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U.S.S. Wasp (C8) - Crewman Bill Johnson

U.S.S. Wasp (C8) - Crewman Bill Johnson

Posted: 31 Mar 2015 2:44PM GMT
Classification: Query
I am trying to Track down any information anyone might have about a Bill Johnson who served in the Navy during World War II and was serving on the U.S.S. Wasp (C8) when it was sunk in 1942(?). He was also injured, possibly paralyzed during his 3rd trip overseas, perhaps in Dec of 1944. There is a very strong possibility that he may have been my maternal grandfather. My Biological father (who I myself never knew), never knew his biological father, but my uncle has a picture of a sailor Bill Johnson (may have gone by the name Jimmy) that belonged to their mother Billie Jean Keith. Bill looks just like my father which is why my uncle and I think he is Skip’s (Stephen Neil “Skip” Marshman) Dad.

Bill's Picture is here - http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/27986213/person/26878037559/m...

(From the back of his Picture)
Bill Johnson Pm 2/c
Sunk on the U.S.S. Wasp (C8) -
Crashed in flying fortress wounded 4 times
Stationed on San Diego then at the Santa Marquita ranch at Ocean Side
American guy with real American spirit -
Dec 16, Heard from Bill - He has been paralyzed on his 3rd trip overseas - He is being shipped back to States.

Re: U.S.S. Wasp (C8) - Crewman Bill Johnson

Posted: 17 May 2015 3:50AM GMT
Classification: Query
The USS Wasp is CV-7, an aircraft carrier sunk Sept 1942. Another carrier built and first named Oriskany CV-18 then changed to Wasp CV-18 and launched Aug 1943. Ancestry seems to have mixed up the CV-7 and CV-18 as they have CV-18 cited for Muster Rolls dated before August 1943 when it was launched.

In the Navy Muster rolls for the Wasp CV-7 there is no "Bill" Johnson, but there is a William Sydney Johnson, service number 266-21-42. But he is a EM/2c, not PM/2c.
On the ship's (CV-7) Muster Roll for the month ending Dec 31, 1940, William Sydney Johnson is at the rate "A.S." enlisted Sept. 30, 1940 in Richmond. He was received aboard ship Dec 6, 1940 from NTS Norfolk VA.
Then the CV-7 quarter ending Sept 30 1942 Muster Roll he is an EM3c.
Then the CV-7 quarter ending Dec. 8, 1942 he was Transferred 11-19-42 to RecSta: Boston, Mass(BOSTON DETAIL) Auth:ComSerForPacSubCom Instructions.

Now C-8 is a category of Naval Auxiliary Ships of various duties, including SeaBee uses. Since PM is the Pattern Maker rate (2c=2nd class) then could be information is mixed up about him.

The VA BIRLS database has a William Johnson male b. Aug 18, 1918 d. Oct. 15, 2004 of Natural causes. In Navy service enlisted Sept 30, 1940, released Nov 3, 1946 Can't determine of this is Wm Sydney Johnson.

There is no James William, William James, Jim or Jimmy Johnson in Muster rolls for CV-7. There is only William S and William Sydney both with same Navy Service Number.


Re: U.S.S. Wasp (C8) - Crewman Bill Johnson

Posted: 17 May 2015 8:11PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you so much for this information. I definitely meant C7 as it was the Wasp he was on the Wasp. I am going to check out William Sydney Johnson and see if there is a possible match. I have a photo of the Bill Johnson but no rank is visible for me to verify.
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