Captain Wilfred J. “Jasper” Holmes
April 4, 1900 – January 7, 1986
“Let Us Never Forget” Submariner, Intelligence Officer, (USNA 1922), Captain Wilfred Jay (Jasper) Holmes, USN
Continue reading “Remembering Wilfred J. “Jasper” Holmes, USN, WWII Cryptologist”
Radioman Second Class (RM2c) Walter Carl Rathsack was selected for the tenth class of the On-The-Roof Gang training that began in March 1933. Along with the other seven Radiomen in the class, he graduated in June 1933 and was ordered to Station BAKER in Guam. In the years leading up to World War II, Petty Officer Rathsack performed Radio Intelligence operations in Guam, Philippines and Hawaii.
Continue reading “The Most Dangerous Assignment”
It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jerry Clifford Mills, of Pensacola, Florida, who departed this life on March 10, 2026, at the age of 79. His loss is deeply felt by his family, friends, shipmates, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Those wishing to honor his memory are invited to share condolences and reflections with his loved ones, offering comfort and support during this difficult time.
Continue reading “Remembering Retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jerry Clifford Mills”
Quoting Captain Holmes again how the course of the War was changed the nature of our work:
“The virtual destruction of the Japanese Navy and the drastic reduction in the numbers of marus brought about changes in radio intelligence. It also forced the Japanese to suicide weapons of many varieties. Most effective were kamikazes which, in April and May 1945, took off from Kyushu in mass flights to attack U.S. ships in the vicinity of Okinawa. Kamikazes were the most serious threat the Navy faced during the war.”
On November 2, 1942, Phil’s crew climbed aboard Super Man (B-24 LIBERATOR) and readied to go to war. They were heading into a desperate fight. North to south, Japan’s new empire starched five thousand miles, from the snowboard Aleutians to Java, hundreds of miles north of the equator.
Continue reading “Unbroken”
The Battle of Midway, fought in June 1942, marked a turning point in the Pacific War. It was won through a combination of daring young pilots and the invaluable advantage of codebreaking. These pilots, trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola and its nearby outlying fields like NAS Corry Field, brought courage and skill to the fight that would shape the outcome of the war.
Continue reading “Wings of Youth and Codes of Victory: The Training and Triumph of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Pilots at the Battle of Midway – The Significance of Corry (Field) Station”
Station HYPO 