USS Helena (Pearl Harbor)

[army historian]

Hello All, here is a small group I am working on (in contact with the son). Cheers Captain Albert

Group to Lieutenant Commander. Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr,

US Navy Blimp Pilot

USS Helena (Pearl Harbor survivor)

Served in World War 2 (1940-1946).

Lieutenant Commander. Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr, with his Blimp

Medals and Awards:

Naval Aviator Wing

Naval Aviator Half Wing (Airship pilot)

Navy Unit Citation (USS Helena – the first award of this honor)

American Defense Medal with “Fleet” bar

American Campaign Medal

Asiatic Pacific Campaign with 4 stars

World War 2 Victory Medal

Naval Reserve Medal

American Legion Medal with “Commander” Top bar.

Campaigns:

#1 PEARL HARBOR - MIDWAY: 7 December 1941 USS Helena torpedoed, saved from sinking by water tight doors and counter flooding.

#2 CAPE ESPERANCE: 11 - 12 October 1942 (Second Savo)

#3 CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF GUADACANAL: 4 - 12 November 1942, 5 January 1943

#4 GUADALCANAL (Third Savo): 12 -15 November 1942

Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr was born 30 September 1915 in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to the War Bailey worked for Coca-Cola Bottling Company, 1334 Central Ave., Los Angeles.

From a short history by his son Steve Bailey: Francis Lewis Bailey, Jr. after attending the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for 2 1/2 years and spending 1 1/2 years at U.C.L.A., enrolled in the first Officer Candidate School for the U. S. Navy in 1940. He graduated with top honors and was assigned to duty on the newly commissioned Light Cruiser U. S. S. Helena (CL-50). Note: Report of separation dated 1946 – lists him as enlisting in the Navy 9 July 1940, and being commissioned on 14 Nov. 1940. He came aboard just after her shake down cruise to South America where her crew (unofficially) investigated the derelict German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee in Montevideo harbor after her scuttling(see photos). Bailey would be part of 4 of the most hard fought Naval battles of the early part of WW2. Bailey was assigned to the USS Helena in 1940.

Now the senior American officer in the task force because of the death of the task force commander in action, Helena's skipper — Captain Gilbert Hoover — commanded the task force's retirement to Espiritu Santo from the battle area. On the way, light cruiser Juneau was torpedoed and sunk. Believing that there were no survivors and that the threat from Japanese submarines was too great to search for any possible survivors, Hoover ordered the US ships to continue onward without pausing. Later, it turned out that 100 of Juneau's had survived the sinking, but almost all later died awaiting rescue, which took more that one week to occur. For this decision, Halsey removed Hoover from command of Helena.”

My father had been on board all of this time serving as the aft fire control officer. At this point in time, however, his request for air training had been approved and he was transferred from the Helena to the U.S. Naval Air Training Station at Pensacola, Florida.

After basic air training, my father was assigned (much to his chagrin) to the Lighter-Than-Air Unit at Lakehurst, New Jersey. He became a blimp pilot, probably, mostly due to his age. He was, by that time, 28 years old. The Navy wanted 21 year olds (who didn’t know they were not invincible) to fly fighter planes, so my dad was stuck with blimps.

This factor probably saved his life and I would not be here today.

He was sent to the U. S. Naval Base at Recife, Brazil to escort the Allied convoys going across the Atlantic from Brazil to North Africa to support the war in Europe. The German U Boats were still active but they had great respect for blimps as the slow moving dirigibles could track a submarine at their own speed and rain down depth charges on them. They had a few “kills” but the deterrent factor was enormous.

He lived to see the end of the war and return to his wife and year-old son – me.My father was NOT on board when the Helena went down, he was in flight training in Pensacola , FL. Steve Washburn (my namesake) WAS on board and was last seen swimming for shore. I will try to find the 1/2 wing and let you know. Email.

[army historian]

Here are a few more pictures. Cheers Captain Albert

[Mervyn Mitton]

Thankyou Captain Albert for an interesting and well researched article. I enjoyed reading the details. I visited Peral Harbour in 1986 and went on board the Arizona - one of the places that you visit in your life, that will never be forgotten. Mervyn

[army historian]

Thanks Mervyn - I am also getting a lot more from the son soon - will post. Cheers Captain Albert

Thankyou Captain Albert for an interesting and well researched article. I enjoyed reading the details. I visited Peral Harbour in 1986 and went on board the Arizona - one of the places that you visit in your life, that will never be forgotten. Mervyn

Edited February 23, 2011 by army historian

[army historian]

Here is a uniform - Naval Aviator Forest Green Duty uniform, I just picked up and will use with the display. Also a photo of Bailey wearing the same type uniform. Cheers Captain Albert

[Mervyn Mitton]

Are they the badges of rank for a Lieutenant ?

[army historian]

Merwn, the Aviator Geens in the above picture is a Lieutenant Junior Grade (Lt.J.G.)= (Sub-Lieutenant). I have a "Trashed" twin that I will use to promote the one above to Lieutenant Commander, Bailey rank. I have (2) WW2 Naval Aviators medals groups of that rank. Here is the trashed twin. Cheers Captain Albert

Are they the badges of rank for a Lieutenant ?

[army historian]

Well finally got all the materials from the son, and put in rikker mount. Note: one of 1,400 LTA (Blimp) pilots trained during WW2. One thing I should add - none of the Blimp pilots or crews received any decorations, I am award of. So I leave with this quote from a WW2 Veteran. ""Many of us LTA veterans are coming up on 80 or are already there," said Harold Edwards, the blimp crew chief who caught a glimpse of the Hindenburg on its final flight. "We did the work they asked, finding subs and protecting ships, but my friends always ask where the recognition went, where are the air medals?" – This is a very good question. Cheers Captain Albert

Edited March 18, 2011 by army historian