RALPH D. SMITH, LT, USN
Ralph Smith '26
Lucky Bag
From the 1926 Lucky Bag:
Loss
From Abilene Reporter-News of Abilene, Texas on May 23, 1941:
WASHINGTON. May 23. The navy reported today the death of Lt. Ralph Dempsey Smith and Chief Radioman Clarence Widner Allen in the crash of a naval plane piloted by Smith. The plane came down in the waters of Pearl Harbor. Hawaii. Both men were attached to the aircraft carrier Enterprise. Allen is survived by his widow, Mrs. Nellie May Allen, San Diego, and his father, C. E. Allen, Mabanks, Tex.
Ralph had only been at Hawaii for two weeks, according to another report. He was survived by his wife, Marie, and two children, Ralph Jr. and Susanne; they were in San Diego at the time.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. It's possible that he was commanding officer of Scouting Squadron (VS) 6, though he is not listed as such in the 1941 Navy Directory. His headstone gives his rank as LCDR, but all other reports and records are that he was a Lieutenant.
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 1926
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
January 1927
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
April 1927
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
October 1927
Ensign, USS West Virginia
January 1928
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
April 1928
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
July 1928
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
October 1928
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
January 1929
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
April 1929
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
July 1929
Ensign, USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
October 1929
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS West Virginia
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
January 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, 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 John Waldron '24
April 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT James Carney '21
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
October 1930
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
January 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
April 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
July 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
October 1931
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
January 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
April 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
October 1932
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
January 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
April 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Hovey
July 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command:
LCDR Lyman Swenson '16
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Robert Smith '20
LT Paul Register '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT Howard Healy '22
1LT Charles Kail '23
LT Hallsted Hopping '24
LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24
LTjg James Smith, Jr. '25
October 1933
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command:
LCDR Lyman Swenson '16
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Robert Smith '20
LT Paul Register '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT Howard Healy '22
1LT Charles Kail '23
LT Hallsted Hopping '24
LTjg Lawrence McPeake '24
LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25
April 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Academy
Others at this command:
LCDR Lyman Swenson '16
LCDR Charles Cecil '16
LT Robert Smith '20
LT Paul Register '21
LT William Gray '21
LT George Brooke '21
LT Howard Healy '22
1LT Charles Kail '23
LT Hallsted Hopping '24
LT Lawrence McPeake '24
LTjg William Graham, Jr. '25
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 Baylies Clark '30
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31
ENS Ford Wallace '31
ENS William Freshour '31
October 1934
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31
LTjg Ford Wallace '31
LTjg William Freshour '31
LTjg Vernon Hain '31
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
January 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
1LT Harold Bauer '30
LTjg Vernon Hain '31
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
ENS Edward Allen '31
LTjg Robert Mackert '31
April 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LT James Craig '22
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Robert Coates '30
1LT Nicholas Pusel '30
1LT Harold Bauer '30
LTjg Vernon Hain '31
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31
ENS Edward Allen '31
LTjg Robert Mackert '31
October 1935
Lieutenant (j.g.), USS Saratoga
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at this command:
LT John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Harold Richards '27 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Oliver White '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Thomas Ashworth, Jr. '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
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.), Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LTjg Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg James McRoberts '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Leo Crane '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
January 1937
Lieutenant, Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LT Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Finley Hall '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Lorenz Forbes '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 3B)
LTjg Leo Crane '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS Milton Ricketts '35 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
April 1937
Lieutenant, Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 1B, USS Ranger
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Ranger:
LT Seymour Johnson '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 3B)
LTjg Donald Lovelace '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Finley Hall '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Leo Crane '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Robert Strickler '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Archibald Greenlee '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 1B)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Earle Schneider '33 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Hulson '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS John Daub, Jr. '36 (USS Ranger)
September 1937
Lieutenant, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT John Duke '26 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg William Kane '33 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
ENS John Eichmann '35 (USS Lexington)
ENS Thomas Edwards, Jr. '37 (USS Lexington)
January 1938
Lieutenant, Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2, USS Lexington
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Lexington:
LT John Duke '26 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 2)
LTjg John Speer '32 (USS Lexington)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 2)
LTjg Thompson Guthrie, Jr. '34 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 2)
ENS Thomas Edwards, Jr. '37 (USS Lexington)
July 1938
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 3, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Others at this command:
January 1939
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 3, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Others at this command:
October 1939
Lieutenant, Patrol Squadron (VP) 32, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Others at this command:
June 1940
Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 6, USS Enterprise
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Enterprise:
LT Eugene Lindsey '27 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg John Phillips, Jr. '33 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
LTjg Walker Ethridge '34 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 6)
LTjg Philip Torrey, Jr. '34 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 6)
LTjg Arthur Ely '35 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
ENS Ernest Wood, Jr. '38 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
November 1940
Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 6, USS Enterprise
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Enterprise:
LT Eugene Lindsey '27 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg Arthur Ely '35 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
LTjg Paul Riley '37 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
ENS Ernest Wood, Jr. '38 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
April 1941
Lieutenant, Scouting Squadron (VS) 6, USS Enterprise
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Enterprise:
LT Eugene Lindsey '27 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg Arthur Ely '35 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
LTjg Hubert Harden '35 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg Paul Riley '37 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6)
ENS Ernest Wood, Jr. '38 (USS Enterprise)
ENS John Kelley '38 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 6)
ENS Frank Quady '38 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 6)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
ENS William Williamson, Jr. '41 (USS Enterprise)
Class of 1926
Ralph is one of 36 members of the Class of 1926 on Virtual Memorial Hall.