WALTER W. WEBSTER, CAPT, USN
Walter Webster '11
Lucky Bag
From the 1911 Lucky Bag:
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.
He was manager of the naval aircraft factory at the Philadelphia Navy Yard at the time, and was en route to Washington, D.C.
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.)
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.
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
Others at this command:
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.
Others at this command:
July 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
September 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
November 1923
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
March 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
May 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
July 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
September 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
November 1924
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
March 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
May 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
July 1925
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
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:
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.
Others at this command:
October 1929
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1930
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
April 1930
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
October 1930
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
April 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
July 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
October 1931
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1932
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
April 1932
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
October 1932
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
January 1933
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
April 1933
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
July 1933
Commander, Bureau of Aeronautics, Washington, D.C.
Others at this command:
October 1933
Commander, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
April 1934
Commander, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LTjg Leonard Southerland '27
LTjg Frank Highley, Jr. '30
LTjg Robert Patten '30
LTjg Claud Hughes '30
LTjg Baylies Clark '30
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31
July 1934
Commander, under instruction, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida
Others at this command:
LTjg John Duke '26
LTjg Ralph Smith '26
LTjg Baylies Clark '30
ENS Charles Palmer, Sr. '31
ENS Lorenz Forbes '31
ENS Ford Wallace '31
ENS William Freshour '31
October 1934
Commander, staff, Aircraft Squadrons, USS Saratoga
Others at this command:
Others at or embarked at 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 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 this command:
Others at or embarked at 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 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 this command:
Others at or embarked at 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 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 this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
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 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 this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
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 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 this command:
Others at or embarked at USS Saratoga:
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 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:
January 1937
Commander, manager, Naval Aircraft Factory, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
ENS Graham Bright '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:
LTjg Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
ENS Graham Bright '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 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 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 Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
2LT James Bromeyer '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 Dudley Morton '30 (Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
2LT James Owens '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 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 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 this command:
Others at or embarked at Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
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 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.
Others at this command:
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:
Class of 1911
Walter is one of 15 members of the Class of 1911 on Virtual Memorial Hall.