LT CHARLES A. ANDERSON, USN

Class 1938

Born October 17, 1914

Died July 10, 1943

Age 28

Hometown San Benito, Texas

Lucky Bag Yearbook

From the 1938 Lucky Bag:

CHARLES ALDEN ANDERSON

Andy

Football 3, 2,1i; Swimming 4, 3, 2; Reef Points; Musical Clubs 2; Lieutenant (j.g.).

Few have to be so formal as to say “get off your knees sandblower,” because he is friendly enough with everyone for them to end this “intelligent” remark with “Andy.” This friendliness is not confined to the male of the species, and very seldom are his friendly overtures ignored by the opposite sex. Perhaps it is his suspiciously high forehead, perhaps his poetic and artistic abilities, or perhaps his athletic achievements that make him so attractive. It is hard to say, for Andy is as versatile as he is friendly. Perhaps one of his most noticeable achievements is the ability and desire to argue. On what or on which side of “what” makes no difference. It’s an argument, and you are wrong—at least so he claims and tries, with a smile, to prove.

Loss

Charles was lost when his SOC-3A Seagull was shot down near Gela, Italy, on July 10, 1943 during the invasion of Sicily. He was flying from USS Savannah (CL 42) while that cruiser conducted shore bombardment.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

In May 1932 during Charles’ graduation program, he was awarded the American Legion Cup for the most hours of work outside school. In September 1933, he spoke at the Rotary Club meeting on what high school education meant to him. His appointment to the Naval Academy was by Congressman Milton West.

Charles was always listed as Alden during his youth. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Henry and Anna (Barkstrom) Anderson. His sisters were Eleanor and Mildred, and his brother was Henry, Jr. In 1920, his father was a grocer in Chicago. In 1930, the family was in San Benito, Texas, and his father was a farmer.

His wife was listed as next of kin. He is buried in Illinois.

Career

From naval aviation historian Richard Leonard via email on February 9, 2018:

NAS Pensacola designated NA # 7402, 4/3/1941

Date of rank LTJG from 1 Jul 1941 USN Register, 6/2/1941

Date of rank LT from 1 Jul 1942 USN Register, 6/15/1942

VCS-8 USS Savannah (CL-42) DFC PH KIA, 7/10/1943

Distinguished Flying Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Charles Alden Anderson (NSN: 81237), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the invasion of the Island of Sicily in July 1943, while attached to the U.S.S. SAVANNAH (CL-42). Lieutenant Anderson, as Pilot of a cruiser scouting plane, performed spotting and reconnaissance missions with great efficiency in the face of heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire and air opposition. His spotting, performed under extremely hazardous conditions, contributed greatly to the success of the bombardment of enemy positions. His reconnaissance flights, which carried him deep into the enemy territory, were of great value to the assaulting forces. The courageous service of Lieutenant Anderson in which he gave his life was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Action Date: July 1943
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Division: U.S.S. Savannah (CL-42)

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together, or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.