WILLIAM E. PENNEWILL, LCDR, USN

William Pennewill '29

Date of birth: February 20, 1907

Date of death: June 23, 1942

Age: 35

Lucky Bag

From the 1929 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM ELLISON PENNEWILL

Dover, Delaware

"Bill" "Beanie"

WHAT state's delegates signed the Declaration of Independence first? What state leads all the p—rades? In short, what's the best state in the Union? Why, Delaware, of course." So thinks Beanie and although we don't all fully agree with him, we do consider it a pretty good place, to have produced such an affable and congenial person as our friend Bill.

While attending that noble institution of learning, known as Dover High, Bill helped form the nucleus of all the important athletic teams representing that worthy school; but upon entry to the Naval Academy he found that he had probably taken his studies at Dover a little too lightly. As a consequence he has found the demands of the Athletic Department overridden by those of "Academics." The Varsity's loss has been the class and company's gain in more than one instance when Bill has represented '29 or the fighting 8th in a successful engagement.

Bill says he's a Red Mike, and we hate to doubt his word, but we have our suspicions. No doubt he has striven to stick to his standards, but like the rest of us has succumbed to the wiles of the weaker sex.

After having Beanie as a classmate for four years we do not hesitate to state that he is held in the highest regard. We have no fear but that, being a gentleman, he will prove himself an officer worthy of the Blue and Gold.

Class Football 2. Class Baseball 4. Two Stripes.

WILLIAM ELLISON PENNEWILL

Dover, Delaware

"Bill" "Beanie"

WHAT state's delegates signed the Declaration of Independence first? What state leads all the p—rades? In short, what's the best state in the Union? Why, Delaware, of course." So thinks Beanie and although we don't all fully agree with him, we do consider it a pretty good place, to have produced such an affable and congenial person as our friend Bill.

While attending that noble institution of learning, known as Dover High, Bill helped form the nucleus of all the important athletic teams representing that worthy school; but upon entry to the Naval Academy he found that he had probably taken his studies at Dover a little too lightly. As a consequence he has found the demands of the Athletic Department overridden by those of "Academics." The Varsity's loss has been the class and company's gain in more than one instance when Bill has represented '29 or the fighting 8th in a successful engagement.

Bill says he's a Red Mike, and we hate to doubt his word, but we have our suspicions. No doubt he has striven to stick to his standards, but like the rest of us has succumbed to the wiles of the weaker sex.

After having Beanie as a classmate for four years we do not hesitate to state that he is held in the highest regard. We have no fear but that, being a gentleman, he will prove himself an officer worthy of the Blue and Gold.

Class Football 2. Class Baseball 4. Two Stripes.

Loss

William was lost on June 23, 1942 when the F4F-4 he was piloting crashed near NAS Kodiak, Alaska. The September 1946 issue of Shipmate indicates he was the commanding officer of Escort Scouting Squadron (VGS) 12 and that the crash occurred "on runway."

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

William was an honor graduate of Dover High School in 1925. He was vice-president of the senior class.
For six months, he was a dive-bombing instructor attached to the Army. He was mostly stationed in Pensacola until the outbreak of WWII.
He married Lucy Metcalfe Reilly on September 28, 1933, in an Episcopal church in Long Beach, California. Their two children were William, Jr., and Christopher. In early June, 1942, she had just returned to Pensacola from Seattle, Washington, where she spent some time with William.
His parents had visited him and his wife in Savannah to celebrate his birthday in February 1942.
His father William was a wholesale fruit broker, mother Katherine, and sister Katherine (Mrs. Howard E. Lynch, Jr.)

He is buried in Delaware and was survived by his wife.

Namesake

USS Pennewill (DE 175) was named for William; the ship was sponsored by his widow.

Photographs

From the Pensacola News Journal on August 15, 1943

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.

Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at this command:

April 1932

Ensign, for assignment, Aircraft Squadrons, Scouting Force

Others at this command:

LT William Ault '22

Lieutenant (j.g.), Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 10S, USS Chicago

Others at this command:

LTjg Oliver White '30

Others at or embarked at USS Chicago:

LTjg Arthur Loeser '27 (USS Chicago)

ENS Augustus Alston, Jr. '31 (Cruiser Division 5)

July 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B, USS Ranger

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Robert Haven '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)

LTjg John Burgess '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg James Kyes '30 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
2LT Robert Brown '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)

October 1934

Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B, USS Ranger

Others at this command:

LTjg Clair Miller '29

LTjg John Burgess '30

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LCDR Francis Maile, Jr. '15 (USS Ranger)
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Robert Haven '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg James Kyes '30 (USS Ranger)

LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
2LT Robert Brown '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)

January 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B, USS Ranger

Others at this command:

LTjg Clair Miller '29

LTjg John Burgess '30

LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LCDR Francis Maile, Jr. '15 (USS Ranger)
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Robert Haven '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Gilbert Carpenter '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)

LTjg James Kyes '30 (USS Ranger)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
1LT Robert Brown '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)

April 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B, USS Ranger

Others at this command:

LTjg Clair Miller '29

LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LCDR Francis Maile, Jr. '15 (USS Ranger)
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (USS Ranger)
LT Robert Bedilion '22 (USS Ranger)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Gilbert Carpenter '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)

LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
ENS William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)

October 1935

Lieutenant (j.g.), Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at this command:

September 1937

Lieutenant, Training Squadron (VN) 1D8, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at or embarked at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida:

LCDR Arnold Isbell '21 (Training Squadron (VN) 4D8)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
CAPT Ernest Pollock '28 (Training Squadron (VN) 2D8)
LTjg Claud Hughes '30 (Training Squadron (VN) 2D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Training Squadron (VN) 2D8)
1LT Harold Larson '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Charles Crommelin '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Spiers '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Phillips, Jr. '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Robert Isely '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Herbert Carroll, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)

LTjg Walker Ethridge '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Frank Whitaker '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg William Drumtra '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Edward Worthington '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Stuart Stephens '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Philip Torrey, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Nicol '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Ralph Beacham '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Frederick Schrader '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Stanley Lipski '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)

January 1938

Lieutenant, Training Squadron (VN) 1D8, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at or embarked at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida:

LCDR Arnold Isbell '21 (Training Squadron (VN) 4D8)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
CAPT Ernest Pollock '28 (Training Squadron (VN) 2D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Training Squadron (VN) 2D8)
1LT Harold Larson '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Albert Gray '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Charles Crommelin '31 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Spiers '32 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg John Phillips, Jr. '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Robert Isely '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Glenn Dunagan '33 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Herbert Carroll, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Walker Ethridge '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)

LTjg Frank Whitaker '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg William Drumtra '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Edward Worthington '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Stuart Stephens '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Philip Torrey, Jr. '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg George Nicol '34 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Norman Ostergren '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Thomas Cummins '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Samuel Adams '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard Stephenson '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Ralph Beacham '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Frederick Schrader '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
ENS Clyde McCroskey, Jr. '35 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)

July 1938

Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 42, USS Ranger

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LCDR William Sample '19 (USS Ranger)
LT Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg Harrington Drake '31 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg William Townsend '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
LTjg Frederick Schrader '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)

ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS Harry Howell '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Walter Sharer '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Floyd Garrett, Jr. '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Richard Sampson '38 (USS Ranger)

January 1939

Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 42, USS Ranger

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LCDR William Sample '19 (USS Ranger)
LT Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg Harrington Drake '31 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg William Townsend '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
LTjg Frederick Schrader '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)

ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS Harry Howell '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Walter Sharer '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Floyd Garrett, Jr. '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Richard Sampson '38 (USS Ranger)

October 1939

Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 42, USS Ranger

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LTjg David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg Frederick Schrader '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 4)
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)

ENS Harry Howell '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Walter Sharer '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Lemuel Cooke '39 (USS Ranger)

June 1940

Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 42, USS Ranger

Others at this command:

ENS Patrick Hart '37

Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:

LTjg Wendell Froling '34 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg Richard Bull, Jr. '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 41)
LTjg Walter Bayless '36 (USS Ranger)
LTjg Ralph Embree '36 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)

ENS Walter Sharer '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Lemuel Cooke '39 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Beck, Jr. '40 (USS Ranger)

November 1940

Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at this command:

April 1941

Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at this command:

2LT Alfred Gordon '39 (Marine Barracks)

Class of 1929

William is one of 29 members of the Class of 1929 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

← Harry Lang '29

Cleaveland D. Miller '29 →

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.

WILLIAM E. PENNEWILL, LCDR, USN

William Pennewill '29

Lucky Bag

WILLIAM ELLISON PENNEWILL

WILLIAM ELLISON PENNEWILL

Loss

Other Information

Namesake

Photographs

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

July 1929

October 1929

January 1930

April 1930

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