Robert G. Black Papers

1942-1943, 1962-1972
Manuscript Collection #800
Creator(s)
Black, Robert G., 1917-2008
Physical description
0.4 Cubic Feet, 43 items , consisting of naval officer's biography, four U.S. Navy submarine war patrol reports (Second World War), memos, reports, newsletters, a certificate, 28 photographs, and patrol maps.
Preferred Citation
Robert G. Black Papers (#800), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Papers (1942-1972) of a U.S. Navy officer, including original memos, reports, newsletters, photographs, a certificate; and photocopies of war patrol reports and maps for the USS Flying Fish, during World War II.


Biographical/historical information

Robert G. Black, Sr., (October 22, 1917-July 8, 2008) from Gallatin, Missouri, attended the University of Tulsa (1936-1938), and then Louisiana State University where he graduated in June 1941 with a B.S. degree in Petroleum Geology. He immediately entered the U.S. Navy and was commissioned in the United States Naval Reserve. He attended Midshipman School, Northwestern University, and graduated in 1941. He served aboard submarines in the Pacific during the Second World War. After the war he remained with submarines and was assigned as commander of the U.S. Navy's first nuclear submarine division (Division 102) in 1957 and later served in various positions in charge of personnel. Black earned his M.S. degree in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1966 and assumed command of the U.S. naval station in San Juan, Puerto Rico (1969-1971). He was awarded several decorations and medals for his service in the Second World War such as silver, gold, and bronze stars, and campaign, defense, service, and victory medals. Black also received a Meritorious Service Medal for service as director of the Personnel Research Division of the Bureau of Naval Personnel (1966-1969). He is married to Jane Forbes of Greenville, N.C., and has one son, Robert G. Black, Jr. He retired from the Navy in 1972, and then worked for Data-Design Laboratories for almost twelve years before retiring a second time in 1984 and settling in Greenville, N.C.


Scope and arrangement

The collection contains photocopies of four war patrol reports (1942-1943) for the submarine USS FLYING FISH with the Pacific Fleet. Detailed information covers exact dates and times, position by latitude and longitude, weather conditions, heading, speed, names and types of enemy ships, and ranges in yards. The commander's narrative discusses specific information concerning experiences in attacks, firing torpedoes, mechanical problems, sights, and sounds.

There are memoranda (1972) discussing proposed modifications to naval organizations for the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) and official reports concerning the Naval Training Device Center (1962-1964).

Miscellaneous items include a two-page biography of key events in Black's life and positions he held while in the Navy; newsletters from the USS HUNLEY, Submarine Squadron 4, and the U.S. naval station at San Juan's officers' mess, profiling him (1965, 1974); images of the HUNLEY picnic on July 4, 1964; and a Meritorious Service Medal certificate (1969). Also included are photocopies of maps showing plotted courses of submarine war patrols.

There are several photographs in the collection of various naval personnel, officers, and crew that served with Black. Photographs of naval vessels include the submarines: USS FLYING FISH, USS CLAMAGORE, USS SABLEFISH, USS THORNBACK, and the submarine tender USS HUNLEY.


Administrative information
Custodial History

August 29, 2000, 1 volume; Papers (1942-1972) of U.S. Navy officer, including memos, reports, newsletters, photographs, a certificate, and photocopies of war patrol reports and maps for the USS FLYING FISH during World War II. Gift of Captain Robert G. Black, USN (Retired), Greenville, NC.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Captain Robert G. Black

Processing information

Processed by C. Cartellone, January 2002

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

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


Key terms
Personal Names
Black, Robert G., 1917-2008
Corporate Names
Flying Fish (Submarine)
U.S. Naval Training Device Center
United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel
United States. Navy--Officers
Topical
World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean
World War, 1939-1945--Maps
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations--Submarine
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations, American