DAVID H. POPE, LT, USN

David Pope '39

Date of birth: October 3, 1917

Date of death: July 18, 1943

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1939 Lucky Bag:

DAVID HENSHAW POPE

Washington, D.C.

Dave

The white works and barber shears changed him outwardly that June day four years ago, but his inner aims and ideals were not clipped. Since then he has taken things as they came—first the system, then academics, and, of course, social activities. Dave has the ability to adjust himself to any situation and finds himself at home whether in the admiral's parlor or in the local rathskeller. A friend to all, he is always ready to "receive" during recreation or study hour. Divey's interests vary from batt sports to the Boat Club, intermingled with other activities as aviation or "Reef Points" publication. He doesn't claim an O. A. O., yet if you want a drag, it is Dave who can get her for you with every one a "queen"—guaranteed!

Wrestling 4, 3, 2, 1, W39T; Soccer 4, 3, 2, 1; Boat Club; Reef Points 3, 2, 1; Racing Committee 2, 1; 2 Stripes.

DAVID HENSHAW POPE

Washington, D.C.

Dave

The white works and barber shears changed him outwardly that June day four years ago, but his inner aims and ideals were not clipped. Since then he has taken things as they came—first the system, then academics, and, of course, social activities. Dave has the ability to adjust himself to any situation and finds himself at home whether in the admiral's parlor or in the local rathskeller. A friend to all, he is always ready to "receive" during recreation or study hour. Divey's interests vary from batt sports to the Boat Club, intermingled with other activities as aviation or "Reef Points" publication. He doesn't claim an O. A. O., yet if you want a drag, it is Dave who can get her for you with every one a "queen"—guaranteed!

Wrestling 4, 3, 2, 1, W39T; Soccer 4, 3, 2, 1; Boat Club; Reef Points 3, 2, 1; Racing Committee 2, 1; 2 Stripes.

Loss

From Find A Grave:

Took off from Banika Island in the Russell Island Group on an escort mission for B-24s bombing Kahili Airfield. Over the target, intercepted enemy fighters. This Wildcat failed to return.

He was a member of Fighting Squadron (VF) 26, which was normally attached to USS Sangamon (CVE 26).

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

David graduated from Western High School in Washington, D. C., in 1934.
As a midshipman, on September 20, 1938, David attended the first debutante party of the season at Normandy Farms. In January 1939, David attended the Cadet and Midshipman ball. Also in attendance were the wife and daughter of George S. Patton, Jr., the new Commandant of Fort Myer.
David’s wife was Jane Eaton Pope of Norfolk. In 1930, his father was George, a supervising engineer for the government, mother Lesah, brother Phillip, and sister Virginia. In 1942, his father was procurement director for the Treasury Department. His father died in 1957, and his brother became a Colonel.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Photographs

From the Lucky Bag

Silver Star

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant David Henshaw Pope (NSN: 0-82732), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while participating in an aerial flight as Pilot of a plane of Escort Fighting Squadron TWENTY-SIX (VF-26), attached to the U.S.S. SANGAMON (CVE-26), during the assault on and occupation of French Morocco from 8 November to 11 November 1942. Lieutenant Pope distinguished himself by a meritorious display of superb airmanship on the afternoon of 10 November 1942, when as Commander of a Division of Fighter Aircraft, he participated in an attack which resulted in a complete rout of hostile tanks. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, he pressed home devastating bombing and strafing attacks from low altitudes, contributing materially to the success of the mission. Throughout hostilities, Lieutenant Pope conducted himself in a manner deserving great credit and showed initiative and sound leadership as a Division Leader. The repeated demonstrations of leadership, aggressiveness and airmanship described were of the highest order and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Atlantic: Serial 00160 (March 24, 1943)
Action Date: November 8 - 11, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Fighting Squadron 26 (VF-26)
Division: U.S.S. Sangamon (CVE-26)

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.