Edward Baxter Billingsley Papers

1817-1819, 1938-1999, undated; 1981-1989
Manuscript Collection #782
Creator(s)
Billingsley, Edward Baxter, 1910-1997
Physical description
4.75 Cubic Feet, 6 archives boxes and 3 oversized folders , consisting of photographs, correspondence, photocopies of diaries, ship's war diaries, after-action reports, operational remarks, clippings, death records, microforms, a photograph album, printed forms, publications, map and certificates
Preferred Citation
Edward Baxter Billingsley Papers (#782), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

The Edward Baxter Billingsley Collection (1817-1819, 1938–1999, undated) consists of historical research materials, drafts, and a typescript copy (643 pages) of One Destroyer and World War II: A History of the U. S. S. Emmons (DD457-DM22), by Edward Baxter Billingsley, that he later published as The Emmons Saga: A History of the U. S. S. Emmons (DD457 – DM22). Also included are photographic prints, photocopied naval documents, and microfilm reels concerning his research, and correspondence (1817-1819) related to his dissertation on Chilean and Peruvian wars of Independence.


Biographical/historical information

Edward Baxter Billingsley was born 18 June, 1910, in Melbourne, AR, into a prominent political family. His great grandfather had served as governor. His maternal grandfather was a country physician.

Billingsley began his naval career at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, in July, 1928. His first ship was the USS NEVADA. From 1934 – 1937, he served in China, aboard USS SACRAMENTO, last coal burning ship in the navy; he also served on the river gunboat USS MINDANAO, and on the patrol yacht ISABEL. He then served on the cruiser USS CHICAGO, for two years (1937 – 1939) where he was Assistant Engineering Officer. The Navy then assigned him to the U.S. Naval Training Station, at Norfolk, Virginia, where he remained until 1941. He married Patricia Malloy in December, 1939.

In August 1941, the Navy posted Billingsley to the not-yet commissioned destroyer, USS EMMONS, where he was to serve as engineering officer. EMMONS was commissioned on 5 December 1941. EMMONS' first assignment was to join a force of five British and American Destroyers to escort the cruiser USS TUSCALOOSA deliver ammunition and supplies to the Russians and British stationed at Murmansk, in the Soviet Union, and to rescue survivors of Convoy PQ-17 stranded there.

In October, 1942, just prior to the invasion of North Africa, Billingsley was promoted to be executive officer of the EMMONS which served in the joint British – American invasion fleet. In 1943, Emmons again served with the Royal Navy, in making several voyages to the Arctic and the Norwegian coast while trying to lure the German navy out of their well-defended bases. He was promoted to command of the EMMONS on 4 July, 1943.

One of EMMONS' first assignments to escort President Roosevelt on his trip to Teheran in the fall of 1943. In 1944, EMMONS returned to Europe as part of an antisubmarine unit prior to the Invasion of France. In May Billingsley earned a commendation for leading Emmons during the hunting and sinking of the U-616. During the Normandy Invasion, Emmons was in the thick of combat, providing close fire support ship at Omaha Beach. On 25 June, Billingsley and Emmons helped in the bombardment of Cherbourg. Billingsley earned a Silver Star medal for his courage under fire. In August 1944, Billingsley also served in the invasion of Southern France, again in a close fire support unit. For these actions, he received a Bronze Star. He later received the French Croix de Guerre medal EMMONS' role in the liberation of France.

In fall of 1944, after EMMONS was converted to a high speed minesweeper and renumbered DSM-522, Billingsley was detached and given command of the USS JOHN A. BOLE (DD-755). BOLE was commissioned early in March 1945 and arrived off Okinawa at the end of June 1945 where she was serving as one of the many U.S. destroyers on picket duty, when Japanese kamikazes sank the USS EMMONS.

After the end of the war in the Pacific Theater, the BOLE became part of the American naval forces in the Yellow Sea between Japan and China. BOLE took part in the occupation of Korea, on 8 September 1945. During this operation, Billingsley commanded a naval task unit including of LSM 5, AND LSM 355, along with BOLE. Billingsley naval force and the army troops received the surrender of 60,000 Japanese troops on Quelpart Island on 2 August. He also disarmed the local Japanese naval forces including naval guns and 88 suicide motor boats.

Billingsley then returned to the US. In September 1946, he was assigned to take the Navy postgraduate Personnel Administration and Training course, at Northwestern University. He received his MA in June 1947. Later that June, he was ordered to report to the Bureau of Naval Personnel. He served two years as Assistant Director of the Special Services Division of the Welfare Activity.

From July 1949, to January 1951, Cdr. Billingsley executive officer, aboard the cruiser USS COLUMBUS (CA-74), flagship of U.S. Naval Forces in Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean seas. In 1950, COLUMBUS received a battle efficiency pennant. On 1 January 1951, Billingsley earned promotion to the rank of captain. During his first year as captain, February 1951 to May 1952, he was chief of staff and operations officer to the commander of Cruiser Division SIX, on board the cruiser USS MACON. His next assignment from July 1952 to August 1954, was as base operations officer at Pearl Harbor, whereupon he was named commanding officer of the cruiser USS MONTROSE which served in the Western Pacific during most of 1954 – 1955.

From November 1955 until January 1957, he was posted as commanding officer at Subic Bay, the main U.S. naval base in the Philippines after which he assumed his final assignment on active duty as commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center at Indianapolis, Indiana. Billingsley retired on 1 November 1959 with rank of rear admiral.

After retiring, Admiral Billingsley returned to college, attending the Goethe Institute in Germany. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from which he received a PhD in Latin American History in 1965.

After receiving his doctorate, Billingsley served for a year as chair of the Social Sciences Department and as an assistant professor of history at Methodist College in Fayetteville, N.C. He then was chair of the History Department at the Fort Bragg Branch of the North Carolina State University for another year. In 1967, he joined the faculty of the University of South Florida at Tampa. In 1977, he retired with the rank of associate professor.

In his second retirement, Billingsley began researching his history of the USS EMMONS. He worked on this project from 1981 until 1989, when he privately published a limited edition for members of the U.S.S. EMMONS Association under the title The EMMONS Saga. Admiral Billingsley died on 3 September 1997.

Sources: USS EMMONS HISTORY, USS Emmons DD457 / DMS522 Association https://www.ussemmons.org/history


Scope and arrangement

The Edward Baxter Billingsley Papers (1817-1819, 1938–1999, undated) consists of historical research materials, drafts, and a typescript copy of his history of the USS EMMONS entitled One Destroyer and World War II: A History of the USS Emmons (DD457 – DMS522) which he later published as The USS Emmons Saga: A History of the USS EMMONS (DD457 – DSM 522). The collection is arranged in seven series, including: Manuscript Materials, Photographic Prints, Published Material, Research Materials, Photograph Album, Death and Funeral Materials, and Oversized Material.

Admiral Billingsley's papers include photographs, correspondence, copies of diaries both American and German, ships' war diaries, after-action reports, operational remarks, clippings, reports, microfilms, and biographical materials. Also included is a photograph album showing Captain Billingsley, the USS COLUMBUS (CA-74), his family members, fellow naval officers, Lady Nancy Astor, King George VI, naval vessels, social events and ceremonies in England, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Subic Bay, the Philippines, and other locations. A series of papers relate to Billingsley's death, cremation, and burial at sea and include his obituary from the Tampa Tribune, 9 September 1997, a eulogy by Douglas L. Gruber at a memorial service held 21 October 1997; and two copies of Ramblin Rose, newsletter of the USS Montrose Association (Summer 1999), and an issue of the newsletter of the USS Emmons Association for December 1997 containing articles about Admiral Billingsley.

The published material includes a popularized version of his dissertation published by the UNC Press, on the Chilean and Peruvian wars of Independence, in 1818 to 1824, entitled in Defense of Neutral Rights: The United States Navy and the Wars of Indiependence in Chile and Peru (1967). Some of his research for his dissertation consisting of letters received by the Secretary of the Navy from Captains, 1818-1819, is found in the Research Materials series.

Oversize materials include a map showing the location of Billingsley's burial at sea and Neptunus Rex certificates given to Billingsley when he crossed the equator and the Arctic Circle in 1942 for the first time.


Administrative information
Custodial History

August 10, 1999, 2 cubic feet; Research files (1938-1989) for writing of the history of the USS Emmons: The Emmons Saga, including photographs and correspondence, and copies of diaries (U.S. and German), ship's war diaries, after-action reports, operational remarks, clippings, letters, and reports. Donor: USS Emmons Association.

August 24, 1999 (addition 1), 0.27 cubic feet, 235 items, 248 pages; Papers (1950-1999, undated) including a photograph album showing Captain Billingsley, the USS Columbus (CA-74), his family members, fellow naval officers, Lady Nancy Astor, King George VI, naval vessels, social events and ceremonies in England, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Subic Bay, the Philippines, and other locations; also papers relating to Billingsley's death and burial at sea. Donor: Carolyn Hunter.

Source of acquisition

Gift of USS Emmons Association

Gift of Carolyn Hunter

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services, March 2002; Processing completed 4/29/2019 by Jonathan Dembo with assistance from Saundra Pinkham, 10/6/2009; and Thomas Hall, 6/22/2018.

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Related material

U.S.S. EMMONS Association Collection (#0887), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA


Key terms
Personal Names
Billingsley, Edward Baxter, 1910-1997
Billingsley, Edward Baxter, 1910-1997--Family--Pictorial works
Corporate Names
Columbus (Cruiser)
Emmons (Destroyer : DD-457)
Montrose (Attack transport)
United States. Navy--Officers
Topical
Destroyers (Warships)--United States
Places
South America--Foreign relations--United States
South America--History--Wars of Independence, 1806-1830--Participation, Foreign
United States--Foreign relations--South America
United States--History, Naval

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Title Page, Table of Contents: "Contents," & Preface
Box 1 Folder b Chapter 1: "A Bath-Built Boat" (Pages 1-34)
Box 1 Folder c Chapter 2: "Commissioning and Fitting Out" (Pages 35-55)
Box 1 Folder d Chapter 3: "South American Shakedown" (Pages 56-83)
Box 1 Folder e Chapter 4: "War Becomes Reality" (Pages 84-117)
Box 1 Folder f Chapter 5: "With the British Home Fleet at Scapa Flow" (Pages 118-161)
Box 1 Folder g Chapter 6: "Murmansk" (Pages 162-198)
Box 1 Folder h Chapter 7: "Invasion of North Africa" (Pages 199-256)
Box 1 Folder i Chapter 8: "Second Tour with the Home Fleet" (Pages 257-312)
Box 1 Folder j Chapter 9: "The Iowa and President Roosevelt" (Pages 313-346)
Box 1 Folder k Chapter 10: "Antisubmarine Duty in the Mediterranean" (Pages 347-379)
Box 1 Folder l Chapter 11: "Normandy" (Pages 380-421)
Box 1 Folder m Chapter 12: "Bombardment of Cherbourg" (Pages 422-437)
Box 1 Folder n Chapter 13: "Southern France" (Pages 438-481)
Box 1 Folder o Chapter 14: "From Destroyer to High Speed Minesweeper" (Pages 482-523)
Box 1 Folder p Chapter 15: "The Last Battle at Okinawa" (Pages 524-601)
Box 1 Folder q Chapter 16: "Honors" (Pages 602-605)
Box 1 Folder r "Appendix A: Officers and Crew from Commissioning to Sinking" (Pages 606-612)
Box 1 Folder s "Appendix B: List of Killed, Missing in Action, and Survivors from the Last Battle" (Pages 613-617)
Box 1 Folder t "Appendix C: Employment Schedule" (Pages 618-626)
Box 1 Folder u "Bibliography" (Pages 627-637)
Box 1 Folder v Edward Baxter Billingsley in his naval uniform. Photographic Print. Black & White, 1959
Box 2 Folder a Current, undated
Box 2 Folder b Naval History Center, May 1982
Box 2 Folder c 6. Torch - North Africa, 1942
Box 2 Folder d Emmons Personnel Data -See also individual chapters, 1941-1945
Box 2 Folder e 5. Scapa - Murmansk, 1942
Box 2 Folder f 8. Special Training Argentia 7f3vcs (Special) Scapa Two, 1943
Box 2 Folder g 3. Caribbean - East Coast - Scapa, 1942
Box 2 Folder h 4. T.F. [Task Force] 36 - Ranger - Gulf of Mexico - Trinidad - U.S. Training Cruises, 1942
Box 2 Folder i Shakedowns, 1942
Box 2 Folder j ComNavEu [Commander Naval Forces Europe] Admin History Including photographic prints & correspondence, 1943-1945
Box 2 Folder k Captain Harold M. Heming Autobiographical Account, 1942-1943
Box 3 Folder a Archives Documents Chapters 14, 15, 1945
Box 3 Folder b Archives Documents Chapters 14, 15, 1945
Box 3 Folder c CincLant Flt [Commander-in-Chief Atlantic Fleet] Admin History (Photocopy), 1938-1945
Box 3 Folder d USS Emmons War Diary & Notes, 1944-1945
Box 3 Folder e Normandy, Cherbourg Bombardment, Chapters 11 & 12, 1944
Box 3 Folder f 11. Normandy, Cherbourg, 1944
Box 3 Folder g Survivor Report, Tape Interview Transcripts, Questionnaires, April 1945
Box 4 Folder a Photographic Prints - Other Ships Officer & Crews (13 black and white prints with envelopes), 1945
Box 4 Folder b Photographic Prints - Emmons (28 black and white prints), 1944-1945
Box 4 Folder c Emmons - Heming via Griffin including certificate of appreciation from crew to Billingsley, 1944
Box 4 Folder d Liberty Magazine (content related to Billingsley is on pages 34-35), November 24, 1944
Box 4 Folder e Emmons War Diary & Deck Logs; Muster Roll of Crew, 1941-1945
Box 4 Folder f Heming - Notes and Analysis of Sinking of Emmons - Excellent Sometimes, 1980
Box 4 Folder g Emmons Crew Roster Spreadsheet, 1941-1945, 1981
Box 4 Folder h Correspondence with Mr. Slomaker, Chief, Research Branch, Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, February 22, 1985
Box 4 Folder i Franklin D. Roosevelt Notes on Trip to Cairo and Teheran Photocopy holograph. Note: Item is From Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library., November - December 1943
Box 4 Folder j Emmons War Diaries: Composition of TFs [Task Forces], June 1942, Scattered 1943, Convoys, &2, Iowa, 92-4; Desron 10 [Destroyer Squadron 10] War Diary May 1942-December 31, 1943; USS Charles Carroll War Diary, Jan. 2, 1943, 1942-1943
Box 4 Folder k German Naval Staff War Diary, Vol. 44 ca April - July 1943, 1984
Box 4 Folder l German Naval Staff Operations Division, War Diary, Vol. 44 - 48 April - June 1944: Normandy and Cherbourg (Photocopies), September 1971
Box 4 Folder m German Naval Staff, Operations Division, War Diary, Vols., 44 - 48, April - July 1943 (Photocopies), September 1971
Box 5 Folder a Ship Data - Shipbuilding, including correspondence, notes, printed material, photographic prints, Clippings, Navy reports, etc., 1941-1981
Box 5 Folder b Bureau of Ships File [Research] Declassified Photocopies & notes., May 14, 1982
Box 5 Folder c Research Notes, 1981-1985
Box 5 Folder d General Reprise (1981 - 1985) including Minesweeping Chart, No. 2, of Okinawa region February 1943) Photocopies., 1943-1985
Box 5 Folder e All Hands: The Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin: Victory in Europe, June 1945
Box 5 Folder f Loose Documents with Scattered Dates, 1942-1983
Box 5 Folder g Bibliographical Data: Employment Schedule (Appendix C): Emmons Schedule 1941-1945 (Source, Deck Logs, War Diaries, Emmons Folder Naval Library, Last Few Months of Redman's Logs), 1941-1945
Box 5 Folder h Bibliographical Data & Notes, 1941-1982
Box 5 Folder i Bibliographical Data: Special Bibliography, 1982-1984
Box 6 Folder a Item 1 USS COLUMBUS (CA-74) (ca. 1950, undated) and her crew & visitors, at "Suda Bay [Souda Bay, Crete]"; "Columbus 1950, Plymouth, England Pat, Dutch Will, Lady [ ] Astor"; "Columbus 1950 Dutch Will, Lady Astor"; "Boatswains Mate Pat Dutch - L. Astor - Lt. Cdr. Abercrombie"; "N.Y." Photographic prints. Black & white. ca. 4 " x 5 ". 28 items. 28 p. Note: Annotated on verso in pencil. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges.`, 1950, undated
Box 6 Folder a Item 2 USS COLUMBUS (CA-74) (undated) and her crew & visitors including King George VI of England. Photographic prints. Black & white. ca. 4" x 5". 28 items. 28 p. Note: Annotated on verso. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges., undated
Box 6 Folder a Item 3 USS COLUMBUS (CA-74) (undated) and her crew & visitors "Napoli [Naples, Italy]" Photographic prints. Black & white. ca. 4.5" x 4". 27 items. 27 p. Note: Annotated on verso. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges., undated
Box 6 Folder a Item 4 Photographs (undated) of USS COLUMBUS (CA-74) and her crew & visitors, "ferrania". Photographic prints. Black & white. ca. 3.5" x 5" - 4" x 5". 26 items. 26 p. Note: Annotated on verso. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges., undated
Box 6 Folder a Item 5 USS COLUMBUS (CA-74) (undated) and her crew & visitors. Photographic prints. Black and white. ca. 4" x 5". 28 items. 28 p. Note: Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges., undated
Box 6 Folder a Item 6 Casa Planas Palma de Mallorca (1952) "E.m/h.J.A." Photographic prints and Photo Postcards. Black and white. ca. 4.5" x 4". 28 items. 28 p. Note: Annotated on verso. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges., 1952
Box 6 Folder a Item 7 Palma de Mallorca, Spain (undated) "Foto Balear (Nombre y Marca registrade) vía José Antonio, 9 Teléfono 1566 Palma de Mallorca". Photographic prints. Black & white. ca. 3.25" x 5.75". 28 items. 28 p. Note: Annotated on verso. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges , undated
Box 6 Folder a Item 8 Subic Bay, Philippine Islands (1953-1955) including "10 June 1953" to "17 October 1955"; "Subic Bay Oct 17 '55". Photographic prints. Black & white. ca. 4"x 5". 28 items. 28 p. Note: Annotated on verso. Photographs attached to page with adhesive tape hinges , 1953-1955
Box 6 Folder b Death and funeral papers (1997-1999) relating to Edward Baxter Billingsley's death and burial at sea, including a request/authorization form; two copies of certificate of cremation; discharge form; copy of death certificate; funeral home receipt for cremation expenses; receipt for cremated remains; authorization for cremation; "Funeral Notice" from Tampa Tribune, September 9, 1997; eulogy by Douglas L. Gruber at memorial service, October 21, 1997; letter of Joe Woodnick to Patricia Billingsley, October 23, 1997; Letter of E. A. Whalen to Patricia Billingsley; two copies of Ramblin Rose, newsletter of the USS Montrose Association (Summer 1999); and newsletter of the USS Emmons Association (December 1997). , 1997-1999
Box 6 Folder c Lost Since Our 50th Reunion and photograph (1982-1985) from Class of 1932 Regiment of Midshipmen United States Naval Academy (Annapolis Maryland) 50th Reunion., 1982-1985
782-s6-os1 Cape Hatteras to Straits of Florida Map (1993, 1998) published in Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, Coast and Geodetic Service. No. 11009, Loran - C Overprinted. Soundings in fathoms. Scale: 1:1,200,000. 1 item. 1 p. ca. 48" x 36". Notes: "X" marks the location of Edward Baxter Billingsley's burial at sea at: 34 15.6N 075 48.2W., 1993 and 1998
0782-s6-os2 Neuptunus Rex. Certificate for Crossing the Equator (February 8, 1942) Printed forms. 21" x 15" , February 8, 1942
0782-s6-os3 Neptunus Rex. Certificate for Crossing the Arctic Circle (August 21, 1942) Printed forms. 15" x 18.5" , August 21, 1942