ERNEST E. POLLOCK, LTCOL, USMC

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Ernest Pollock '28

Date of birth: July 17, 1904

Date of death: May 19, 1944

Age: 39

Lucky Bag

From the 1928 Lucky Bag:

1928 Pollock LB.jpg

ERNEST EDWIN POLLOCK

Delaware, Ohio

"Erncy" "Eddie" "Polly"

"MR. Pollock, what are all those horns doing in here?" "Well, sir, some belong to the orchestra, some to the jazz band, and the other six are mine." "Polly" always did have a burning passion for musical instruments.

Before entering the Academy, he studied the stars at Ohio Wesleyan, and later went into the Navy.

"EDDIE" isn't a "Red Mike." Far from it. Almost any week-end when he isn't carrying a gun he is showing the sights to some fair one.

His chief delights are in caulking off and being late to formations. "EDDIE" has been active in athletics, literary societies, and the musical organization. "Busy" should be his middle name, and when he takes an interest in a thing, it goes or he dies in the attempt. He's not dead yet!

Class Football (4); Crew Squad (3, 2, 1), Plebe Varsity (4), Class Numerals (3), Navy Numerals (4); Class Track (2); Class Bowling (3); Log Staff (3, 2), Exchange Editor (1); Trident Staff (2, 1), Editor-in-Chief (1), Trident Society (2, 1), President (1); Reef Points (3, 2); Gymkhana Cast (4, 3, 2, 1); Musical Club, Director Manager (1), Assistant Director (2); Jazz Band (3, 2, 1), Assistant Leader (2); Glee Club (4, 3, 2); Choir (4, 3, 2, 1); Two Stripes.

1928 Pollock LB.jpg

ERNEST EDWIN POLLOCK

Delaware, Ohio

"Erncy" "Eddie" "Polly"

"MR. Pollock, what are all those horns doing in here?" "Well, sir, some belong to the orchestra, some to the jazz band, and the other six are mine." "Polly" always did have a burning passion for musical instruments.

Before entering the Academy, he studied the stars at Ohio Wesleyan, and later went into the Navy.

"EDDIE" isn't a "Red Mike." Far from it. Almost any week-end when he isn't carrying a gun he is showing the sights to some fair one.

His chief delights are in caulking off and being late to formations. "EDDIE" has been active in athletics, literary societies, and the musical organization. "Busy" should be his middle name, and when he takes an interest in a thing, it goes or he dies in the attempt. He's not dead yet!

Class Football (4); Crew Squad (3, 2, 1), Plebe Varsity (4), Class Numerals (3), Navy Numerals (4); Class Track (2); Class Bowling (3); Log Staff (3, 2), Exchange Editor (1); Trident Staff (2, 1), Editor-in-Chief (1), Trident Society (2, 1), President (1); Reef Points (3, 2); Gymkhana Cast (4, 3, 2, 1); Musical Club, Director Manager (1), Assistant Director (2); Jazz Band (3, 2, 1), Assistant Leader (2); Glee Club (4, 3, 2); Choir (4, 3, 2, 1); Two Stripes.

Loss

Ernest was lost on May 19, 1944 when the PBY4-1 Liberator he was aboard crashed near Cherry Point, North Carolina. The rest of the crew were also killed. He was commanding officer of Marine Photographic Squadron (VMD) 354.

Other Information

The Colton (California) Courier reported on February 22, 1944 that he was "the new executive officer of the Marine Corps Air station at Cherry Point, N.C."

Ernest was a pioneer in aircraft photography for the Marine Corps.

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Ernest came from a large family. His father Walter was a farmer in 1910 and became a real estate and insurance agent by 1920. His mother was Florence. His brothers were Otho and Walter, and his sisters were Louise, Caroline, and Clara. Ernest married Evelyn, and they had two sons Richard and Walter.

In July, 1932, Ernest sailed from Corinto, Nicaragua, to San Diego. His wife and sons were listed on the manifest but were crossed off.

Per a Marine Corps muster roll, Ernest “accepted commission as first lieutenant, ad interim, dated 13 Nov 1934 with rank fr 29 May 1934.” His residence was VO Squadron 8-M Aircraft Two FMF Naval Air Station, San Diego.

Per the Marion Star, Ohio, May 23, 1944: Ernest held the second Nicaraguan campaign medal, Nicaraguan Cruz de Valor, American Defense service medal and American and Asiatic-Pacific medals.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

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.

October 1928
2nd Lieutenant, Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 1929
2nd Lieutenant, Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

April 1929
2nd Lieutenant, Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 1929
2nd Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Hampton Roads, Virginia

Others at this command:
October 1929
2nd Lieutenant, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, New York
October 1930
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
January 1931
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
April 1931
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
July 1931
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons, West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
October 1931
2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Marine Brigade, Nicaragua

January 1932
2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Marine Brigade, Nicaragua

April 1932
2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Marine Brigade, Nicaragua

October 1932
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
January 1933
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
April 1933
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Squadrons West Coast Expeditionary Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
July 1933
2nd Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron 14-M, USS Saratoga

Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg William Oliver '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
ENS James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Stone '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
October 1933
2nd Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron 14-M, USS Saratoga

Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg William Arthur '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg James Clarkson '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Byron Newell '30 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
April 1934
2nd Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron 14-M, USS Saratoga

Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Lloyd Greenamyer '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (Aircraft Squadrons)
ENS George Ottinger '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Frank Latta '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
July 1934
2nd Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron 14-M, USS Langley

Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Clair Miller '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Gilbert Carpenter '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
October 1934
2nd Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron 14-M, USS Langley

Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20 (USS Langley)
LT Hallsted Hopping '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Oscar Pate, Jr. '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Gilbert Carpenter '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
January 1935
2nd Lieutenant, Aircraft Two, Fleet Marine Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California

April 1935
1st Lieutenant, Aircraft Two, Fleet Marine Force, Naval Air Station San Diego, California

Others at this command:
September 1937
Captain, Training Squadron (VN) 2D8, 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)
LT William Pennewill '29 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
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
Captain, Training Squadron (VN) 2D8, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida

Others at this command:

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)
LT William Pennewill '29 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
LTjg Samuel Dealey '30 (Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida)
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
Captain, Army Air Corps Technical School, Denver, Colorado
January 1939
Captain, Army Air Corps Technical School, Denver, Colorado
October 1939
Captain, Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia

June 1940
Captain, Base Air Detachment, First Marine Aircraft Group, Quantico, Virginia
November 1940
Captain, Base Air Detachment, First Marine Aircraft Group, Quantico, Virginia
April 1941
Captain, Headquarters and Service Squadron, First Marine Aircraft Group, Quantico, Virginia


Class of 1928

Ernest is one of 17 members of the Class of 1928 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

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