BAYLIES V. CLARK, LT, USN
Baylies Clark '30
Lucky Bag
From the 1930 Lucky Bag:
Loss
Baylies was killed during bombing practice over the Atlantic on May 23, 1941. He was the pilot; two other crew were aboard but survived. There was a problem with the aircraft, but he was able to maintain control for long enough that his crewmen could bail out safely. One of them reported that "he was either unable to get out, or when he did, he was hit by part of the plane and knocked unconscious."
Family
He was married in 1930 to Adrienne Hedger Clark of San Francisco; he and his wife had three daughters, Leslie, Susan, and Sally. His wife was "socially prominent" (per the San Francisco Examiner on June 6, 1930) who had graduated Miss Burke's School, then "finished her education at Lausanne, Switzerland, and the University of California."
The Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, California) reported on October 24, 1936 that Adrienne had recently participated in a cross-country "air derby," flying solo across the country to Hagerstown, Maryland. She finished 20 of 40 overall, but won "one lap and won $500."
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.
October 1930
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
April 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LT Francis Bridget '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
July 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1931
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1932
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
April 1932
Ensign, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1932
Ensign, USS Arizona
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
January 1933
Ensign, USS Arizona
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
April 1933
Ensign, USS Arizona
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
July 1933
Ensign, USS Arizona
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
October 1933
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
April 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27
LTjg Frank Highley, Jr. '30
LTjg Robert Patten '30
LTjg Claud Hughes '30
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31
July 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31
ENS Ford Wallace '31
ENS William Freshour '31
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Lance Massey '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Lance Massey '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT William Eaton '21 (USS Lexington)
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Lance Massey '30 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Daniel Gothie '32 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Worthington '34 (USS Lexington)
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT James Carney '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS George Fuller '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Richard McGowan '35 (USS Lexington)
January 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LT Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg William Sisko '31 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
April 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LT Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg William Freshour '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
LTjg Alden Irons '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
July 1936
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS West Virginia:
January 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS West Virginia:
April 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Observation Plane Squadron (VO) 4B, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS West Virginia:
September 1937
Lieutenant (j.g.), Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Others at this command:
January 1938
Lieutenant (j.g.), Patrol Squadron (VP) 2, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Others at this command:
July 1938
Lieutenant (j.g.), Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Others at this command:
January 1939
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 5, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
October 1939
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 12, San Diego, California
June 1940
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 12, San Diego, California
November 1940
Lieutenant, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Charles Crommelin '31 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg Robert Fair '33 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Joel Davis, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg Clyde McCroskey, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
LTjg John Hunter '36 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
ENS Edward Price '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Allan Wussow '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Seiler, Jr. '39 (USS Lexington)
ENS Willard Sampson '40 (USS Lexington)
April 1941
Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 71, USS Wasp
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Wasp:
LT John Burke '28 (USS Wasp)
LTjg James Fitzpatrick, Jr. '35 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)
LTjg Mark Eslick, Jr. '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
LTjg Webster Johnson '36 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 72)
ENS William Cook '38 (USS Wasp)
ENS Alphonse Minvielle '38 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 72)
ENS Lester Wall, Jr. '39 (USS Wasp)
ENS John Nichols, Jr. '41 (USS Wasp)
Class of 1930
Baylies is one of 42 members of the Class of 1930 on Virtual Memorial Hall.
