Lot 178

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Description:

THE SINKING OF THE USS JARVIS AT GUADALCANAL
Fine archive of material concerning the loss of the USS JARVIS, a Bagley-class destroyer, sunk in Guadalcanal on Aug. 9, 1942. The JARVIS was a Pearl Harbor survivor. While protecting the USS VINCENNES at Guadalcanal, a Japanese torpedo plane exploded alongside, opening a 50' gash and killing 14 crewmen. The vessel limped towards safety, passing within 3,000 yards of the Japanese fleet. The enemy, however, still mistaking Jarvis for an escaping cruiser, dispatched 31 planes from Rabaul. The vessel was stormed by bullets and torpedoes, and sank with her 233 crewmen onboard. This archive is from the estate of Admiral RICHMOND M. TURNER, who in 1950 chose to write a history of the end of the brave vessel. Included are four pages of Turner's pencil notes, signed at top, speculating on the disaster; a carbon copy of Turner's July 5, 1950 letter to Rear Adm. Cornelius Flynn asking detailed questions about the loss; two A.Ls.S., 22pp. total, 4to., Feb. 14 and 22, 1950, from Adm. JAMES H. DOYLE who signs "Jim", (who within a few months would plan and execute MacArthur's invasion of Inchon) describing activity on the beach at Guadalcanal and adding: "...the action of the Captain was in direct violation of his orders and was done simply because it would be much more pleasant to be repaired in Australia than in Espiritu...he thought he could get away with it...Unfortunately for the crew of the Jarvis, no court martial was necessary..." (Doyle was Turner's operations officer during the battle); a 1950 2pp. 4to. letter to Turner from WILLIAM H. HART, C.O. of the minesweeping group on the scene who confirms that the JARVIS was ordered to the nearest port; two T.Ls.S. of Commander W. S. HEALD, who commanded the minesweeper USS HOVEY, 4pp. 4to., San Francisco, 1950, concerns the search for the JARVIS; a T.L.S. 2pp. 4to., Washington, Feb. 23, 1950 from minesweeper Capt. J. B. COCHRAN concerns delays in its search for the JARVIS; and an A.L.S. and T.L.S. of Rear Admiral C. W. FLYNN, Clackamas, 1950, answering specific questions about the damage to the JARVIS, etc. A fascinating grouping that leads us to believe that eight years after the loss of the JARVIS, Turner may have wanted to confirm his belief that the master of the JARVIS was responsible for the destruction of the vessel. Overall very good.

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May 8, 2012 11:00 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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