem- nificant role of South Florida during ber 1942. Until that time, the Pan World War II. American Air Ferries Corporation provided transport service for the NAS Richmond Army Air Corps. Homestead was & a departure point for shipment of Miami Metrozoo transport aircraft. Using a southern 12400 S.W. 152nd Street route to South America and then Named for the sawmill community

Africa, aircraft traveled to the Middle that it replaced, with 2,107 acres the East and the China-Burma-India NAS Richmond facility became the

Theater. The 54th Ferrying Squadron, world's largest blimp base when it part of the Caribbean Wing's 15th was commissioned September 15, Alexander Ramsey Ferrying Group, provided crews for 1942. This facility was established NiNINGER, Jr. various types of aircraft for war use. in response to the threat of German "Sandy" Nininger earned, By 1943, the field specialized in train- U-boats in Florida waters. To pro- posthumously, the first Medal ing transport pilots and crews. With vide antisubmarine patrol, rescue, of Honor awarded to an the in August escort utility services in this area. and American serviceman in the 1945 and severe hurricane damage Blimp Patrol Squadron ZP-21 arrived conflict. Born in , Geor- the same year. Homestead in 1942. $13 million AAF October Over gia, in 1918, Nininger gradu- closed for several years. In after 1992, was spent to create the fully inde- ated from Fort Lauderdale's extensive damage from Hurricane boasted three pendent base, which Central High School in 1937 Andrew, the base transferred feet in was 16.5-story hangars over 1,000 and entered the United States from the Air Force to the Air Force length. In 1943, trainees used August Military Academy at West Reserve. This is a closed installation. portable helium processing equip- Point. After graduation he was Public access is allowed only after the Plant Operators ment at Helium posted to the 57th U.S. Infantry receiving prior permission the from School. By March 1944, the base Regiment, Philippine Scouts. Public Affairs Office. Homestead complement included 99 officers, When the war began, Nininger 202 civilians 607 enlisted men and joined a company of General technicians. including Goodyear MacArthur's defensive force in the Philippines. When troops D. C. 735 "Off to Study," Army Air Forces, •en became isolated on the Bataan Miami Beach. Fla. !! r Peninsula, he took command of

:: a detachment sent to clear out Japanese troops who had infil- » trated the American lines. They }U • II I il il I 11 * IIHIIKt attacked and destroyed several ,U I II II I U • IIHlim enemy positions with rifles I U U I U* {lllllllii and grenades. Despite being II II dHPi?

! fe^ijr was pushing alone far within the enemy position. When his body was found after recapture of the position, one enemy offi- cer and two enemy soldiers lay ^«:k dead around him."

53 4

and a small contingent of WAVES. NAP Dinner Key (NR listed 1975) The only recorded battle between Miami City Hall a blimp and a submarine occurred 3500 Pan American Drive on July 18, 1943, when Navy airship (305) 416-1040 K-74 encountered a German sub in Naval aviation at Dinner Key dates the Florida Straits. Shot down by back to the creation of the nation's anti-aircraft fire from the U-boat, first naval air station in 1917. This the blimp sank with the loss of one site originally saw duty as a sea-

life. (See Blimp-U-Boat sidebar on plane and dirigible base. In 1932, the page 49.) A hurricane in September United States Coast Guard commis-

1945 resulted in the destruction of sioned it CGAS Miami. NAF Dinner Florida's Seminole the three "hurricane proof" blimp Key was commissioned on August TkiBE IN World War II hangars, 25 blimps and 365 fixed- 1, 1943. The Navy used the naval air wing aircraft. NAS Richmond ceased facility for winter training as early At the outbreak of World War operations in November 1945. The as November 1942. The Coast Guard grounds are now home to the Uni- continued to fly from this field using II, Florida's Seminole Tribe population numbered between versity of Miami, Miami Metrozoo, OS2U Kingfishers, PBY Catalinas, 550 and 800. Some lived on the and assorted private and govern- PBMs, and JRFs. Pan American Air- three reservations at Dania, Big ment sites. Building 25, the former lines conducted navigational training Cypress, and Brighton, while headquarters building, remains the from this location. Base personnel others lived in small settle- only base-related structure. levels averaged 130 officers and 600 enlisted men during the war. The ments in the southwest portion Wings Over Miami City of Miami purchased the facil- of the state. 14710 S.W. 128th Street ity in June 1945 when NAF Dinner (305) 233-5197 In 1924, congressional legisla- Key was decommissioned. In 1972, Founded in 1987, the museum's mis- tion granted citizenship to all the WWll-era Coast Guard Air Sta- sion is to preserve and restore aircraft American Indians, making tion Hanger at Dinner Key was also from the beginning of flight through eligible for the draft, acquired by the City of Miami and the end of the WWII era. Aircraft on which was instituted in 1940. was listed in the National Register of display include a P-51 Mustang, a Tribal leaders opposed draft Historic Places in 2002. Hell- registration, and initially only C-47, PBY Catalina, and a F6F two Seminoles enrolled for cat. Many of the aircraft are main- U.S. Car No.l Selective Service. Seminole tained ill flying condition. Railroad Museum Superintendent Dwight Gardin (NR listed 1977) 152"'' Street tried to force the remainder 12450 S.W. In early with U.S. involvement to comply and requested that 1942, in II, House aides the FBI arrest several tribal World War White felt President Roosevelt should have leaders. The arrests never took

place and by June 1, 1942, W. Stanley Hanson, who had been appointed head of the Seminole registration program, reported that 67 of 108 eligible Seminoles had registered. The State Selective Service deter- mined not to press the registra- tion issue, as only a few mem- bers of the tribe would have met qualifications to serve. Eventually, several Seminoles enlisted for military service. Howard Tiger (above) joined the Marines in September 1943, while jack Osceola served in the Army and Moses Jumper, Sr. in the U.S. Navy. U.S. Navy dive bombers, Miami

54 b

a custom-built railroad car to provide facilities. In February 1942, enlisted maximum protection when travel- men and officer candidates arrived ing. Built by the Pullman Company in Miami Beach for military train- in 1928, the was ing. Hotel and apartment owners redesigned, utilized by four Ameri- warmed to lease arrangements with ll--^.^fc can presidents, and designated a the military. Government-imposed National Historic Landmark in 1985. gas rationing and tar-stained beaches caused by U-boat destruction of Miami Beach Allied ships in the Atlantic, led to Jewish Museum of Florida (NR fewer bookings and restricted tour- Voyage of the listed 1980) ism. Resort hotels became mess 301 Washington Avenue halls, bachelor officers' quarters S.S. St. Louis (305) 672-5044 and crowded army barracks until The Jewish Museum of Florida is the summer of 1943. Ultimately In May 1939, the passenger in located a former synagogue that 300 hotels and apartment buildings liner St. Louis left Hamburg, housed Miami Beach's first Jewish became military facilities in service Germany for , per- congregation. In addition to the to nearly one-half million Army with 936 German Jews flee- manent exhibit, "Florida Jews in the trainees. At one time, Miami Beach ing Nazi persecution. They the Military," the museum houses hotel rooms were home to 78,000 had purchased special certifi- MOSAIC Photo Collection of Florida soldiers, including such notables as cates from the Cuban Direc- Jewish History. The museum's col- Clark Gable, Hank Greenberg, and tor General of Immigration lections and research center reflects Franklin Roosevelt, Jr. Estimates are and they believed they would Rorida Jewish history since 1763 and that the facilities in Miami Beach be allowed to enter Cuba. is available for use by the public. The saved taxpayers $6 million in build- However, when they reached adjacent building at 311 Washington, ing costs. As many as 200 of these Havana only 22 indiviuals served during World War II as a USO hotels remain in use and, in many holding Cuban visas were facility for the many service per- instances, retain their WWlI-era allowed to disembark. After sonnel then stationed in the Miami name. On December 7, 1999, two unsuccessful negotiations, the Beach community historic markers were erected at the Cuban government forced the Miami Beach Hotels intersection of Ocean Drive and 10th ship to leave Havana. Refugees Street to recognize the contributions without Cuban visas remained "The best hotel room is none too good for the American soldier." of the servicemen and women and on board. the City of Miami Beach to the suc- With this comment. Under Secretary The St. Louis then sailed north cessful outcome of World War II. of War Robert P Patterson in 1942 to the Florida coast, its captain critics to answered of his plan use still hoping to enter either resort hotels for military training Cuba or the United States. A U.S. Coast Guard cutter shadowed the vessel to stop passengers from attempting to reach shore. The ship finally anchored off Miami Beach, and sympathetic Roridians mounted protests demanding that passengers be admitted. Their efforts were unsuccess-

ful. On June 7, 1939, the ship returned to Europe. Great Brit- ain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands finally agreed to accept 847 refugees. The rest were returned to Germany. Only one-fourth of the St. Louis's Jewish passengers, an estimated 240, survived World

War II.

55 4 Coral Gables The Biltmore Hotel (NR listed 1972) 1200 Anastasia Avenue (305) 445-1926 On Mcirch 7, 1943, the U.S. War Department converted the Biltmore Hotel to a military hospital called the "Armv Air Forces Regional Sta- tion Hospital at Coral Gables." Six months later, the hospital's name was changed to "Army Air Force Regional Station Hospital No. 1."

From that time it functioned primar- ilv as a conxalescent facility until the end of the war. Built in 1926, the Biltmore Hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark in June 1996, and operates today as a luxury hotel.

a taxiway across rail- Opa-locka Fields were purchased from the city connected by NAS Miami and became part of the complex. road tracks, supported NAS Miami, Opa-Locka Airport four asphalt Training in fighter, dive-bombing, each having paved The site referred to as NAS Miami and torpedo bombing took place on runways, hangars, barracks, and sup- consisted of three separate fields: buildings. in 1947 base. Aircraft included the Brewster port Rededicated Opa-locka or Mainside, Miami Earhart Field, the Miami F2A Buffalo fighters, SBD Dauntless as Amelia Municipal, and Master Field. The dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo Municipal field no longer serves as Opa-locka site originated in 1918, airport. former Master Field planes, and the F4F Wildcat fighter. an The when the Navy relocated a blimp site is the site of Com- The station served as headquarters Miami-Dade hangar from Key West. In the early College. The deacti- for the 7th Naval District, supported munity Navy 1930s a Naval Reserve Training Base vated the base in 1947. The Mainside a naval air gunnery school, a Marine established here. Construction the Opa-Locka Airport. was Corps Air Station, a Coast Guard Sta- base became began in 1940 when the site was des- few World War II hangars remain tion, and a small craft-training center. A ignated an air station and commis- in use at this airport. WWII-era pho- By 1945, NAS Miami reached a peak sioned Miami in August 1940, tographs, maps, and drawings at the NAS complement of 103,000 officers, to provide intermediate training. In airport office be viewed by prior enlisted men, and civilians. Miami may Master 1942, Miami Municipal and Municipal Field and Master Field, arrangement. Monroe County Key West NAS Key West Located at Mile Marker 8 on U.S. Highway 1 Key West Naval Station originated in 1823 as a base from which Ameri- can naval forces could suppress pirates in the Caribbean and Gulf. The scene of much naval activity during several wars, this facility served only as a radio station in the late thirties. The Navy reactivated Naval Base Key West at Trumbo Point in November 1939 and located a submarine base and PBY Squadron there. By December 1940 Trumbo Point received designation as NAS

56 b

Key West. Using four destroyers nel and dependents made Key West 1946 and 1952, often bringing gov- and three submarines, the Navy their home. In March 1945, the naval ernment officials as guests. "Florida's operated one of three sonar sound facilities on Key West were consoli- Only Presidential Museum," fur-

schools at this station, training both dated as NAS Key West. Following nished as it was during President

American and AUied seamen. OS2U the Allied victory in August 1945, Truman's visits, is open to the public. Kingfishers and PBM Mariners oper- Meacham Field returned to civilian Historical Military Memorial ated here. With the German U-boat control and became Key West Munic- Mallory Square threat to Atlantic shipping. Key ipal Airport. The Navy retained use Once called the " of the West became an assembly point for of NAS Key West as part of Key West Gulf," Key West has historically convoys. Meacham Field, the Key Command Center. As a closed facil- occupied a strategic position for U.S. West Municipal Airport, became an ity, public access is permitted only defense. This memorial features 10 Army Airfield immediately after by prior arrangements with the base stone and bronze pedestals, each the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Public Affairs Office. capped with a plaque providing an Antisubmarine aircraft and P-40 (NR listed 1974) overview of U.S. military conflicts Warhawk fighters were stationed 111 Front Street in which the Florida Keys played a here. With the departure of the Army, (786) 294-7277 significant role from the early 1800s Meacham became an outlying field Harry S. Truman became presi- to the present. The Key West base for NAS Key West and a base for a dent upon the death of President reached a peak of over 3,000 acres blimp utility squadron. To replace Franklin Roosevelt in April 1945. As and 15,000 military personnel in Meacham Field as Key West's Munic- the United States' 33rd President, World War II. ipal Airport, the Civilian Aircraft Truman presided over the surrender Authority developed a new field on of Germany and Japan, to end World Boca Chica Key. Because of wartime War II. The so-called, "Little White demand for airfields, Boca Chica House" was constructed in 1890 as a became an Army antisubmarine air- two-family home for the U.S. Navy field. Released to the Navy in 1943, base commandant and paymaster. the base began training carrier pilots, President Truman remodeled the torpedo bombers, and night fighters. property in 1948 for use as his vaca- In 1944, Marine squadrons trained tion home, and he visited the "Little on SBDs and PBJs. During the war White House" 175 times between as many as 15,000 service person-

57 d NORTHWEST (pages 7-13)

Franklin County Jackson Carrabelle Washington Gadsden Camp Gordon Johnston Okaloosa Walton K^OJ Tallahasse Leon Jefferson Camp Gordon Johnston Museum Pensacola caihoun Okaloosa County P. Valparaiso Air Force Armament Museum Eglin Army Air Force Base

EgHn-Hurlburt Field Airdrome Crestview Madison County Okaloosa County Veterans Memorial Madison Four Freedoms Monument Santa Rosa County Milton Jefferson County Flagler County NAS Whiting Field Monticello Marineland "Boots" Thomas Memorial Escambia County Putnam County Pensacola Taylor County Palatka Barrancas National Cemetery Perry Kay Larkin Field "Chappie" James House Perry Army Airfield St. Johns County Fort Barrancas Leon County St. Augustine Fort Pickens Tallahassee Hotel Ponce de Leon Claude Pepper Library John C. Pace Library St. Augustine Lighthouse and French World War II Monument NAAS Corry Field Museum Dale Mabry Field St. National NAAS Saufley Field Augustine Cemetery Florida's Medal of Wall NAS Pensacola Honor World War II Memorial Institute on WWII and the National Museum of Naval Aviation Human Clay County Experience WWII Memorial Starke Leon County WWII Memorial Camp Blanding Jackson County Florida State Archives Camp Blanding Museum and Marianna Museum of Florida History Memorial Park Marianna Army Air Base Florida World War II Veterans CENTRAL (pages 28-32) Bay County Memorial Lake County Panama City Wakulla County Altoona Naval Section Base Wakulla Springs McTureous Homestead and Museum Tyndall Army Airbase Wakulla Springs Lodge NORTH CENTRAL Highlands County NORTHEAST (pages 21-27) Avon Park (pages 14-20) Nassau County Avon Park Bombing Range Alachua County Fernandina Beach Avon Park Museum Alachua Fort Clinch Lodwick Aviation Military Academy Alachua County War Memorial Clay County Sebring Gainesville Green Cove Springs Hendricks Army Airfield Alachua Army Airfield Green Cove NAAS Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. George A. Smathers Library Duval County Memorial Building Columbia County Jacksonville USS Highlands Memorial Lake Citv NAAS Mayport Naval Station Polk County NAS Lake'City NAS Jacksonville Bartow Bartow^ Army Airfield

58 K Lakeland War Veterans Memorial Park Drane Field Albert Whitted Airport James H. Mills Memorial Bayboro Harbor Maritime Base Lakeland Public Library Don Ce Sar Hotel Polk County Historical & Vinoy Park Hotel East Genealogical Library Dunedin Sumter County Amphibian Tractor Detachment Bushnell Largo Sumter Rorida National Cemetery Pinellas County Historical Museum Marion County Tierra Verde Dunnellon Fort De Soto Dunnellon Army Airfield Clearwater Ocala Pinellas Army Airfield Ocala/ Marion County Veterans Memorial Park Hernando County Brooksville Osceola County Brooksville Army Airfield Kissimmee Hernando County Veterans Roll of Osceola Warbird Honor Restoration Museum Spring Hill Orange County Hernando Veterans Memorial Park Orlando Citrus Battle of the Bulge County Memorial Crystal River Douglas Munro Memorial Seminole County Hillsborough County Sanford Tampa S.S. American Victory Museum of Seminole City of Tampa Archives County Drew Army Airfield History Fort Dade NAS MacDill Army Airfield Sanford University of Tampa Sanford Museum University of South Florida WEST Veterans Memorial Museum CENTRAL Pasco County (Pages 33- Zephyrhills Zephyrhills Army Airfield 39) ^^ Pinellas EAST CENTRAL (Pages 40-45) Brevard County I I ^^g County NAS Banana River y t^^ Bay Pines w ^^m Bay Pines National Titusville Cemetery Titusville Veterans Memorial

St. Petersburg Valiant Air Command Warbird Bay Pines Veterans Museum KEY WEST^ ^ • Hospital Melbourne Rorida Holocaust Museum Liberty Bell Memorial Museum

St. Petersburg Museum of History NAS Melbourne

59 i Melbourne Village Lee County Palm Beach County NAS Banana River Barracks Building Lehigh Acres Boca Raton Merritt Island Buckingham Army Airfield Boca Raton Army Airfield Veterans Memorial Center Cape Coral Jupiter Cocoa Iwo Jima Memorial Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Barracks Alma Clyde Field Library of Florida Fort Myers West Palm Beach History Fort Myers Historical Museum Lake Worth Inlet Coast Guard Station Volusia County McColIum Hall Palm Beach Ormond-Bv-the-Sea Page Army Airfield Morrison Army Airfield Coastal Observation Post Hendry County Ream Army General Hospital Daytona Beach Clewiston Broward County Halifax Historical Museum Riddle Field Fort Lauderdale NAS Daytona Beach International Charlotte County NAS Fort Lauderdale Airport Charlotte Harbor Nininger Statue and Memorial Orange City Charlotte County Historical Center Miami-Dade County Orange City Memorial Punta Gorda Homestead Ponce Inlet Punta Gorda Army Airfield Homestead Army Airfield Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Sarasota County Miami DeLand Sarasota Historical Museum of Southern DeLand Memorial Hospital Sarasota Army Airfield Rorida DeLand Naval Air Station Museum NAS Richmond Venice NAS DeLand Venice Archives and Area Historical Wings Over Miami St. Lucie County Collection NAF Dinner Key

Fort Pierce Venice Army Airfield U.S. Car No. 1 St. Lucie County Historical Museum Heritage Park and the Veteran's Miami Beach St. Lucie County Library Memorial Jewish Museum of Florida UDT-SEAL Museum Collier County Miami Beach Hotels States Naval Amphibious United Naples Coral Gables Training Base Collier County Museum Biltmore Hotel Indian River County SOUTHEAST (pages 49-57) Opa-Locka Vero Beach Martin County NAS Miami NAS Vero Beach Hobe Sound Monroe County Indian River County Library Camp Murphy Key West SOUTHWEST (pages 46-48) Stuart NAS Key West NAAS Witham DeSoto County Little White House

Arcadia Hutchinson Historical Military Memorial Carlstrom Field Gilbert's Bar House of Refuge The Oak Ridge Cemetery

Dorr Field

60 i Ships Sunk by U-Boats

The map on the following pages lighter (barge) Warden, which was shows the locations of 40 ships sunk by U-109 while firing torpedoes

attacked by German submarines in at the La Paz on May 1, 1942 off Cape waters off Florida in WWII. Canaveral; the small British vessel E.P. Therlault, attacked in the Straits The accompanying list only includes of Florida by U-753 on May 22, 1942; ships that were attacked or sunk as a the trawler Gertrude, sunk by U-166 result of hostile military action. Some in the Straits of Florida on July 16, discrepancies exist between reference 1942; and the lighter (barge) AMC-67 sources as to the cause of several which was attacked off Jacksonville sinkings. There may have been addi- by U-96 in August 1942. tional ships torpedoed, whose sink- ings were undetermined. The U.S. Navy airship (blimp) K-

74 was shot down by U-134 after it Of the ships listed, the tanker J.A. attacked the surfaced submarine off Moffet, Jr. did not actually sink; the Florida Keys on July 18, 1943. however, after being towed into This was the only case where an port it was declared a total loss. The American blimp was shot down by freighter William Ciilleu Biyant was hostile action during the war. towed to dry dock in Tampa and repaired. The tankers Delisle and The commander of U-84 reported Top: Mexican oil tanker torpedoed Pennsylvania Sun were damaged but hitting an unidentified tanker with by German submarine not sunk. The , the Java Arrow, torpedoes during his attack on the Bottom: Damaged hull of William and the La Paz all sank in shallow freighter William Culleu Bryant, Cullen Bryant water and were later raised and southwest of Key West on July 21, repaired. These ships are indicated 1942. north of Key West to deter German on the list with an asterisk. At least three merchant ships (Edward submarines from operating in the Several small vessels were reported S. Luckenback, Bostiljka, Gunvor) and area. sunk by German submarines and the destroyer USS Sturtevant sank, The tanker Gulfland, sank off the were not included on the main list apparently after accidentally hitting southeast coast after colliding due to their relatively small size: the U.S. Navy mines that were placed with another ship at night while under blackout conditions due to the German submarine threat. The freighter Benwood appears to have suffered a similar fate off the Florida Keys.

Although several German U-boats were attacked by U.S. forces off Flor- ida, only one was confirmed sunk. In this action, the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Thetis dropped depth charges to sink the German submarine U-157 southwest of Key West.

Main reference sources: Sliipxvrecks of Florida by Steven D. Singer and Axis Submarine Successes 1939-1945 by Jurgen Rohwer.

61 ^

1. Pan Massachusetts ^^H|HHIHHH|||^^HH tanker 28N, SOW ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^1 2/19/1942 U-128 ^^Rl^^^l^^l 2. Cities Service Empire ^S* r^jl^^^^^^B tanker 28N, SOW 2/22/1942 U-12S Pensacola

3. Republic tanker 27N, SOW 2/22/1942 U-504

4. W.D. Anderson tanker 27N, SOW U-504 2/22/1942 :29 5. Esparta freighter 30N,81W 4/09/1942 U-123 6. Gulfamerica Gulf of Mexico tanker 30N, SIW 4/10/1942 U-123 #22 7. Leslie freighter 2SN, SOW 4/13/1942 U-123

8. Korsholm (Swedish) freighter 28N, SOW 4/13/1942 U-123

9. La Paz* (British) freighter 28N, SOW 5/01/1942 U-109 #21 10. Laertes (Dutch) IS. Java Arrow* freighter 28N, SOW tanker 27N, SOW 5/03/1942 U-109 5/06/1942 U-333 11. Sama (Nicaraguan) 19. Amazone (Dutch) freighter 26N, 79W freighter 27N, SOW 5/03/1942 U-506 5/06/1942 U-333 12. Ocean Venus (British) 20. Halsey .16 freighter 28N, SOW tanker 27N, SOW U-564 5/03/1942 5/06/1942 U-333 13. Eclipse* (British) 21 . Torny (Norwegian) tanker 26N, SOW freighter 26N, S6W 5/04/1942 U-564 .15 5/0S/1942 U-507 14. Norlindo 22. Ontario (Honduran) freighter 25N, S4W freighter 2SN, S7W 5/04/1942 U-507 5/0S/1942 U-507 \5. Munger T. Ball 23. Ohioan *14 tanker 25N,S3W freighter 26N, SOW 5/04/1942 U-507 5/0S/1942 U-564 #2 16. Josepih M. Cudahy 24. Lubrafol (Panannanian) tanker 26N, 84W 4 tanker 26N, SOW U-507 5/05/1942 5/09/1942 U-564 17. De//s/e* (Canadian) 25. Potrero del Llano (Mexican) tanker 27N, SOW tanker 25N, SOW U-564 5/05/1942 5/14/1942 U-564 36 #26 W K

26. ffl/fl d? Oro (Mexican) tanker 23N, 84W 5/21/1942 U-106

27. Hermis (Panamanian) ^Jacksonville freighter 23N, 83W #6 6/07/1942 U-158 28. Managua (Nicaraguan) freighter 24N, 81 6/16/1942 U-67

Atlantic 29. Empire Mica (British) tanker 29N, 85W Ocean 6/29/1942 U-67

30. Umtata (British) freighter 25N, SOW 7/07/1942 U-571

?>\.].A.Moffet,]r.* tanker off the Keys 7/08/1942 U-571

32. Nicholas Cuneo (Honduran) freighter 24N, 82W 7/09/1942 U-571

33. freighter 23N, 81W 7/13/1942 U-84

34. Pennsylvania Sun* tanker 24N, 83W 7/15/1943 U-571

35. Baja California (Honduran) freighter 25N, 82W 7/19/1942 U-84

36. Port Antonio (Norwegian) freighter 23N, 84W 7/19/1942 U-129

37. William Cullen Bryant* freighter 24N, 82W 7/21/1942 U-84

38. Santiago de Cuba (Cuban) freighter 24N, 81 /i^#30 8/12/1942 U-508 39. Manzanillo (Cuban) freighter 24N, 81W 8/12/1942 U-508

40. Gulfstate v^^' tanker 24N, SOW .> 9^.1^ #31 4/03/1943 U-155 Key West 3y #40 Map locations of attacks are approxi- # #39 mate. #28 Enemy Ships Sunk Off Rorida: U-157 *U-157 (German Submarine) U-boat 24N, 82W #32 Straits of Florida 6/13/1942 U.S. Coast Guard #33 63 d Selected Bibliography

Billinger, Robert D., Jr. Hitler's Drumbeat: The Dramatic True

Sohiicr< ill tlic Suii:>liiiu' State: Story of Germany's First U-Boat German POY^S in Florida. Attacks Along the American Coast

Gainesville: University Press of in World War II. New York: Florida, 2000. Harper & Row, Publishers, 1990.

Coles, David J. '"Hell-by-the- . The Nezo History of Florida. Sea': Florida's Camp Gordon Gainesville: University Press of Johnston in World War 11." The Florida, 1996. Florida Historical Quarterly 73 , George, Paul S. "Submarines and 1-22. no. 1 (July 1994): Soldiers: Fort Lauderdale and

De Quesada, Alejandro M. Images of World War II." Broward Legacy 14 America: The Ro\/aJ Air Force Over (Winter-Spring 1991): 2-14'.

Florida. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia Hawk, Robert. Florida's Army: Militia/ Publishing, 1998. State Troops/National Guard, 1565-

. Images of America: World 1985. Englewood, FL: Pineapple

War U ill Tampa Bay. Dover, NH: Press, Inc., 1986. Purple Heart awarded to those Publishing, 1997. wounded or killed in action Arcadia Kleinberg, Eliot. War in Paradise:

Origins of Stories World II in Evans, Jon. "The of War of Forum: The Magazine of the Tallahassee's Racial Disturbance Florida. Melbourne: The Florida Florida Humanities Council 22, no. Plan: Segregation, Racial Historical Society Press, 1999. 3 (Fall 1999). Tensions, and Violence During Mormino, Gary R. "GI Joe Meets Prior, Leon O. "Nazi Invasion of World War 11." The Florida Jim Crow: Racial Violence Florida." The Florida Historical Historical Quarterly 79 (Winter and Reform in World War II Quarterly 49 (October 1970): 129- 2001): 346-364. Rorida." The Florida Historical 139. Freitus, Joseph and Anne. Florida: The Quarterly 73 (July 1994): 23-42. Rogers, Ben F "Rorida in World War Years, 1938-1945. Niceville, and Kathleen Hardee War II: Tourists and Citrus." The FL: Wind Canyon Publishing, Arsenault, eds. "War! How Florida Historical Quarterly. 39, Inc., 1998. World War II Changed the no. 1 (July 1960): 34-41. Gannon, Michael. Operation Face of Florida." Special issue Sage-Gagne, Waneta. Pilots in the Sun: Primary Pilot Training Schools in Lakeland and Avon Park, Florida, 1940-1945. Lakeland: Friends of the Library 1990.

Scherr, Abraham. "Tampa's MacDill Field during World War II."

Tampa Bay History 17, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 1995): 5-15.

Taylor, Robert A. Images of America: World War II in Fort Pierce. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 1999. Tebeau, Charlton W. A History of Florida. Coral Gables, FL: University of Miami Press, 1980

Wynne, Lewis N., ed. Florida at War. Saint Leo, FL: Saint Leo College Press, 1993.

64 fc Glossary

AAF. Army Airfield. See also a single-engine, two-seat trainer, this aircraft, the Hellcat performance was USAAF. craft became known as the "Vibra- superior to the Japanese Zero. tor" because of the propeller sounds. AAFFTD. Army Air Forces Flying F7F Tigercat. This twin-engine air- The standard Army training plane, Training Detachment. craft, developed by Grumman, was the Navy used the Valiant as well, developed too late to see combat ser- Alligator. See LVT. designating it the SNV vice during World War II AT-6 Texan. A widely flown low- C-47 Dakota. Known also as the Free French. The anti-Hitler move- wing monoplane U.S. advanced "Gooney Bird," this military version ment formed by French General trainer developed by North Ameri- of the Douglas DC-3 became the Charles de Gaulle after the govern- can Aviation, Inc. Designated SNJ by transport workhorse of the war. Used ment of France signed an armistice the Navy, this aircraft remained in in every theater, the C-47 was also with Germany in June 1940. Oper- service throughout the war. employed in parachute and glider ating in exile from London, Free operations. See also R4D. B-17 Flying Fortress. A Boeing-devel- French forces subsequently fought oped, four-engine, mid-wing heavy Degaussing. Removing the magnetic alongside the Allies against Germany bomber used in both the Pacific and fields from ships. and Italy. European theaters. Operating with a DUKW. An amphibious truck used Higgins Boat. See LCVR crew of 10, the B-17 demonstrated an extensively during World War II. effective combat range of 1,600 miles J2F Duck. An amphibious biplane Some 20,000 were produced during and could sustain heavy damage and built by Grumman, the Duck was the conflict; they saw service in both remain in operation. used in a variety of roles, including major theaters of the war. antisubmarine patrolling. B-24 Liberator. U.S. heavy bomber F2A Buffalo. Produced by the Brew- flown in the European, North Afri- JRF Goose. A Grumman-designed ster Company, the Buffalo was the can, Mediterranean, and South used by U.S. services Navy's first monoplane fighter. Pacific theaters. Developed by Con- and the Royal Air Force in sub- Unfortunately, by the time the war solidated Aircraft, more B-24s were marine patrol and as a navigation began it was outclassed by the Japa- produced during World War II than trainer. The later version of this craft nese Zero and, after suffering heavy any other . received the designation J4F. losses, was soon removed from B-25 Mitchell. Named for aviation combat service. LCVP. Commonly referred to as a pioneer Gen. Billy Mitchell, the twin- Higgins' Boat after the manufacturer, F4F/FM-1 Wildcat. The primary U.S. engine B-25 medium bomber was Andrew Higgins. One of several Navy carrier-based fighter during J. most famous for its use in the Doo- types of American-built landing the early part of the war, this Grvim- little Tokyo Raid of 1942. craft produced during the war. The man-developed plane was also used "LCVP" designation indicates a 36- B-26 Marauder. Serving in North extensively by the British Navy. Gen- foot-long landing craft with a bow Africa, the Pacific and Europe, this eral Motors also produced Wildcats, ramp for transporting vehicles and twin-engine medium bomber oper- which were designated FM-ls and personnel. ated with a crew of six. Designed by FM-2s. the Glenn L. Martin Co., the B-26 had Link Trainer. A stationary flight sim- F4U Corsair. A large, powerful, car- a combat range of 1,100 miles. ulator used extensively by the Army rier and land-based fighter flown by and Navy in pilot training. Named B-29 Superfortress. A four-engine U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units. for the inventor, Edwin A. Link, stu- Boeing-designed bomber that came Highly successful in combat, the Cor- dents learned flying and navigating into use later in the war with raids sair had an overall eleven-to-one kill while flying "blind." against the Japanese mainland. The ratio against Japanese aircraft. use of the B-29, Enola Gay, to deliver LVT. The designation for an F6F Hellcat. A carrier-based U.S. the atomic bomb led directly to the amphibious landing craft, LVT Navy fighter developed by Grum- end of the war in the Pacific. denotes "landing vehicle, tracked." man Corporation that was placed in Developed in Florida by Donald BT-13/BT-15/SNV Valiant. combat in early 1943. A single-seat Roebling, these vehicles, also referred Designed by Consolidated-Vultee as

65 ^ to as Alligators or Buffaloes, were this Curtiss Company aircraft was POW. Prisoner of war. Florida held used in nil theaters of the war, but the first American mass-produced 10,000 POWs in two major and over primarilv in the Pacific. fighter. Britain, China and other 20 branch camps, beginning in 1942 Allied air forces used many of these. with internees and German U-boat NAAS. Naval Auxiliary Air Station crewmen. refers to a facility constructed to sup- P-47 Thunderbolt. Was designed in port activities of a naval air station. 1940 by Republic Aviation Corp. as Primary Flight Training. The ini- a high-performance airplane compa- tial phase of flight training during NAF. Naval Air Facility rable with European fighters. This which the student is taught to fly a

NAS. Naval Air Station, ranging in plane performed varied duties in low horsepower plane that is light size from one squadron of 18 planes both Pacific and European theaters. and stable. Civilian schools provided and supporting personnel to a major much of this training for the U.S. P-51 Mustang. With a single-engine facilitv with hundreds of aircraft and Army. The other three phases are and low-wing design, the North thousands of support staff. basic, advanced, and transition. American Mustang came to be OS2U Kingfisher. A two-place low- regarded as the best land-based PT-13/PT-17/N2S-5 Stearman. The wing monoplane used primarily fighter on either side. The later Boeing /Stearman Model 75 Kaydet by the U.S. Navy as a floatplane for designs could achieve a speed of 487 was the most commonly used pri- spotting and rescue purposes. m.p.h. and a range of 1,800 miles, mary training aircraft by the Army allowing for superior bomber escort and Navy during World War IL P-38 Lightning. Rown by the U.S. capabilities. Designed by the Stearman Aircraft Army Air Force's top two aces, this Company, which became a branch twin-engine aircraft saw use in most PBJ. The U.S. Marine Corps designa- of Boeing in 1939, more than 10,000 every war theater. In a fighter-escort tion for the B-25 Mitchell bomber. of the two-seat biplanes were manu- mode, this Lockheed Corp. airplane PBM Mariner. Designed by the factured by 1945. The Army versions was rated at an operating range of Glenn L. Martin Co., this twin-engine were designated PT-13 and PT-17, 2,000 miles. flying boat became the U.S. Navy's while the Navy equivalent was P-39 Airacobra. A sleek, low-wing key patrol bomber later in the war. known as the N2S-5. fighter with the engine placed behind With a crew of seven to nine, a PT-16/PT-20/PT-21/PT-22 Ryan the cockpit. Though approaching combat-configured Mariner could Recruit. A series of low-flying train- obsolescence at the beginning of the achieve a range of 2,240 miles. ing aircraft produced by the Ryan war, many saw use by and, PBY Catalina. Highly successful, the Aeronautical Company for the Army after surrender to the Allies, by the Catalina was first used by the U.S. Air Corps/Army Air Force. More Italian Air Force. Navy in 1936. A long-range flying than 1,000 of the PT-22, the AAF's P-40 Warhawk. Flown by the Hying boat, this plane provided valuable first monoplane trainers were built. Tigers in China against the Japanese, service in patrol, bombing, and anti- Occupants sat in open cockpits with submarine roles during the war. the instructor immediately behind Airplane spotter cards the student to facilitate instruction.

PV-1 Ventura. The U.S. Navy's desig- nation for the A-28/A-29 combat and support aircraft. This twin-engine, twin-tail aircraft used a crew of from four to six and served in night fighter, anti-submarine, and bomber roles during the war.

PV-3 Harpoon. A larger, land-based version of the PV-1 Ventura.

R4D. A version of the Douglas C- 47 used by the U.S. Navy, some 600 were used as supply aircraft and transports. See also C-47.

R50. Designation of a handful of Lockheed Model 18 Lodestars used by the Navy, Marine Corps, and

66 K war. The organization was named V-mail. A type of U.S Government after the motto of the Coast Guard, sponsored mail used in WWII in IDA Semper Paratus. which a letter was written on a one-page sheet and submitted to be Stearman. See PT-13/PT-17/N2S-5 photographed, the negative micro- Stearman. film flown overseas, and then devel- TBF/TBM Avenger. This Grumman- oped and printed on a small sheet designed, single-engine, mid-wing of photographic paper for delivery. '

67 — 2

Credits and Acknowledgments

Additional research: Commander • • SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN THE ARMED FORCES • • William Barnett; Warren J. Brown,

M.D.; Bruce Hd. McCall; Pamela J. (Hail) Cooper; Lisa Craft and Bruce Graetz, Museum of Florida History; ^ Forrest S. Clark; Lawrence H. Levey, Highlands County; Alicia Addeo and Bruce Ed McCall - Fort DeSoto; IT James Gregory; Joseph and Anne Q n ^ Freitus; Paul DeGaeta; Lois Blount; George Brvant; CDR Edward Malo, ' USN Ret. Photography: Artifacts - Museum of AA Florida History, photographer, Ray Available for All DIVISIONS—AIR FORCES— and other Units • Stanvard; photos unless otherwise L specified - Florida State Archives.

Distinctive unit Insignia, mounted to a board for retail sale S.S. St. Loiib image courtesy of Anthony Blechner; George H.W. Bush Library, College Station, ; Lt. S.W. "Sub" Carter; Jacqueline who led and shepherded this project. S.S. A)ncricnii Victon/ - American Cochran - National WASP WWII Thanks to Colonel Rocky McPherson, Victory Mariners Memorial and Museum; Mary E. Murphy; Claude U.S.M.C. (Ret.) and Matthew Ubben, Museum; German POWs and W. Bass, III; National Museum of who have overseen the project patrol bomber sea plane - National Naval Aviation - Charles R. McNeil; through its various phases. Archives, Washington, D.C.; Don General Roy S. Geiger - United Florida Commission on Veterans' CeSar Hotel - Zimmerman Advertis- States Marine Corps; Daniel "Chap- Affairs - Thanks to Chairman Vince ing, Tallahassee; "The War is Over" pie" James image - United States Air Whibbs; Vice Chairman AI Linden; page 4, and hull of William Cullen Force; German submarine - Homan Secretary Curt Ebitz; Joseph Mar- Bn/aiit - Historical Museum of South & Reilly Designs; Thompson subma- tory; James Dozier; Guy Bono; Eileen Florida; sinking vessel - family of chine gun training and UDT frogmen Watson; Tony Armbrister; and Wil- - UDT SEAL Museum, Ft. Pierce; liam Coleman, for their project over- Seminole U.S. Marine Howard Tiger sight efforts. - Fort Lauderdale Historical Society; :now mortar, page 35, courtesy of Heri- Florida Department of State - kt our boys chasing Adolf 6 Supenren' are amed with - 'Victory "Vitamin C' tage Village, NAS Key West Dale Thanks to former Secretaries of State M. McDonald, photographer. and Jim Smith, and Secretary of State Glenda E. Hood : Legislators - Thanks to former for superb cooperation in all aspects State Senator Richard Mitchell and of the project's elements. Thanks former State Representative Mar- to the staff of the Florida Depart- jorie Turnbull, who introduced the ment of State, Division of Historical legislation authorizing the Memo- Resources for editorial and produc- rial. tion assistance (in alpha order): Cath- Florida Department of Veterans' erine Clark; Lisa Craft; BillHelmich;

Affairs - Thanks to Lieutenant Frederick Gaske; Bruce Graetz; David Colonel Robin Higgins, U.S.M.C. Gregory; Susanne Hunt; Janet Snyder (Ret.), David Hart, and Lieutenant Matthews, Ph.D. and Julie Weiler. //^hiA Commander Jennifer Carroll, U.S.N. ^^^ Grapefiilit Juice RICH IN VICTfJUr VrTAMIN C (Ret.) —all formerly with the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs

68 —

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ing-term health care thrBllilNle veterans' State Homes rogram, which includes domiciliary care, skilled nursing care lid Alzheimer's carer

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