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Cadet William R. Staggs, San Diego, 1937 - 37J1 pics
- Thread starter oose
- Start date
Clyde from Carolina
Member
Great photos. Love the jacket. 
oose
Active Member
Here is his Navy Cross citation, from 1942
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant William R. Staggs, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Escort Scouting Squadron TWENTY-NINE (VS-29), attached to the U.S.S. SANTEE (ACV-9), during the occupation of French Morocco, from 8 to 11 November 1942. Upon sighting a hostile submarine on the surface, Lieutenant Staggs, in a quick dive to attack, struck the conning tower of the vessel with armor-piercing bullets from his 50-caliber machine guns and set off a depth charge in immediate proximity to its hull. Shortly thereafter, he led a group of seven scout bombers and three fighters in persistent raids against enemy troop convoys and intense aerial bombardment of the airdrome at Marrakech. Although flying through a continuous hail of anti-aircraft fire, this attacking flight, under Lieutenant Staggs' brilliant and inspiring leadership, succeeded in destroying twelve aircraft on the ground, demolishing three hangars, and immobilizing approximately twenty units of motor transports. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
stu
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant William R. Staggs, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Escort Scouting Squadron TWENTY-NINE (VS-29), attached to the U.S.S. SANTEE (ACV-9), during the occupation of French Morocco, from 8 to 11 November 1942. Upon sighting a hostile submarine on the surface, Lieutenant Staggs, in a quick dive to attack, struck the conning tower of the vessel with armor-piercing bullets from his 50-caliber machine guns and set off a depth charge in immediate proximity to its hull. Shortly thereafter, he led a group of seven scout bombers and three fighters in persistent raids against enemy troop convoys and intense aerial bombardment of the airdrome at Marrakech. Although flying through a continuous hail of anti-aircraft fire, this attacking flight, under Lieutenant Staggs' brilliant and inspiring leadership, succeeded in destroying twelve aircraft on the ground, demolishing three hangars, and immobilizing approximately twenty units of motor transports. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.
stu
oose
Active Member
He had just one first prize of $100,000 in the Old Gold cigarette's famed rebus puzzle contest!... snappy title!
He is still alive at good age of 98!
From Time magazine Monday, Sep. 06, 1937
'Last week Naval Cadet Pilot William R. Staggs, a black-browed, 25-year-old six footer attached to the aircraft carrier U. S. S. Ranger off Coronado, Calif., exchanged telegrams thrice with Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews, chief of the Bureau of Navigation in Washington. Their substance: Might he resign? No. Might he marry? No. Might he have 30 days leave? No.
Cadet Stagg's desire to get off the Ranger was something easily comprehensible to the whole Pacific Fleet. He had just won the puzzler's equivalent of first prize in the Irish-sweepstakes, had beaten 2,000,000 other hopefuls for the $100,000 first prize in Old Gold cigarette's famed rebus puzzle contest.'
I'm sure if i were on pre war instructors pay I might be a bit chummy!
Here is a newsreel
http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/6 ... st_Winner/
All the Best
Stu
He is still alive at good age of 98!
From Time magazine Monday, Sep. 06, 1937
'Last week Naval Cadet Pilot William R. Staggs, a black-browed, 25-year-old six footer attached to the aircraft carrier U. S. S. Ranger off Coronado, Calif., exchanged telegrams thrice with Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews, chief of the Bureau of Navigation in Washington. Their substance: Might he resign? No. Might he marry? No. Might he have 30 days leave? No.
Cadet Stagg's desire to get off the Ranger was something easily comprehensible to the whole Pacific Fleet. He had just won the puzzler's equivalent of first prize in the Irish-sweepstakes, had beaten 2,000,000 other hopefuls for the $100,000 first prize in Old Gold cigarette's famed rebus puzzle contest.'
I'm sure if i were on pre war instructors pay I might be a bit chummy!
Here is a newsreel
http://www.efootage.com/stock-footage/6 ... st_Winner/
All the Best
Stu
zoomer
Well-Known Member
$100,000 in 2011 dollars is something like $1.7 million, so young Mr. Staggs was doing all right! :mrgreen:
BTW, I just eBayed the Willis & Geiger sorta-repro of this jacket, called the NA-1 for some reason (made-up number meaning "Navy A-1"?)
One thing they got right is the stenciling - I'd never seen an issued jacket with this type stencil before, only the repro.
W&G also did this jacket in twill, without the stenciling. (I own one.) On both, the knits are cotton rather than the original wool. The're lightweight enough that the zipper keeps the collar from being folded over.
BTW, I just eBayed the Willis & Geiger sorta-repro of this jacket, called the NA-1 for some reason (made-up number meaning "Navy A-1"?)
One thing they got right is the stenciling - I'd never seen an issued jacket with this type stencil before, only the repro.
W&G also did this jacket in twill, without the stenciling. (I own one.) On both, the knits are cotton rather than the original wool. The're lightweight enough that the zipper keeps the collar from being folded over.
Hamsterbear
Member
What cost $100000 in 1937 would cost $1478354.75 in 2009
That, is a LOT of money!
That, is a LOT of money!
Clyde from Carolina
Member
Hamsterbear said:
Yeah, I just put the numbers into the inflation calculator myself and got the same number.
A lot of cabbage in 1937!
