JAMES V. CARNEY, CAPT, USN
James Carney '21
Lucky Bag
From the 1921 Lucky Bag:
Loss
James was lost on December 16, 1942 when the SBD Dauntless he was piloting developed engine problems and crashed near Guadalcanal.
He was the commanding officer of Naval Construction Battalion 14, which had repaired Henderson Field and was nearly complete in completing an emergency runway at Koli Point, Guadalcanal, when James was lost. (He had landed and taken off earlier to test the work.) The crewman aboard was also killed.
He was designated naval aviator #3195 in 1925.
His wife was listed as next of kin. He was originally buried in Guadalcanal, but is now buried in California.
Namesake
The airstrip his battalion constructed was named "Carney Field" in his honor.
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.
January 1922
Ensign, USS New Mexico
Others at this command:
May 1923
Ensign, USS La Vallette
July 1923
Ensign, USS La Vallette
September 1923
Ensign, USS La Vallette
November 1923
Ensign, USS La Vallette
January 1924
Ensign, USS La Vallette
March 1924
Ensign, USS La Vallette
May 1924
Ensign, USS La Vallette
July 1924
Ensign, USS La Vallette
September 1924
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
November 1924
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
January 1925
Ensign, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
March 1925
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
May 1925
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
July 1925
Lieutenant (j.g.), for assignment, Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, USS Langley
Others at this command:
October 1925
Lieutenant (j.g.), for assignment, Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, USS Langley
Others at this command:
January 1926
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT Samuel Arthur '20 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2)
October 1926
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT Frederick Buse '20 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet)
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet)
January 1927
Lieutenant (j.g.), Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1
Others at this command:
April 1927
Lieutenant (j.g.), Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet)
October 1927
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LT Paul Thompson '19 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet)
LTjg Fitzhugh Rhea '24 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Richard Moss '24 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
January 1928
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
April 1928
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 1B, USS Saratoga
Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT Edwin Conway '20 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Ted Marshall '24 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Morgan Redfield '26 (USS Saratoga)
ENS John Crane '26 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Clinton Rounds '27 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Arthur Loeser '27 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Eugene Lindsey '27 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Henry Dozier '27 (USS Saratoga)
July 1928
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
October 1928
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
January 1929
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT Edwin Conway '20
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT Stephen Cooke '21
LT Francis Bridget '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
April 1929
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT Francis Bridget '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
LTjg Creighton Lankford '25
ENS Henry G'Sell '26
July 1929
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
ENS Henry G'Sell '26
October 1929
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg Hubert Hayter '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
ENS Henry G'Sell '26
LTjg Claude Haman '26
January 1930
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Ted Marshall '24
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
LTjg Andrew Harris '25
April 1930
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Ted Marshall '24
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg James McDonough '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
LTjg Andrew Harris '25
October 1930
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
January 1931
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Langley
Others at or embarked at USS Langley:
April 1931
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Francis Bridget '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Hilan Ebert '26 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
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)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
July 1931
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Walter Bailey '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Allen '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (USS Lexington)
October 1931
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Dick Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (USS Lexington)
LTjg J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Craig '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Walter Bailey '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Allen '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (USS Lexington)
January 1932
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
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 Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (USS Lexington)
LTjg J. C. Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Craig '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Cleon Felton '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Walter Bailey '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Edward Allen '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (USS Lexington)
April 1932
Lieutenant, Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B, USS Lexington
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
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 Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lindsey '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS John Craig '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Walter Bailey '31 (USS Lexington)
ENS Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (USS Lexington)
October 1932
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
January 1933
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
April 1933
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
July 1933
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
October 1933
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
April 1934
Lieutenant, Naval Air Station San Diego, California
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
July 1934
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Walter Dey '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Edwin Kelly '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1934
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
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 Edwin Kelly '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
January 1935
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
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 Edwin Kelly '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
ENS Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
April 1935
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
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 Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Philip Ashworth '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
October 1935
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LT James McDonough '24 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Baylies Clark '30 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B)
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
January 1936
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
April 1936
Lieutenant, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LTjg Eugene Lytle, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 5B)
July 1936
Lieutenant, Patrol Plane Squadron (VP) 9F
January 1937
Lieutenant, Patrol Plane Squadron (VP) 9F
April 1937
Lieutenant, executive officer, Patrol Plane Squadron (VP) 9F
September 1937
Lieutenant Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1938
Lieutenant Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
July 1938
Lieutenant Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1939
Lieutenant Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
October 1939
Lieutenant Commander, Navy Department, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
June 1940
Lieutenant Commander, commanding officer, USS Hulbert
November 1940
Lieutenant Commander, commanding officer, USS Hulbert
April 1941
Lieutenant Commander, commanding officer, USS Hulbert
Class of 1921
James is one of 32 members of the Class of 1921 on Virtual Memorial Hall.