Item:
ONJR23NSTG157

Original U.S. WWII USS Maryland Aviation Observation Squadron 1 Floatplane Aircraft Skin and Scrapbook For Seaman 1st Class Francis Dryja, Stationed At Pearl Harbor

Item Description

Original Items: Only One Available. This is an excellent scrapbook made by US Navy Seaman 1st Class Francis “Frank” Stanley Dryja, a sailor who served aboard the USS Maryland. We are uncertain if he was present for the attack at Pearl Harbor, but he was serving aboard the Maryland in the years leading up to the attack. Dryja was a member of Observation Squadron 1 and most likely flew on the floatplanes from the Maryland. The scrapbook contains dozens of pages just packed full of documents, magazine/newspaper clippings and even a cut piece from a floatplane skin!

In World War II, aircraft carriers were not the only ships to launch and recover aircraft. Cruisers and battleships each carried a few small floatplanes. Most were Curtis SOC Seagulls or Vought OS2U Kingfishers. Curtis SO3C Seamews and SC Seahawks also saw some use in the war.

Battleships usually carried four. They used them primarily for observation—watching the fall of shells during surface actions to help direct gunfire. This gave most of these aircraft an “O” in their official designations. Observation was critical in World War II, especially in the early years before radar was perfected because battleships often had to fire on targets far beyond visual range.

The “S” in their designations meant “scouting.” Cruisers used their floatplanes primarily to locate enemy surface ships and submarines. Battleship and cruiser flotillas often had to sail without aircraft carriers. When they did, cruiser floatplanes were their only eyes. Cruisers often gave up some of their deck space to a seaplane hanger, allowing them to carry up to eight floatplanes.

The scrapbook itself is in worn condition, showing many years of use. The pages are dried out as if it was stored in a dry environment, most likely an attic and have become very brittle. The pages contain a fantastic view into US Naval history and history of the USS Maryland itself. This is a wonderful grouping, perfect for the US Naval collector witch great research potential.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.

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