Papers of Seaman First Class Robert Leo Croteau who served on the USS BENNINGTON during World War II in the Pacific Theatre include publications of and about the USS BENNINGTON (CV-20) and American propaganda leaflets with writing in Japanese.
Robert Leo Croteau served on the aircraft carrier USS BENNINGTON (CV-20) during World War II in the Pacific Theatre. As a member of the United States Naval Reserve, his active duty service commenced in August 1943. Croteau was one of the original crew members aboard the BENNINGTON when it was commissioned on August 6, 1944. By August 1945, Croteau was serving as Seaman First Class in the V-1-H Unit aboard the carrier. The unit's work was to handle and spot all the aircraft on the hanger deck. Source: http://ussbennington.org/pics/WWII_Roster/cv-20-wwii-37.pdf.
The USS BENNINGTON, an Essex class (short-hull) fleet carrier, was commissioned August 6, 1944, as CV-20. It was named in commemoration of the Revolutionary War battle at Bennington, Vermont, which took place on August 16, 1777. The carrier joined Task Group 58.1 in February 1945 and took part in strikes against Japanese home islands until the end of World War II. Source: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships at www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b5/bennington-ii.htm.
This collection contains materials related to Robert Leo Croteau's service aboard the USS BENNINGTON during World War II. Included are volume one, issues four, five and seven, of the ship publication titled the "Busy 'B' CV-20" for May, July, and November of 1945, and a book titled "USS Bennington CV-20" which commemorates the commissioning and service of the ship during World War II and includes a crew roster. Other items include a 1944 article from the New York World-Telegram detailing life aboard the ship, a clipping of a photograph titled, "Half A Hellcat Better Than None," a program for the one year birthday celebration of the ship on September 13, 1945, while it was stationed in Tokyo Bay, and Croteau's plank ownership certificate that proves he was a member of the original crew.
The remainder of the collection includes four American World War II propaganda leaflets containing images and writing in Japanese. Translations have been provided in 2013 by East Carolina University Japanese Language Professor Tricia Wilson-Okamura and her students Andrew J. Bowman, James D. Coker, Rachel M. Comerford, and Sandra L. Satterthwaite.
Gift of Mr. Robert Leo Croteau
Encoded by Apex Data Services. Processed by A. Miller and M. Elmore June 2013
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.