Miguel Nava '17
On February 7, 2024 Captain Miguel Nava, USMC '17 was killed in a helicopter crash. Please consider a donation to his family to honor his service, and the incredible sacrifice of his wife and five-month-old son.

WALTER W. WEBSTER, CAPT, USN

From USNA Virtual Memorial Hall
Walter Webster '11

Date of birth: July 28, 1888

Date of death: March 16, 1943

Age: 54

Lucky Bag

From the 1911 Lucky Bag:

1911 Webster LB.jpg

Walter Wynne Webster

Fargo, North Dakota

"Ducky" "Dan" "Noah"

THE original hard-headed savoir of the Class. Has held down a number near the top ever since he left the wheat fields of North Dakota. Endowed with a remarkable memory, he can tell you the R. A. of any star in the celestial system for any date in the year. Recites in an injured tone of voice when called upon, as if complaining at the mere necessity. Is easily amused and giggles continually at the antics of Beak and Woody. Slow and methodical in his movements, but once get him going and you can't stop him. Started fussing Second Class year, but finds more relaxation and amusement in poring over his famous interpolating chart of the celestial system. Lived with Squirrel Kingman in true Scandinavian felicity until First Class year. Ducky has spent many a midnight hour with chaps less savvy than he; doesn't grease and couldn't if he tried.

"Sir, I don't just exactly see where they get this."

Expert Bar; Star (3, 2); Chairman Bible Study Class.


Walter Wynne Webster was born in Fargo, North Dakota, July 28, 1888, and resided there up to his appointment to the Naval Academy. Three years and a half were spent in Fargo High School, during the last year of which he was the Editor in Chief of the High School publication.

1911 Webster LB.jpg

Walter Wynne Webster

Fargo, North Dakota

"Ducky" "Dan" "Noah"

THE original hard-headed savoir of the Class. Has held down a number near the top ever since he left the wheat fields of North Dakota. Endowed with a remarkable memory, he can tell you the R. A. of any star in the celestial system for any date in the year. Recites in an injured tone of voice when called upon, as if complaining at the mere necessity. Is easily amused and giggles continually at the antics of Beak and Woody. Slow and methodical in his movements, but once get him going and you can't stop him. Started fussing Second Class year, but finds more relaxation and amusement in poring over his famous interpolating chart of the celestial system. Lived with Squirrel Kingman in true Scandinavian felicity until First Class year. Ducky has spent many a midnight hour with chaps less savvy than he; doesn't grease and couldn't if he tried.

"Sir, I don't just exactly see where they get this."

Expert Bar; Star (3, 2); Chairman Bible Study Class.


Walter Wynne Webster was born in Fargo, North Dakota, July 28, 1888, and resided there up to his appointment to the Naval Academy. Three years and a half were spent in Fargo High School, during the last year of which he was the Editor in Chief of the High School publication.

Loss

Walter was lost on March 16, 1943 when the "two engine Navy bomber" he was aboard crashed near Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The pilot of the plane, the only other person aboard, was also lost. (Information from now broken link at http://www.historicnewtownsquare.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-003-navy-crash.pdf)

He was manager of the naval aircraft factory at the Philadelphia Navy Yard at the time, and was en route to Washington, D.C.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Walter was a newsboy and carrier for the Fargo Forum. He was recommended to the Naval Academy by Congressman A. J. Gronna. After graduation in June 1911, Walter, his parents, and sister Florence were guests of Senators Gronna and McCumber for dinner at the Senate café.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Walter was a member of the Naval & Architectural Society in the 1916 yearbook.

He married Maudess (Bidwell) Rawlings around 1925. Her first marriage was to William Rawlings on October 22, 1914. During WW I, she was a Navy Yeomanette. In March, 3, 1929, Walter and Maudess sailed from Cristobal, Canal Zone to New York City.

After Pearl Harbor, Walter was recalled from another assignment to take charge of the Naval Aircraft Factory at Philadelphia to superintend its expansion.

Walter's father Charles was a bank clerk, mother Isabella. His siblings were: Florence, Helen, and Grant.

Walter earned his wings as naval aviator #4053 on September 11, 1934; he is listed as a "CDR (CC)." Unclear what the "CC" indicates.

He was a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

He was survived by his wife, who is buried next to him in Arlington National Cemetery.

Walter's class ring, lost for 30 years, was returned to his wife in July 1949. (Information from the September 1949 issue of Shipmate.)

Photographs

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.

January 1912
Midshipman, North Dakota

January 1913
Ensign, Panther
January 1914
Ensign, under instruction, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
January 1915
Assistant Naval Constructor, instr, Mass Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass
January 1916
Lieutenant (j.g.), under instruction; assistant naval constructor, Mass Institute of Technology, Boston, Mass
January 1917
Lieutenant (j.g.), assistant naval constructor, Navy Yard, Puget Sound

Others at this command:
March 1918
Lieutenant, assistant naval constructor, Navy Yard, Puget Sound
January 1919
Lieutenant Commander, assistant naval constructor, Navy Yard, Puget Sound
January 1920
Lieutenant Commander, assistant naval constructor, Navy Yard, Puget Sound
January 1921
Lieutenant Commander, assistant naval constructor, Navy Yard, New York
January 1922
Lieutenant Commander, assistant naval constructor, Navy Yard, New York
May 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

July 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

September 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

November 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

March 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

May 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

July 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

September 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

November 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

January 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

March 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

May 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

July 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

October 1925
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia

Others at this command:
January 1926
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia

Others at this command:
October 1926
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
January 1927
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
April 1927
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia:
2LT Joseph Wolfe '26 (Marine Corps Schools)
2LT Thomas Jordan '26 (Marine Corps Schools)
2LT Lofton Henderson '26 (Marine Corps Schools)
October 1927
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
January 1928
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
April 1928
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
July 1928
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
October 1928
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
January 1929
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
April 1929
Commander, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia
July 1929
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

October 1929
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

January 1930
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

April 1930
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

October 1930
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

January 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

April 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

July 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

October 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

January 1932
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

April 1932
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

October 1932
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

January 1933
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

April 1933
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

July 1933
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

Others at this command:
October 1934
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
ENS George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
January 1935
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Carl Lindgren '28 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg George Stone '31 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Robert Fair '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
April 1935
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Jones '21 (USS Saratoga)
LT Matthias Marple, Jr. '23 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Mathias Wyatt '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Bruce Van Voorhis '29 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Ostrom '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Charles Palmer, Sr. '31 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Ford Wallace '31 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg James Murphy '31 (Torpedo Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Edward Blessman '31 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Bertram Prueher '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
October 1935
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LT John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Ralph Smith '26 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 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)
LTjg Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Paul Burton '33 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)
January 1936
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 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)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)
April 1936
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga


Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
LCDR John Gillon '20 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LT Charles McDonald '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LT Richard Moss '24 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Loren Morris '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 6B)
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)
LTjg Albert Gates, Jr. '32 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
ENS Wendell Froling '34 (USS Saratoga)
ENS Maurice Fitzgerald '35 (USS Saratoga)
July 1936
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
CAPT David Claude '24 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
January 1937
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
CAPT David Claude '24 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
ENS Graham Bright '35 (Naval Finance & Supply School)
ENS George Fuller '35 (Naval Finance & Supply School)
April 1937
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
CAPT David Claude '24 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
LTjg Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
ENS Graham Bright '35 (Naval Finance & Supply School)
ENS George Fuller '35 (Naval Finance & Supply School)
2LT Robert Moore '36 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Ralph Haas '36 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
September 1937
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
LT John Welch '23 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
LT Thomas Fraser '24 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
LTjg Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
2LT Robert Moore '36 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT James Bromeyer '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Robert Ruge '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Alben Robertson '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Radford West '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
January 1938
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
LT John Welch '23 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
LT Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
2LT James Bromeyer '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Robert Ruge '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Alben Robertson '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Radford West '37 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
July 1938
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
LT John Welch '23 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
LT Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
2LT James Owens '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT John Maclaughlin, Jr. '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Douglas Keeler '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Dorrance Radcliffe '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
January 1939
Captain, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Others at this command:

Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
LT John Welch '23 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
LT Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
ENS Louis Gulliver, Jr. '36 (Naval Finance and Supply School)
2LT James Owens '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT John Maclaughlin, Jr. '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Douglas Keeler '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Dorrance Radcliffe '38 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
October 1939
Captain, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
ENS Lewis Davis '37 (Naval Finance & Supply School)
2LT John Maclaughlin, Jr. '38 (Marine Barracks)
2LT Ralph Mann, Jr. '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT William Pace '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Willard Holdredge '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT William Hogaboom '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Carter Simpson '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT John Fantone '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Hugh Tistadt, Jr. '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT William Harris '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
2LT Alfred Gordon '39 (Marine Corps Schools, Marine Barracks)
June 1940
Captain, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

November 1940
Captain, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

Others at this command:
April 1941
Captain, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.

Others at this command:

Namesakes

USS Webster (ARV 2) was named for Walter; the ship was sponsored by his widow.

Webster Field at Priest Point, Maryland, was named for him on June 1, 1943.

Memorial Hall Error

Walter is not listed with his classmates. He was identified through the diligent efforts of Leslie Poche, a volunteer who combed through Shipmate issues to find operational losses not accounted for in Memorial Hall.


Class of 1911

Walter is one of 15 members of the Class of 1911 on Virtual Memorial Hall.

QR code

The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.