Crusty old Joe's
Kodiak Alaska Military History
The official web site of the Kodiak Military History Museum
Leslie E. Gehres
Fleet Air Wing FOUR
Album 2 |
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FAW4 Leslie Gehres album 2
8x10 unless otherwise specified. Other sizes approximate.
Official photos are all FAW4 except as noted. Portrait & landscape
refers to orientation only. Listed in the original album order.
Photos from same page are grouped with a blank line separating pages.
Numbers 0058-0170 are locally assigned for this inventory.
------------------------
0058 * officer reading document, others at attention, portrait
0059 * personnel on parade, marston mat, aircraft, landscape
0060 * similar to above
0061 * similar to above
four on this page: 0062, 0063 & 0065 show same buildings
0062 *top left 4x5
FARWING FOUR COMMUNICATIONS quonset hut, snow
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0063 *bottom left 4x5
on back handwritten: my office during 1st bad storm of nov '43
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0064 *top right 4x5
tents in distance on snowy slopes, dramatic clouds
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0065 *bottom right 4x5
quonsets, ships in harbor
on back handwritten: after storm passed nov '43
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
four on page:
0066 *top left 4x5
wood frame building, snowy, many utility lines
on back handwritten: our staff quarters - looks lots fancier inside
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0067 *bottom left 4x5
quonest & wood frame buildings, snow
on back handwritten: staff quarters is the long house at the top right
- with the brick chimney.
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0068 *top right 4x5
FAW4 headquarters quonset, snow
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0069 *bottom right 4x5
hill covered with tents, quonsets & frame buildings, snow
antennas on hilltop
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0070 *10.5x10.5 three officers, Gehres in center sign reads:
BATTTLE DRESSING STATION No.4
taken at same site as 0062
0071 *10.5x10.5 same three officers as above, different location
better facial light. Gehres in center, Ralph Humes on right.
9105 *left 4.5x9.5 portrait
12-28-43 Official US Navy Photograph
Cmdr. Reginald McCracken Recipient of Legion of Merit
9102 *right 7x9.5 portrait
12-28-43 Official US Navy Photograph
Medal Presentation by Adm. Woo??
Lt. T. Schneider, USN, Hillsboro M?
Cmdr. R. McCracken USN also
0072 * business card
Hisayo Fukuda Designer of Brocaded Evening Coats
Exclusive House Coats and Holokus
1877 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, T.H. Phone 93332
0073 10.5x10.5
head & shoulders R. R. McCracken, autographed
0074 10x13
L.E. Gehres, back of someone, leg of someone climbing
out of PBY pod. Machine gun.
0075 10x13.5 portrait
L.E. Gehres, another officer (same as in 0074),
marston mat, jeeps
0076 10x13 landscape
L.E. Gehres in jeep with several others
(stickey note attached "These photos taken by (I believe)
Life Magazine photographer.) probably refers to 0073-0077.
0077 10x13 landscape
L.E. Gehres on left, USMC officer, another officer.
Under aircraft wing, jeep, bomb on cart.
3717 10.5x13.5 landscape
PBY flying, snowy mountains background
3704 10x13 landscape
PBY flying, similar to above
all 4x5 in hangar drinking beer (all appear to be Hedron party)
0078 * top left enlisted crowd
0079 * bottom left L.E. Gehres, another officer: "Hedron party Nov 24, 1943"
0080 * top right Gehres and several officers: "Hedron 4 party Nov 24, 1943"
0081 * bottom right Gehres and other officers
all 4x5
0082 * top left officers, probably Hedron party
0083 * top right officers, probably Hedron party
0084 * bottom left Gehres, other officers, handshake, outdoors, dusk
0085 * bottom right
"Commodore Gehres being greeted on his arrival at Attu 11-11-43"
all 4x5
0086 * top left three officers in front of PBY "XI"
0087 * top right officers & men probably at Hedron party
0088 * bottom left officers probably at Hedron party
0089 * bottom right band probably at Hedron party
all 4x5
0090 * top left officers under wing dusk
0091 * top right officers with beer (Hedron party ?)
0092 * bottom left officer in khaki holding pipe facing enlisted laughing
0093 * bottom right band probably at Hedron party
0094 * L.E. Gehres, two officers, two women in evening wear
brick fireplace, two photos on wall of PBYs.
Stickey note: "Navy Nurses"
Pencil on back: "This is a poor picture of the people but a
fair one of the room & fireplace. The glasses are empty.
In fact - the whole thing is just 'pretender' - taken at
4 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. The gals wanted pictures in
cines to send to their boyfriends and this is supposed to be
a party. (? the G.I. shoes on the girl on the left!)
0095 * L.E. Gehres, alone, same setting as 0094. In pencil on back:
"This was before I received all those letters -
after 3 weeks of no mail."
all 4x5
0096 * top left, same site as 0094, On back in red pencil:
"Dan Layman studying Russian"
0097 * top right, same site as 0094, "? Delafield"
0098 * lower left, Army Nurses, same two as 0094, pencil on ack:
"These came ? ? furniture. Two army nurses in 'cimies' -
hanving their pictures taken in my room for their boyfriends
? of my ?"
0099 * bottom right, same setting as 0094, Lt Cdr C. Ingram
0100 * top left 4.5x6.5 landscape "Mt. Moffett"
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0101 * top right 4x5 landscape, PBY on ground, snow
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0102 * bottom left 4x5 landscape, sunny snow quonset
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0103 * bottom right 4.5x6.5 landscape
"Adak landscape Nov 1943"
stamped on back: FLEET AIR WING FOUR
0104 * "Flag plane of CFAW4. Note 1-star flag below cockpit.
This is fanciest PBY flying I think. You should see the 'cabin' "
Close up of PBY with engines running, wheel chocked, snow.
0105 * Same plane as 0104, other side. Good view of DF loop.
Closer view.
0106 * Flag plane, very similar to 0104
0107 * Gehres and another man in photo lab
0108 * "Amchitka Dec 1943" Gehres and other officers outdoors
0109 * Three officers, Gehres on right. Outdoors snow.
0110 * "All bundled up in a new feather-filled quilted parka jacket.
Very nice & light & warm."
Gehres on right, one other officer, command car, snow. Dusk.
0111 * Gehres and three other officers, snow.
0112 * "My 'Blitz Buggy' with special metal doors - to replace canvas
curtains. Also has a heater! Getting ready to go west."
Gehres & one officer, car doors open, yagis on pole, wing behind car.
0113 * Gehres and four other officers, snow. Probably under wing.
Whited-out patch above Gehres's head.
0114 *
0114 ?Ted Welch again closing his eyes against the flash bulbs.
? trying to avoid looking at them. This was a 'house warming'
by the Hedron officers celebrating the opening of their 'wardroom'."
23 officers all in a row. Landscape.
0115 *
0115A
"Welcoming 'ComHedron' ?(Red?) sit under the Hedron insignia.
He wasn't tight - just squinting waiting for the flash bulb.
I had just - or was just telling the photographer to hurry
up & shoot & stop fiddling around.
GOOD HEDRON FLAIR WING-4 insignia. Portrait.
0116 * On front: "Hedron Party = Oct. 25, 1943"
Seven image collage. On back: "I don't think Red was really singing."
0117 * L. E. Gehres head to waist front view, medals.
0118 * boat, mountain, water. On back in red: "Sitkin Volcano"
0119 * Official. 1 Aug 1943
"USS Gillis the Fighting Spitkid, FAW4." Bow #12. Glassy water.
3714 * Official. PBY throwing mud. Rear view.
3711 * Official. PBY throwing more mud. Rear view.
3713 * Official. PBY throwing more mud. Front view.
0120 * 2.75x3.25 landscape, Three officers, one oriental.
0121 * 2.3x3.5 portrait, man climbing out of aircraft (Kingfisher?)
0120 * 3x4 landscape, dog with lifted leg in fence, sign: UMNAK
NATIONAL FOREST. Pen on back: "The remarkable thing about
this picture is the fact that the dog shown never saw a tree before.
R R Robertson Lt USNR 13 ND"
all 4x5
0123 * top left, landscape
Gehres & other officers outfitting civilians with clothing
0124 * top right, landscape, same as above
0125 * bottom left, portrait, same
0126 * bottom right, landscape, same
all 4x5
0127 * top left, landscape, Gehres others working at table
0128 * top right, landscape, same
0129 * bottom left, landscape, same
0130 * bottom right, landscape, same
all 4x5
0131 * top left, landscape, Gehres and three others at mess with 2 messboys
0132 * bottom left, landscape, same
0133 * top right, Gehres & 3 others outdoors on concrete ramp, wingtip of PBY
0590 * official, bottom right, 2 guys, 2 jeeps, 2 PBYs, Old Women Mt
all 4x5
0411 * official, top left, landscape, 19 Aug 1942
Gehres, army & navy officers on concrete ramp under PBY wing
0417 * official, top right, landscape, 19 Aug 1942, torn
Civilian in suit, officers
0414 * official, bottom left, landscape, 19 Aug 1942, same
0415 * official, bottom right, landscape, 19 Aug 1942, same
all 4x5
0412 * official, top left, landscape, 19 Aug 1942
more of group on previous page
0416 * official, top right, landscape, 19 Aug 1942, same
0410 * official, bottom left, landscape, 19 Aug 1942, same
0409 * official, bottom right, landscape, 19 Aug 1942, same
4197 * official, "Reading room at Cold Bay" 21 Nov 1942
outdoor privy seat, much snow, no shelter
typed page * "FIFTH HOLE SYMPHONY"
1388 * official, 17 Dec 1942 "Arrival of Capt. Gehres at Adak"
6 officers nex to PBY, wet soil ramp, landscape
1809 * official, on back handwritten: "This is the coldest
place of all - but doesn't look so because the wind
had blown the snow away." Typewritten: "SUBJECT:
Captain L.E. Gehres, USN, and members of VP-42
Squadron who received awards for heroism during Aleutian
Campaign. Left to right: Captain L.E. Gehres, USN, Cmdr.
Fleet Air Wing Four, who made presentation; Lt. Cmdr.
C.E. Perkins, USN, Cmdr. Patrol Squadron 42, (Navy Cross)
Lt. W. Lindgren, USNR, (DFC); Lt. (jg) F.A.Woody, USNR, (DFC);
Ens. Leo Nuss, USN, (DFC); Ens. T.F. Ewing, USN, (DFC)"
0134 * official 22 Nov 1942 portrait [see also 0962 & 0963]
LE Gehres & Mr. McQuaid point to submarine painted on PBY
1390 *
1390A *
official 18 Dec 1942 landscape
"Capt. Gehres presents DFC to Lt Havck"
4256 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Lt W.G. King decorated with
DFC for heroism in Aleutian Campaign, June 1942. Capt Gehres
ComFlairWing Four, makes presentation."
4240 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Ens. J.H. Herron decorated
with DFC for heroism in Aleutian Campaign, June 1942. Capt.
Gehres, ComFlairWing Four, makes presentation.
4242 *
4242A *
official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Lt (jg) L.B. Brown decorated
with DFC for heroism in Aleutian Campaign, June 1942. Capt.
Gehres, ComFlairWing Four, makes presentation.
4251 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Lt (jg) J.F. Litsey decorated
with DFC for heroism in Aleutian Campaign, June 1942. Capt.
Gehres, ComFlairWing Four, makes presentation.
2500 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Admiral Theobold presents
DFC and Air Medals to officers and men of FlairWing Four for
exploits during early stages of Aleutian campaign."
Large assemblage of men in gym, Merry Christmas banner, band.
2501 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Admiral Theobold presents
DFC and Air Medals to officers and men of FlairWing Four for
exploits during early stages of Aleutian campaign."
Large assemblage of men in gym, Merry Christmas banner, band.
1390 *
1390A *
official 18 Dec 1942 landscape "Capt Gehres presents DFC to
Lt. Havk." Outdoors at night.
4246 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942 "Group of officers decorated
for heroism in Aleutian Campaign, June 1942. Capt. Gehres,
ComFlairWing Four, makes presentation.
2483 * official, landscape, 16 Dec 1942 "Capt Gehres and other
officiating officers approaching assembled men. Citation
awarded to Lloyd G. Shores, ARM 1c." Snowy, control tower,
PBY, skid shacks, buildings on slopes.
2235 * official, landscape, 16 Dec 1942 "Officers and enlisted men
of Hedron and VP-42 at presentation of Air Medal award,
Dutch Harbor."
2237 * official, landscape, 16 Dec 1942 "Capt Gehres, ComFlairWing
Four, presenting Air Medal award to Lloyd G. Shores, ARM 1c,
for heroism during Aleutian fighting in June, 1942,"
Outdoors, snow, small assemblage of enlisted.
4261 * official, landscape, 16 Dec 1942 "Group of officers and men of
VP-41 decorated with DFC's and Air Medals for aerial exploits
during Aleutian fighting in June 1942." 41 officers and men
next to PBY (engines running), snow. Tents in back.
4263 * official, landscape, 16 Dec 1942 "A group of officers and men
of VP-41 are decorated with Distinguished Flying Crosses and
Air Medals for heroism in Aleutian campaign of June, 1942.
Cold Bay--December, 1942." About 40 officers and men next to
PBY (engines running), snow.
1811 * official, portrait "Lt. Cmdr. C.E. Perkins, USN, being presented
with Navy Cross by Capt. L.E. Gehres, USN, ComFlairWing 4, for
heroism during Aleutian Campaign."
all 4x5
0135 * top left, landscape, Gehres and four other officers. snow,
aircraft wing, command car. White out square above Gehres's head.
Same negative as 0113.
0136 * top right, landscape, Gehres and 2 other officers, command car, snow.
Same negative as 0109.
0137 * bottom left, landscape, Gehres and 3 other officers, snow.
Same negative as 0111.
0138 * bottom right, landscape, 2 officers, anow, PBY in back, marston mat.
all 4x5
0139 * top left, landscape, 3 officers, PBY, command car, marston mat, dusk.
0140 * top right, landscape, Gehres, command car, same negative as 0112.
0141 * bottom left, landscape, Gehres, several oficers, same negative
as 0108, Amchitka.
0142 * bottom right, landscape, Gehres, another officer, command car,
same negative as 0110.
0895 * 3.25x4.75 12 Nov 42 "That's NOT a fat wrinkle on my neck. I need
a haircut & the fur has pushed my hair up."
0143 * official, landscape, 22 Nov 1942, Gehres shaking hands with
officer with beard, another officer stroking the beard, Kingfisher
close up of attached beaching gear. Background looks like
Hangar 3 at Kodiak.
4253 * official, landscape, 15 Dec 1942: "Lt. W.N.Theis decorated with
Navy Cross for heroism in Aleutian Campaign, June 1942. Capt.
Gehres, ComFlairWing Four, makes presentation. Low roof trusses.
0144 * left 7x8 FIFTH HOLE SYMPHONY words and privy photo composite.
0589 * official, top right, 4.5x3.5 8 Sep. landscape, Gehres and 9 other
officers on west side of Hangar 3 Kodiak, PBY, jeep, woody
station wagon
0145 * bottom right 3.25x4.5 portrait, Gehres and 3 other officers near
PBY wing on concrete ramp.
0146 * landscape, handwritten pen on back: "I'm sorry about this - I had
it in my desk drawer and look what happened! It was the one the
photographer selected - but it is NOT the one I've selected to have
fixed up and printed." The photo is wrinkled, heavy stock, matte.
Calendar on wall December 1942, coats on closet rod, bowie knife
on belt, binoculars, cartoon above calendar, windowshade drawn,
desk phone with bands around ear/mic, pen & pencil set, blotter.
Cylinder dictating machine. Globe.
0147 * landscape, official, Gehres and officers around large tables, large
topographic relief map of Kiska on wall.
0148 * landscape, official, many officers around tables, microphone in
center, oil stove, spotlight on left. Same gathering as 0147.
0149 * same grouping as above
2159 * (ADK No 2159) 11 Oct 1943 USNAS Adak Alas. Official. landscape
12 officers being addressed by another (one behind him) indoors.
0150 * portrait LE Gehres facing camera, two officers in front of him
with back to camera. Night.
0151 * landscape, Gehres and six other officers.
0152 * portrait, Gehres and two other officers. Same location as above.
five on page, all 3.5x4.25
0153 * top left, landscape, sign:
"FIVE POINTS NORTH SAN DIEGO DRIVE SLOW-PROTECT OUT CHILDREN"
0154 * top right, landscape, "Red" coming out PBY bubble.
0155 * center, portrait, two officers, snow, windy, sunny, PBY.
0156 * bottom left, landscape, Gehres & another in photo lab.
Same negative as 0107.
0157 * bottom right, landscape, same sign as 0153 but wider view.
0158 * official, portrait, montage "HEDRON NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY DEC. 31, 1943"
5814 * official 9/43. Gehres & 9 other officers in hangar, lined up.
0159 * portrait, Gehres pins medal on officer.
0160 * portrait, Gehres chatting with 2 officers. In hangar.
6007 * official portrait 10/17/43 "Commander Haines, Lt. Commander
Pripens, Commodore Gehres on runway at Casco Cove Attu."
6008 * official, "Commander Haines, Commander Gehres, Lt. Cmdr. Pickens,
Lt. Milton on runway at Casco Cove, Attu." 10/17/43
0161 * landscape Gehres and 11 officers indoors.
0162 * entire album page. Left side: "FIELD HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH
AIR FORCE, APO #980, c/o Postmaster, Seattle, Washington.
Excerpt from General Order No. 110. AWARD OF THE DISTINGUISHED
FLYING CROSS. Under the provisions of AR 600-45, as amended
and authority granted by the Alaska Defense Command, the
Commanding General, Eleventh Air Force, awards a Distinguished
Flying Cross to LESLIE E. GEHRES, Commodore, pilot, Fleet Air
Wing 4, United States Navy for meritorious achievement in aerial
flight. During the period from 1 Septemer 1942 to 15 August
1943, this officer participated in many hours of operational
flights in the Western Aleutians for the purpose of familiarizing
himself with flying conditions, instilling confidence in his
flyers, and supervising operations of his aircraft at advanced
bases. These flights were made at great personal risk, for long
distances over water, often despite adverse weather conditions,
frequently in the face of probable enemy opposition. The skill
leadership and courage of this officer reflects great credit on
himself and the United States Navy. By command of Major General
BUTLER: JOHN V. HART Colonel, G.S.C., Chief of Staff, OFFICIAL:
GEORGE F.AGOR, 1st Lt., Air Corps, Actg. Asst. Adj. Gen."
Portrait photo shows Gehres and two officers pinning medal on.
0163 * portrait Gehres decending crude stairs, sign: "FAIRWING FOUR
OFFICES OF WING COMMANDER OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATION"
0164 * portrait Cdr. Haines?
0165 * landscape, 12 officers on sofas, VICTOR radio speaker in corner.
0166 * landscape, same situation as above but poorly lighted.
0167 * newspaper clippings securely glued to album page. "PARAMUSHIRO
IS ON TIP OF JAPAN" "PARAMUSHIRO SHELLING TOLD" "100,000 Yanks
to Invade From Aleutians, Japs Told" February 7-8, 1944.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, The Seattle Times
0168 Two sides of album page with newspaper clippings securely glued
to both sides. The Seattle Daily Times front page February 7,
1944: red headlines "PARAMUSHIRO SHELLED BY AMERICAN WARSHIPS"
mentions Commodore Leslie E. Gehres of 4450 W. Laurel Dr., Seattle
who was recently presented the legion of Merit by Admiral Fletcher.
Reverse side has article about Gehres, photo of him and Mrs.
Clip from Newark Courier-G? Newark New York (Gehres home town)
Thursday February 17, 1944 full text of Legion of Merit citation, .
Gives genealogy.
0169 * newspaper clippings: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Feb 15, 1944.
Photo of Gehres, "Paramushiro Raids Put Japs on Spot"
Reverse: "Aleutian Patrol, How a young pilot and his Navy Patrol
Wing accomplished an impossible task in the Aleutians by Donald
E. Keyhoe." Photo and magazine article about Lt. Bill Thies.
Partial article with photo of flying PBYs mentions PatWing Four
received 114 individual citations.
0170 Inside back cover of album, glued-on newspaper clippings.
The Seattle Times Jan 6, 24, 1944. Paramushiro hit. Times Jan 9:
6 Seattle men decorated. Good listings of names and hometowns.
(Clippings unglued and put in poly. Text in file news.html)
*
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This page created 2002 March 25, Updated 2002 June 9