Chapter 1

THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NAVAL OPERATING BASE COMMAND

 

The origins of the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island (San Pedro), California, are to be found in the establishment and development of the office of the Assistant Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, San Pedro. Before that time the various activities in the northern portion of the District, particularly those in the Lob Angeles - San Pedro -Long Beach area, had been administered directly from the Headquarters Offices in San Diego. ComEleven had had no representative in this area, some one hundred miles distant from San Diego, nor had there been any coordinating officer to exercise supervisory authority over Naval activities in this portion of the District. As naval activity in the Los Angeles - Long Beach area increased and the number of individual activities grew, there was evident need for such an official. With the further increase in activity on Terminal Island as work proceeded on the construction of the installations which were at first called the Fleet Operating Base and later came to be known as the Naval Drydocks and Roosevelt Base, ComEleven had still greater need of a high ranking representative.

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On 19 June 1940, Captain Richard B. Coffman, USN, assumed the duties of Assistant Commandant for the San Pedro - Los Angeles - Long Beach area.1 It was stipulated that he would represent the Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, locally, and would cooperate with the Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Fleet, and with local authorities. When first established, the office of the Assistant Commandant remained in the quarters which housed the Branch Hydrographic Office in San Pedro of which Captain Coffman had hitherto been Officer-in-Charge.1 At the end of July, 1940, the staff of the Assistant Commandant, in addition to that official himself, consisted of two commissioned officers and three chief petty officers, Lieutenant-Commander W. W. Feineman, USN (Ret) (Active), held the post of Executive Officer and Lieutenant-Commander C. B. White, USN (Ret) (Active), was assigned the billet of Neutrality Officer, this being still a time during which the United States maintained a neutral status in the world conflict. Beside the commissioned officers, there were a Chief Boatswain's Mate and two Chief Yeomen.2 Toward the end of August, 1940, Lieutenant-Commander W. W. Drake, IV(S), USNR, had Joined the Assistant Commandant's staff as Public Relations Officer. Lieutenant-Commander Feineman had taken on the duties of Neutrality Officer, with additional duties as

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Executive Officer; while Lieutenant-Commander White had been assigned duty as Personnel Officer.3 On 29 August, 1940, Lieutenant-Commander J. J. Gromfine, (CEC) USN, the Resident Officer-in-Charge of Contract NOy-4279, and Commander D. C. Laizure, USN (Ret), the Assistant District Material Officer, San Pedro, reported to the Assistant Commandant for duty.4

By 1 November 1940, the number of enlisted men on the staff of the Assistant Commandant had increased to ten: the number of commissioned officers were three in addition to Captain Coffman.5 As of 8 November 1940, the offices of the Assistant Commandant were moved to a new location to Pier "A", at the foot of Pico Street, in Long Beach.6 These offices later became the headquarters of ComNOB when that command was established and remained such until the Administration Building at Roosevelt Base on Terminal Island had been completed and NOB headquarters were transferred there. By December, 1940, Lieutenant Wiley B. Jones, USN (Ret) had joined the staff of the Assistant Commandant.7 Commander C. C. Seibert (CEC), USN, reported aboard as OinC of Construction for the Fleet Operating Base on 14 February, 1941.

As the activities and interests of the Navy increased in the northern part of the Eleventh Naval District and as the war trends made it ever clearer that America's

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eventual participation was very nearly inevitable, thought was being given to obtaining greater coordination of effort and to forming a more closely knit organization in the Los Angeles - Long Beach area. The advisability of the establishment of a Naval Operating Base in the San Pedro area had been considered earlier as a step which sight be taken in the event of approaching mobilization in wartime. As early as 1931, such a possibility was considered in a memorandum from the Planning Officer of the Eleventh Naval District to the Commandant. Referring to the Naval District Manual (of 1927), this memorandum stated:8

"It will be seen that the essential requirements of a naval operating base are met at San Diego and would be met at San Pedro were there sufficient activities there or were sufficient activities created there upon mobilization. A naval operating base is apparently something less than a naval base. It is concerned primarily with logistic activities... Our war organization contemplates a Naval Operating Base at San Diego and units of the same Naval Operating Base at San Pedro... I believe that upon mobilization a naval operating base should be organized at San Pedro, under a separate commandant, to be co-equal with the Naval Operating Base at San Diego... It Is recommended that comment be made to the Navy Department, requesting approval for organizing a separate naval operating base at San Pedro when the necessity arises in war time... It Is recommended that since naval operating base and naval base are almost synonymous the term "Naval Operating Base" be abolished."

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Apparently the above statements had been based on a study of the Naval District Manual, 1927, which discusses naval operating bases under Section X, "The Logistic Activities of the District." It appears from this discussion, that when this Manual was prepared, it was contemplated that the naval operating base would be the primary unit for logistic services in the districts. For the purposes of further reference and consideration as the development of the NOB, San Pedro, is studied, it is worthwhile to quote here what this last revision of the Naval District Manual had to state about naval operating bases:9

"60. The most effective unit of logistic support is the naval base. The department in recent general orders has applied the name 'Naval Operating Base' to certain units, in recognition of the fact that they fall short of the full requirements of a base. As no unit has yet attained these requirements, and possibly none will have attained them upon mobilization, the naval operating base organization will be the unit organization of maximum effort treated of in this manual.

"61. The essential requirements of an operating base are extensive protected anchorage with ready access to open waters and a considerable degree of logistic support.

"62. At each important deep water port of the continental United States where a naval operating base does not now exist, but where a navy yard or station does exist together with other naval activities not now under the commandant of that yard or station, the war organization will show a consolidation of all such activities, whose location renders it feasible, under

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one command. The question whether this shall be effected by creating a naval operating base, or by incorporating the outside activities into the command of the commandant of the navy yard or station will be decided upon the following basis.

"63. Naval operating bases shall be organized in cases where the essential requirements of a naval operating base are met, and where the number and situation of the outside activities, plus new activities to be created upon mobilization, are such as to indicate the desirability of organizing an operating base to facilitate the rendering of better logistic support. In other cases the outside activities will be incorporated into the command of the commandant of the navy yard or naval station.

"64. The purpose of these consolidations is twofold:

First: To reduce the number of coordinate commanders under the district commandant.
Second: To centralize local command of facilities of logistic support.

"65. Upon mobilization the demands, for naval purposes, upon the commercial shipbuilding and repair plants and terminal and supply facilities of the districts may be such as to require the use of many for naval purposes. At ports where an operating base or navy yard exists, the plan of organization of such base or yard shall provide for the use of such commercial facilities as may be required, the requirements to be determined after a study of the data furnished by the Chief of Naval Operations, as covered by paragraph 11 of this manual. At ports where no suitable existing unit can be expanded to exercise control of the use of such facilities, the district plan for mobilization will provide for the creation, organization, and operation of the necessary unit, the officer in charge of which will be responsible, preferably to the commandant of the nearest operating base, navy yard, or naval station; otherwise, to the district commandant.

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The use of commercial facilities contemplated in this paragraph may be to the extent of requiring the performance of naval work, or it may go as far as commandeering for operation by the Navy."

In considering the administrative history of NOB, San Pedro, these facts should be kept in mind: that the Naval District Manual, just quoted, stipulated that the naval operating bases to be established should have as their essential purpose the furnishing of logistic services; that another purpose for establishing such bases was to be the coordination and centralization of activities and of local authority; that any use of commercial facilities by the Navy would probably be controlled by the commanding officer of such a base. The desirability and possible necessity for the centralization of all naval activities, both operational and logistic, in a particular locality within a naval district does not appear to have been seriously contemplated when the revised Naval District Manual was issued in 1927. furthermore, as will be shown in the course of this history, the control of the use of the local commercial facilities did not ultimately come under the sole local authority of ComNOB, as appears to have been contemplated in the paragraphs above quoted. In studying the development of NOB, San Pedro, it is

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interesting to observe that when the Navy Department came to reorganize its shore establishments in 1945 and NOB became the U. S. Naval Base, the local organization had so developed that no violent wrenching's of administrative machinery were necessary. To a very large extent the local naval operating base had developed an organization which conformed very nearly to that set forth as the basic plan for naval bases throughout the shore establishment. Little more was necessary than the repainting of a few signs and the addition of certain activities and responsibilities, some of these additions having been previously advocated.

By the spring of 1941, serious consideration was being given to the establishment of a naval operating base in the San Pedro - Long Beach area of the Eleventh Naval District. Further development of Naval activities already in this area, addition of other activities, and the probable expansion of the facilities on Terminal Island then planned and under construction -— all these factors pointed toward the need for improved coordination of effort through the centralization of authority in an official stationed in the locality. A letter from the Chief of Naval Operations requested ComEleven's study of and recommendations concerning the proposed establishment of the Naval Operating Base, San Pedro,

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which the Navy Department had under consideration. In this letter it was indicated that "all naval activities in the San Pedro - Long Beach Area would be included in the proposed Naval Operating Base." Also it was contemplated that the Assistant Commandant in San Pedro would assume command of the new NOB as well as the duties then being performed as Assistant Commandant, that office being abolished. It was believed that this new organization would offer these advantages: a more coordinated development and administration of the activities in the area; more "direct implementation of the tasks assigned" by the (District) Commandant in connection with the old functions of the Assistant Commandant which were to be continued in the new office; that the Comdt NOB, SP, would be the local representative of the Comdt, 11ND, "in matters which in the opinion of the District Commandant could and should be decentralized to that officer."10

ComEleven prepared a proposed draft of a reply to CNO on which he invited the Assistant Commandant's comment. In the letter which he intended sending to CNO, ComEleven stated that the planned War Organization of the District conformed exactly with the proposal of CNO for the establishment of a Naval Operating Base at San Pedro. It was further pointed out that the shore activities in the Los Angeles - San Pedro - Long

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Beach area had been placed under the Assistant Commandant and so organized as to permit the "transferential change to a War Organization with the minimum possible readjustment." It was presumed that many of the branch activities would assume major activity status in wartime. This letter went on to state that:11

"3. It will always be a requirement for economy of administrative operation that some functions of the San Pedro Operating Base be maintained as branches of the San Diego activities of similar name, such as for example, the Public Works Officer, Personnel Officer, and Material Officer. While operating administratively under the Assistant Commandant, the technical details must necessarily be conducted directly between the District Public Works, the District Personnel, and the District Material Officer and the corresponding assistants at San Pedro, to obviate interposing a command channel between them which would only serve to slow down necessary action..."

ComEleven was opposed to the use of the term "Commandant" for the officer in charge of the new operating base as a possible source of confusion. He suggested, in order of preference, these titles:

"(1) Commander, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro;

(2) Commanding Officer, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro;

(3) Assistant Commandant, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro."11

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The Assistant Commandant, San Pedro, did not believe that the letter which ComEleven proposed to send to CNO set the basic considerations for the operating base as set forth by that officer, in that ComEleven did not propose that all activities in the Long Beach - San Pedro area should be included under the jurisdiction of the Naval Operating Base command.12

ComEleven did not concur in the Assistant Commandant's proposals for an all-inclusive scope for the operating base. He pointed out that (in the Naval District Manual) operating bases "included only logistic activities, and general service activities (were) specifically excluded". He went on to say that "Operating Forces, Naval Transportation Service, Naval Communication Service, and Naval Intelligence Service, are not a part of the logistic activities and therefore cannot be assigned as subordinate functions of an Operating Base."13 ComEleven's reply to CNO was therefore in accordance with the proposed draft which the Assistant Commandant had already seen.14

At the end of March, 1941, the assignment of anchorages, berths, and buoys and the arrangement for pratique and pilotage had been delegated as duties to

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the Assistant Commandant by ComEleven.15 And it would appear from ADIO Order No. 2, of 3 April 1941, that it was understood by the Assistant District Intelligence Officer that the Assistant Commandant was "directly responsible for all matters affecting the Port of Los Angeles insofar as the Navy is concerned, including liaison with certain agencies and general safety of the Port."16

The Commander In Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet, approved the proposed establishment of the Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, and recommended that the title of the commanding officer be "Commander, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro." It is interesting to observe that this letter stated:17

"2. It is noted that, under the War Organization, the Commander, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, has command of shore activities only, and the Commander Section Base, San Pedro, has command, under the Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, of all defense forces at San Pedro. While this may occasion administrative difficulties, it is believed to be the correct organization.

On 25 September 1941 there was issued, by the Navy Department in Washington, General Order No. 154 concerning the designation of naval operating bases at San Pedro, California, and Key West, Florida. Paragraph 2 of this order reads as follows:18

"2. The naval shore activities in the San Pedro - Long Beach area, including the following administrative

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establishments, are hereby grouped together to form the Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, California:

Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island
Naval Air Station, Reeves Field, Terminal Island
Naval Net Depot, San Pedro
Naval Hospital
Naval Dispensaries
Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Long Beach
Naval Disbursing and Transportation Officer, San Pedro."

On 9 October 1941, Captain Richard B. Coffman, USN, was directed by ComEleven to continue his duty as Assistant Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, in the Los Angeles - Long Beach area. In addition to this duty, Captain Coffman was assigned and ordered to report to ComEleven for duty as "Commanding Officer of the Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, California, as established by General Order No. 154 ..."19 In a letter dated 10 October 1941, it was requested that the title of the head of the Naval Operating Base be established and promulgated and that BuNav orders be issued to that officer.20 In this connection it was recommended that some title other than "Commandant" be chosen so as to avoid the possible confusion that might arise from the use of this title both by the commanding officer of the operating base and of the naval district. This letter accompanied a proposed revision of the "Manual of the Eleventh Naval District, 1941", covering the duties of the "Commander Naval

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Operating Base, San Pedro, and the duties of the Assistant Commandant for the Los Angeles -Long Beach - San Pedro area." In this connection, it was stated that:20

"... While it is intended that for the present both offices will be filled by Captain Coffman, it is pointed out that the duties of the Assistant Commandant are more in the nature of those of a representative of the Commandant (11ND) for that area as differing from the "Commander", Naval Operating Base, San Pedro. The Commandant finds it necessary to have a senior officer in that area to represent him in matters which arise from time to time and are not included in the restrictive duties of the "Commander", Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, as outlined in General Order No. 154."

The letter of ComEleven, just discussed, brought swift action. A message from the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation to Captain Richard B. Coffman, dated 14 October 1941, detached him from duty as Assistant Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, Long Beach, and ordered him to report to ComEleven as Commandant, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, with additional duty as Commanding Officer, Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island.21 It Is to be observed that the endorsement of CNO on ComEleven's letter of 10 October 1941 had requested BuNav to assign an officer as Commandant, NOB, San Pedro with additional duty as Commandant, Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island, thus eliminating the term "Assistant Commandant" so far as San Pedro was concerned.22 But the term "Commandant",

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which it had been hoped might be avoided so far as the head of the Operating Base in San Pedro was concerned, was that chosen and designated as the title for that officer.

Eleventh Naval District Circular Letter No. 89-41 announced the formation of the new Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, as an administrative entity.23 It is interesting to note that, in addition to being responsible for certain specified activities already commissioned and in operation in the northern part of the district or under construction, Comdt NOB, San Pedro, was assigned the duties of handling the shore patrol, the operating facilities of the port (San Pedro - Long Beach), and miscellaneous harbor services. Furthermore, he was to represent ComEleven in such matters as that officer might designate from time to time — but not in all matters in the northern part of the Eleventh Naval District, without restriction. Officers in charge of district branch offices and services in the San Pedro - Long Beach area were still to work directly with the headquarters offices in San Diego, though they were enjoined to keep Comdt NOB, San Pedro, advised "as to matters which may affect the activities of the Naval Operating Base, or require co-ordination of facilities between activities."23

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Captain Coffman's letter announcing his assumption of command, was addressed to the following officers: Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Terminal Island; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Long Beach; Officer in Charge of Construction, Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island; Medical Officer in Command, Naval Dispensary Long Beach; Officer in Charge, Navy Disbursing and Transportation Office, San Pedro; Officer in Charge, Nets, San Pedro.24 Some comment may be pertinent on these addressees which were the first components of the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island. Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Long Beach, was the activity which later became NRAB, Los Alamitos, upon completion of the new installations. At the time of the assumption of command by Captain Coffman in October, 1941, the Long Beach Naval Hospital was projected but not yet constructed. The head of the Dispensary in San Pedro is not included as an addressee in view of the fact that the San Pedro dispensary was a branch of the Long Beach organization and under the same Medical Officer in Command. The Navy Disbursing and Transportation Office in San Pedro was what its name implied: an office which paid personnel and which handled the procurement of transportation. It was not a supply organization though the Naval

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Supply Depot in San Pedro ultimately grew out of it. At this time there was no separate supply activity in this area.

ComEleven orders were issued to nine officers in this area detaching them from the office of the Assistant Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, and ordering them to report to the Commandant, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, for duty.25 As will be understood, this change of duty was really only a paper change since these officers were already working under Captain Coffman, who was now Comdt NOB. Lieutenant Jack W. Hardy also received similar orders but was given additional duty in the office of the Administrator of Export Control, Los Angeles.26 Lieutenant Commander Karl E. Hintze, USN (Ret), was ordered to report to Comdt NOB as Officer in Charge of the Los Angeles Branch of the Office of the Administrator of Export Control.27 Lieutenant (jg) Clyde W. Jones, CV-(S), USNR, was assigned duties as Communication Officer and Radio Material Officer of the Naval Operating Base; NOB activities were notified that Lieutenant (jg) Jones would also serve in these capacities for "all other activities in this area" for the coordination of communication functions.28 Apparently there was need at this time that an additional dental officer be assigned to this area, according to Comdt NOB's endorsement of such a request.29

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Comdt NOB requested that ComEleven revoke the orders of Lieutenant Commander C. DeSwarte (CEC), who was in charge of construction at the new naval hospital in Long Beach, and of Lieutenant Commander W. M. Overshiner (CSC), Public Works Officer at the Naval Air Station, and reissue them orders attaching them to the staff of Comdt NOB, San Pedro, for duty. Captain E. C. Seibert (CEC), USN, CinC of Contract NOy-4279, and officers assisting him had already received BuPers orders reattaching them to Comdt NOB, San Pedro.30 The arrangements, as requested, appear to have been made.31

As of 25 November 1941, there appear to have been twenty-five officers attached to the office of Comdt NOB, San Pedro, in addition to Captain Coffman himself.32 Negotiations were underway for the formation of a nucleus civilian staff of seven civil service employees and for the setting up of expense funds under the appropriations "Miscellaneous Expenses", "Miscellaneous, Yards and Docks", and "BuShips". It was suggested that the employment of a civilian chief clerk would be advisable in that it would be possible for a suitable appointee to hold the position over a much longer period than would be likely were naval personnel used for this position. Comdt NOB would thus benefit by having the services of a person with the continuous knowledge and experience of the functions of the Base resulting from long tenure.33

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At the end of December, 1941, Commander L. P. Wessell, USN, was assigned to duty as Executive Officer of the Naval Operating Bane, San Pedro.34 When Commander Wessell was assigned to duty as Officer in Charge of Security, Terminal Island, on 25 March 1942, Lieutenant Commander Wiley B. Jones, USN (Ret), relieved him in the duty of Executive Officer.35 By June, 1942, the Receiving Station, Terminal Island, and the Advance Base Depot at Port Hueneme, California, had been added to those activities under Comdt NOB, San Pedro.36

In a letter to CincPac and to ComEleven, dated 5 December 1941, CNO had stated:37

"The Chief of Naval Operations concurs in the opinion of the Commander-in-Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet, that so long as the Fleet bases In the Hawaiian area, the activities of the Eleventh Naval District, even those related to the Pacific Fleet, should be under the administration of the Commandant of that District."

This letter also contained notice of changes of cognizance and administration for a number of Fleet activities in the Eleventh Naval District. Among these arrangements, the Eleventh Naval District was to: "provide all target services in the San Pedro - San Diego area; provide all harbor services within the District." Under this new set-up, ComEleven, and Comdt NOB, SP, under him, came to have greatly

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increased responsibilities for the naval activities which previously had come under Fleet cognizance.

In considering the history of any naval shore establishment, it must, of course, never be forgotten that the primary purpose for which all shore activities of the Navy exist is that of service to the Forces Afloat. Despite many matters in connection with NOB development which may appear to have been far afield from this primary purpose, essentially the story of this great Base is the story of the development of an organization which might better serve the Fleet and its adjuncts and hasten the coming of victory. As of 14 April 1942, there were these services and facilities available for Naval vessels in the Long Beach - San Pedro area:38

(a) Naval Disbursing and Transportation Office, San Pedro;
  Fresh Provisions, stores, and commercial transportation.
(b) Target Repair Base;
  Pilotage, Fuel and fresh water.
(c) Assistant to the Industrial Manager, 11ND;
  Repairs, alterations and ordnance.
(d) Branch Issuing Office;
  Secret and Confidential Publications;
(e) Branch Hydrographic Office;
  Latest Hydrographic information.
(f) The Port Director (NTS) San Pedro;
  Routing Instructions and gate clearance.

In June 1942, ComEleven made it clear in a letter to the Commandants of the Naval Operating Bases at San

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Pedro and San Diego that it should be the duty of those officers to act as coordinating agents in seeing that task forces and ships were provided with necessary logistic requirements, berths, and other services. Conferences of subordinate officials could be called by the commandants when necessary.39

On 25 June 1942, Captain S. F. Helm, USN, relieved Captain R. B. Coffman, USN, of duty as Commandant, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, and as Commanding Officer of Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island, with additional duty as District Port Director, Eleventh Naval District.40 NOB headquarters continued to be located on Pier "A" in Long Beach until the completion and commissioning of Roosevelt Base on Terminal Island on 1 September 1942 by which time the offices of Comdt NOB, San Pedro had been moved to the new Administration Building there.

Before Captain Coffman had been relieved as Comdt,NOB, he had submitted to ComEleven a proposal for the organization and operation of NOB and of Roosevelt Base.41 This scheme followed fairly closely the District organization and requested thirty-four officers, including four captains, and fifty-four enlisted men for the administration of NOB and twenty-eight officers and two hundred and fourteen enlisted men for Roosevelt Base. On 29 June 1942, after the change of command had occurred at NOB, San Pedro, a

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brief endorsement accompanied the returned proposal; this note said:42

"The recommendations submitted in the basic letter are returned herewith for reconsideration, as it appears that the personnel request is excessive and in some cases unnecessary. In the event that the present Commandant desires to submit recommendations on this subject, they will be given consideration by the Commandant."

There was no immediate resubmission of proposals for an augmented NOB-Roosevelt Base organization. Letters of 11 August 1942 requested the promotion of Lieutenant George E. Kenyon, USN (Ret), Planning Officer, to Lieutenant-Commander and of Lieutenant-Commander Wiley B. Jones, USN (Ret), Executive Officer, to Commander. Both of these promotions were desired because of the increased responsibilities of these officers in connection with the growth of NOB functions. Furthermore, the Executive Officer of Comdt NOB needed the added rank to facilitate his handling of his duties which brought him into daily contact with many high ranking officers, both of the Navy and of other services, and with civilian officials.43

On 4 September 1942, Comdt NOB, requested that Lieutenant Commander Jones be detailed as Chief of Staff to Comdt NOB, so that another officer might be detailed to duty as executive aide to the Commanding

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Officer of Roosevelt Base.44 Before the commissioning of Roosevelt Base, the Executive Officer of NOB had handled such duties for Roosevelt Base also. Now the dual billet made too heavy a load for one Officer and it was desired to separate the two functions and to provide a Chief of Staff for NOB so that there would be no conflict as to authority. This request was forwarded by ComEleven with an endorsement recommending approval.45 The Chief of the Bureau of Personnel replied to this request that, in view of this officer's recent promotion (in February, 1942), it was not Intended to advance him further at that time. However, it was stated that if Comdt NOB wished a commander as executive officer an effort would be made to find one for him.46 This reply resulted in a personal letter from Comdt NOB to the Chief of Naval Personnel repeating the request that Lieutenant-Commandant Jones be promoted to commander and asking that he be ordered to Comdt NOB as Chief of Staff.47 Bureau of Personnel orders of 1 October 1942 directed Lieutenant Commander Jones to report to Comdt NOB as Chief of Staff; meanwhile, his appointment to Commander had been issued, dated 25 September 1942, but did not reach him until 10 October 1942. Lieutenant-Commander Fred Welden, USN (Ret), was assigned to duty as "Executive of the Base" at Roosevelt Base.49

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Comdt NOB and his headquarters staff had moved into their new quarters in the Administration Building at Roosevelt Base on 30 August 1942,50 shortly before the commissioning of Roosevelt Base on 1 September 1942.

The question of the correct designation of the Naval Operating Base and of the various activities comprising it is discussed at greater length in a section devoted to this problem in another chapter of this history. However, it is pertinent to note that little more than a year after the formation of the Naval Operating Base as an administrative unit this problem of correct and accurate designation had become an annoying one. It appears that, in this and certain subsequent matters, some officials in the Navy Department in Washington were not always sufficiently well informed in the very considerable developments on Terminal Island and elsewhere in this area to prevent their being led into some rather strange misconceptions. Basis for this statement should be clear in the case of the designation of Roosevelt Base and of the Drydocks which came up in 1943. However, in the fall of 1942, the question of correct designation for the Terminal Island facilities arose. In a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Comdt NOB requested that the matter be clarified and

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information disseminated to the service.51 In this letter Comdt NOB assumed that the term "Naval Operating Base, San Pedro", as used in General Order No. 154 of 25 September 1941, supplanted the term "Roosevelt Base", as used in SecNav letter A6-4(13) NA26 (410217) of 19 March 1941, and that it was indicated that "Roosevelt Base" was a term now intended to refer to a specific activity rather than to a group of activities. Despite this request and explanation on the part of Comdt NOB, there appears to have been no immediate action taken by the Navy Department. A letter to BuPers, dated 22 January 1943, tells of mail coming addressed to an officer as being at "Naval Air Station, Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island, California," Comdt NOB pointed out that the only relationship between the Air Station and Roosevelt Base was that both were activities belonging to the NOB group. He went on to say that:52

"According to General Order No. 154 of September 25, 1941, the "Naval Air Station, Reeves Field, Terminal Island," is not a part of Roosevelt Base. These activities are confuses [confusing] generally throughout the Navy Department. An effort was made to clarify the designations and addresses by a letter requesting dissemination of the correct information, but to date there had been no response."

On 29 January 1943, Comdt NOB addressed a memorandum to the acting Commandant of the Eleventh Naval District,53 accompanied by a chart of a proposed

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reorganization of the activities and functions under Comdt NOB.54 55

The proposed organization for the Commandant, Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, would have given that officer operational control of local defense activities in the Long Beach - San Pedro area in the capacity of Section Commander; such activities were then - and continued to be - controlled from San Diego.

ComEleven replied to these proposals with a letter, dated 8 March 1943, in which he did not concur in the proposals,56 stating in part as follows:

"2. The Local Defense Forces are a task operating force for the entire coverage of the coast line and the offshore areas of the Eleventh Naval District. As a part of their functions it is necessary that they maintain minor logistic bases ashore and conduct the operations necessary for the control of the entrance to and egress from the port. In San Diego the operations of the Local Defense Forces are not a part of the Naval Operating Base no more than they are a part of the Naval Operating Base in San Pedro. An essential element for the successful operation of the Local Defense Forces is a central control under the immediate command of the Patrol Commander where all the elements of information are centralized and from which all operating orders emanate. To divide such organization into geographical components placed under immediate seniors in that area would invalidate much of the usefulness and effectiveness of the Local Defense Forces.

From time to time during the development of Comdt NOB's command and the growth of the various

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activities under his control, there was a tendency on the part of some of the heads of activities to by-pass local authority. In matters of a purely technical nature bureaus and offices of the Navy Department might be dealt with directly. Otherwise, the heads of local activities were expected to direct their correspondence through the proper channels. From time to time Comdt NOB's Interest in and authority over the activities under his command appears not to have been wholly comprehended. An instance of such bypassing occurred in March, 1943, when the new Commanding Officer of the U. S. Naval Drydocks, then nearing completion, wrote directly to the Vice-Chief of Naval Operations and not through Comdt NOB nor ComEleven concerning rearrangement of buildings and facilities at the Drydocks. ComEleven pointed out that the matters discussed in this letter were not of a technical nature and that they concerned other activities within the Naval Operating Base; he directed that all future correspondence of this nature should be forwarded via Comdt NOB and ComEleven.57

Another growing pain in the development of the Naval Operating Base, San Pedro, and of its somewhat complicated command relationships occurred in the spring of 1943. A letter of the Secretary of the Navy, dated 22 March 1943, stated:58

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"The ship repair and drydock facilities located on Terminal Island, California, are hereby established as a fleet repair yard and designated 'U.S. Naval Drydocks, Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island (San Pedro), California,' as an activity of the Eleventh Natal District.
 
"It is to be noted that with the establishment of the U.S. Naval Dry-docks ... the major facilities formerly comprising Roosevelt Base are absorbed in this new activity, and therefore Roosevelt Base as such is encompassed in this Command."

It hardly need be said that this letter created consternation at NOB Headquarters. Such an arrangement would have tended to wreck NOB organization and would have created many untenable situations. Comdt NOB wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Navy to which ComEleven added an endorsement; in this letter both officers pointed out that this new arrangement would create an anomalous situation wherein an industrial activity controlled a military activity (Roosevelt Base). Furthermore, It was pointed out that Roosevelt Base was an activity under Comdt NOB, but the Drydocks, according to the Secretary of the Navy's arrangement, was to come directly under ComEleven. It was presumed that paragraph 2 of SecNav's letter had been drafted from an improper premise and it was requested that the two activities (Roosevelt Base and the Drydocks) retain their respective identities. ComEleven also pointed out that the effect of the letter of the Secretary of the Navy would be to turn practically all

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of Terminal Island over to the U. S. Naval Drydocks which it was not believed was intended. The Commanding Officer of the Drydocks also believed that his command was not intended to include the recreational and training facilities of Roosevelt Base.60

A letter of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, dated 8 April 1943,61 indicated the status of the Naval Drydocks should be that of an activity of the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island. ComEleven stated, in a letter of 17 April 1943,62 that this was the policy by which the Commandant would be governed; namely, of military, but not administrative control. An AlNav of 14 June 194363 canceled the previous AlNav and indicated that the Drydocks were not a part of Roosevelt Base, nor did they include any part of Roosevelt Base. Furthermore, ComEleven made it very clear, in a letter of 18 June 1943, that while the Commanding Officer of the Drydocks had "full authority and responsibility" over tho Drydocks command in so far as personnel facilities and equipment were concerned, the Commandant, Naval Operating Base, possessed general military control over the Drydocks; it was to be understood that the Drydocks command would bear the same relationship to the Commandant, Naval Operating Base, as did such other activities of the NOB as Roosevelt Base, the Receiving Station, or (at that time) the Naval Air Station.64

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As of 8 May 1943, according to an AlNav from the Secretary of the Navy, a "Chief of Staff" would thereafter be allowed and designated only in a command normally commanded by a rear admiral or above. In commands having as their commanding officers a commodore or below, the senior line officer attached to the staff might be designated as "Chief Staff Officer."65 This directive of course led to the re-designating of the billet then held by Commander (later Captain) W. B. Jones, who thereafter became Chief Staff Officer to Comdt NOB.

In August 1943, the responsibilities of Comdt NOB and the work of his staff were greatly increased when he was assigned by ComEleven as that official's representative to accept and commission all Destroyer Escorts and Patrol Frigates built in the San Pedro - Long Beach area. The greatest burden of this work fell upon Comdt NOB's Operations Officer who acted as the coordinating officer in all matters pertaining to these vessels.66 A further account of these activities is given in the following chapter in the section devoted to the Operations Officer.

By November 1943, the scope of the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island activity had grown to the extent that Comdt NOB was now the administrative head of some twenty activities which were grouped to form the Naval

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Operating Base. In his letter to the Chief of Naval Personnel, dated 13 November 1943, Comdt NOB, indicated that since the last Staff complement of officers had been approved on 14 January 1943, the work load had increased tremendously, new departments had been added and new administrative details appeared. A revision of the allowed officer complement was requested though it was stated that no additional officers would be requested for the time being. It was also pointed out that additional rank seemed to be advisable for the Commandant, Naval Operating Base, in view of the fact that there were then eleven officers of the rank of captain serving in NOB activities in addition to Comdt NOB. It was further pointed out that in view of the local naval authority's relationship to his own activities and to a local metropolitan area of some three million and in view of the tremendous importance of this northern area of the District to the war effort, flag rank for the Commandant, Naval Operating Base seemed to be in the order of the fitness of things.67 ComEleven also recommended a revision of the officer complement of the Base. Such a revision was provided by BuPers in January, 1944; according to this revised complement the Naval Operating Base should be allowed a rear admiral for Commandant and a captain for Chief of Staff.68 In February, 1944, Comdt NOB, recommended the promotion of

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Commander w. B. Jones to captain.69 He pointed out that this additional rank was warranted in view of the fact that there were at that time fourteen captains serving in NOB activities and that Commander Jones was then the junior of the four commanders serving on the NOB staff — patently and untenable situation which should be corrected in the interests of facilitating the local administration. This urgent need for more rank for the key officers on Comdt NOB's staff was stressed in a personal letter from Comdt NOB to the Chief of the Bureau of Personnel in May 1944. In this letter Comdt NOB again indicated the necessity of additional rank for his Chief Staff Officer, Commander Jones, as well as for his Administrative Assistant, Lieutenant Commander C. L. Dickson. More high-ranking officers were coming into the area in connection with the APA-AKA training and commissioning program. Most of the responsibility and work for this program was falling on Comdt NOB and his staff. That staff unfortunately lacked the rank properly comparable with that of those officers with whom they had to do business. Naturally this resulted in embarrassing circumstances and hindered the progress of work. It was further pointed out that nothing more was being requested than had been allowed by the Bureau of Personnel allowance in the last revised complement and what the Manpower

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Survey Board had recommended.70 This matter of increased rank was again pressed in June, 1944. ComNOB urged the promotion of Commander Jones and Lieutenant Commander Dickson to captain and commander, respectively; this letter was forwarded with a concurring endorsement by ComEleven.71 ComNOB was promoted to commodore on 8 September 1944, and his Chief Staff Officer became captain on 23 October 1944.

On 21 June 1944, NOB Circular Letter No. 16-44 announced that the title of "Commandant, Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island," was changed to "Commander, Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island (San Pedro), California."72 At this time the activities coming under ComNOB's command or cognizance amounted to nineteen.73

In a memorandum of changes to be made to the Manual of the Eleventh Naval District, dated 21 August 1944, seventeen naval shore activities are listed as forming the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island. In addition to these "activities" there were a number of functions or offices located in the San Pedro - Long Beach area which were under ComNOB's cognizance and which brought the total to twenty-four, ComNOB's relation to these activities was analogous to that of a division commander afloat to the ships of his division. In addition to his administrative and military authority and responsibility for these activities, ComNOB was still District Port Director and was

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responsible for the Shore Patrol from San Pedro to Laguna Beach. Through his Operations Officer, ComNOB administered the operating facilities of the port which included the assignment of berths and anchorages, pratique, Federal and miscellaneous harbor services to vessels of the Nary at San Pedro and Long Beach. He continued to be designated as the local Naval authority to represent ComEleven in such matters as required coordination in the northern part of the District. It is particularly pertinent to observe that there were numerous activities located in the Los Angeles - Long Beach area which were branches of the District offices in San Diego and which did not come under ComNOB's cognizance. Officers in charge of these branches continued to conduct the affairs of their offices directly with the heads of such units in San Diego. However, they were advised to keep ComNOB advised of all matters which might in any way affect the activities of the Naval Operating Base or which might require the coordination of facilities between activities. In addition to all these duties and responsibilities, ComNOB represented ComEleven in accepting and placing in service or in commission all vessels built, converted, or delivered to the Navy in the Los Angeles - Long Beach - San Pedro area.

Early in 1944 the District Manpower Survey Committee, with Captain Leonard Kaplan, USN, as Senior

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Member, had made a survey of all Naval Operating Base offices, functions and activities. In its study of the office of the Commandant, NOB, this committee had found no evidence of the hoarding of manpower; indeed, quite the opposite appeared to be the case. They had found an urgent need for one commander to be assigned as assistant chief of staff (assistant chief staff officer) and had thus recommended. In the light of the administrative difficulties encountered by ComNOB in 1944, as already related, it is interesting to observe what this committee recommended concerning possible changes in the organization of the northern part of the Eleventh Naval District:74

"After five weeks survey of the Long Beach - Terminal Island - San Pedro Area naval activities the Board believes the interests of efficient administration will be served by setting up a new Naval District to include these and other establishments in surrounding territory, under a Commandant of flag rank with headquarters at Terminal Island. Elevation of the office of Commandant to flag rank but still subordinate to ComEleven at San Diego will, it is believed, provide only a partial solution to problems of organization now existing. The Board has consistently recommended consolidation of facilities wherever duplication has been found ... But NOB appears to have grown so much that centralization of the administrative command in one District Headquarters Staff at San Diego now appears to defeat its purpose. The Board believes any possible duplication resulting from a new district staff

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at Terminal Island to be justified, by getting administration closer to activities, rather than having ComNOB hampered by the Eleventh Naval District in San Diego, one hundred and thirty miles away."

In making these recommendations the Board indicated that they realized that other reasons might militate against the creation of a new district. In his comments on the Board's report, ComNOB deferred to ComEleven any comment on the Board's recommendations concerning a new district. However, ComNOB did state that he was cognizant that Staff and Headquarters Departments were undermanned, but that he had intentionally deferred requesting additional personnel pending the report of the Survey Board. Moreover, it had been the policy of this command to give up officers and men to the offensive effort and this policy had consistently kept headquarters departments short of personnel. It was stated that steps would be taken immediately to request personnel to meet the growing need in all departments.

ComEleven in a letter to the Senior Member of the District Manpower Survey Committee dissented in that body's recommendation that a new Naval District be established in the Long Beach - San Pedro Area. ComEleven disagreed on the grounds of unnecessary duplication of personnel and the need for correlation

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of San Diego activities with those in the Long Beach - San Pedro Area such as the Industrial Manager with assignments of ship conversion and repair, Naval Hospitals, Intelligence, liaison with Army commands in the entire area, Naval and Marine Corps air stations, and Fleet and Bureau activities. ComEleven said that the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island, served its function admirably as it was then set up.75

Early in November, 1944, ComNOB submitted to CNO, via ComEleven, a list to be included in a revision of General Order No. 154 as of those activities which were properly a part of Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island.76 This list included twenty activities in the local area. In his forwarding endorsement to this list, ComEleven submitted a list of fifteen activities which he recommended as properly being activities under ComNOB, Terminal Island.77 In his comments accompanying this list, ComEleven suggested that perhaps the Naval Net Depot at Terminal Island might be excluded in view of the fact that it would be decommissioned when the activity was transferred to the new location at Seal Beach. He had not included the Small Craft Training Center which, though it used the facilities of Roosevelt Base, was a functional operation under COTCPac. ComEleven considered the Motion Picture Exchange on Terminal Island a branch of the San Diego

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Exchange, hence a District function, and therefore did not recommend that it be included as a part of the Naval Operating Base. Nor was the Commissioning Detail, San Pedro Branch, recommended for such inclusion; this was a branch of the Central Commissioning Detail, San Francisco, and was considered to be under the Commandant, Eleventh Naval District, "as an activity distinct from the Operating Base". It was pointed out, however, that Comdt NOB was representing ComEleven in this area for commissioning matters. The Shore Patrol was viewed by ComEleven as "a task assignment rather than a facility," and hence was omitted.

It appears significant that when the reorganization of Navy yards and naval operating bases came about in 1945, the development of the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island, had been such that its organization was already that which was required for naval bases set forth in General Order No. 223 of 14 September 1945. It was anticipated that only renaming of certain component activities and the changing of the titles of certain officers would be necessary. However, in connection with this reorganization, ComNOB recommended that the U. S. Naval Drydocks when changed to the U. S. Naval Shipyard, Terminal Island, should be a component activity of the U. S. Naval Base, Terminal Island, as indicated in paragraph 5 of General Order No. 223.78

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He also recommended that the Naval ammunition and Net Depot be added to the activities of the Naval Base "because of its essentiality to the Base as a whole in providing direct logistic services to the operating commands; that the office of the Port Director, San Pedro, be added because of its service and logistic functions and close working relations with the Base. If not contrary to present directives, the Naval Air Station, Terminal Island, previously an activity of the Base, should again be a component activity of the Base because of its contiguous physical adjacency and military relationship to Base Headquarters and other nearby activities of the Base. This would bring all nearby naval activities into the Base organization except the SCTC. This is assuming that the San Pedro Section and the Frontier Base, San Pedro, will be disestablished and their remaining functions assumed by ComNOB." ComNOB also recommended that:79

"Concurrently with re-designating the Naval Operating Base and the U. S. Naval Drydocks, it is strongly recommended that the geographical designation and mail address of the Base and each component activity conform to the respective municipality within which each is situated. (The Fleet Post Office would retain its present San Pedro address.)

"This would engender better relations between the Navy locally and the

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municipal and civic officials and the public generally. It would, in addition, remove any possible political rankle."

In a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, ComEleven was directed to include eighteen specified activities in the organization of the U. S. Naval Base, Terminal Island.80 In a letter of comment to ComEleven,81 ComNOB recommended eleven additional activities or functions which had been a part of the Naval Operating Base and which it was believed should be components of the Naval Base. He also recommended that the Port Director, Branch Hydrographic Office, and Degaussing Station, all in San Pedro, should be included in the Naval Base, although they had not been activities of the Naval Operating Base, in view of the services which they rendered to forces afloat. It was assumed that the "U. S. Navy Recreation Center, Terminal Island, San Pedro, California" was the new name for the former "Roosevelt Base, Terminal Island (San Pedro), California." It was also pointed out that the "U. S. Naval Training Center" listed did not now exist. It was further suggested that "Terminal Island" be removed from the title of "U. S. Naval Supply Depot, San Pedro" and that the "U. S. Navy Shore Patrol, Terminal Island, San Pedro, California" should be changed to "U. S. Navy Shore Patrol, Long

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Beach, California" in view of the fact that its headquarters is in Long Beach.81

A letter from the Secretary of the Navy to ComEleven, dated 14 January 1945, authorized the suggested changes in the titles of the Supply Depot and the Shore Patrol and the deletion of "U. S. Naval Training Center". It also authorized the inclusion of:

"U. S. Navy Fire Fighters' School, San Pedro;
Harbor Craft Base, San Pedro;
Landing Craft Boat Pool, San Pedro;
Fleet Boat Pool Base;
U. S. Navy Degaussing Station, San Pedro."82

CNO did not approve of the inclusion of the Branch Hydrographic Office, San Pedro, in the Naval Base.83 Allen Center was not considered to have the status of an activity to be assigned as a component of the Base and ComEleven was authorized to delegate its administration. It is also to be noted that Port Director, San Pedro, was not included in the composition of the Base. The Naval Air Station, Terminal Island, as of the end of January, 1946[?], was in a dual status; it came under Naval Base, Terminal Island, for military and coordination control, and under Naval Air Bases, Eleventh Naval District, for management and technical control.84

As should be evident, this chapter has as its chief purpose the clarification of the origin and

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development of the Naval Operating Base command from the time of the establishment of the office of Assistant Commandant in the northern area of the Eleventh Naval District to the reorganization of naval shore establishments and the setting up of the U. S. Naval Base, Terminal Island. It is the aim of this chapter to analyze and clarify the development of ComNOB's responsibilities and authority. It will of course be understood that this chapter and the two which follow it are, all three, quite closely related. The chapter which follows this one is an exposition of the building of ComNOB's staff. As has been observed, considerable attention has been given to the early origins of this Staff in this present chapter. Considerable repetition is not considered advisable nor is it intended. The following chapter carries on this history of the development of ComNOB's Staff organization as well as of certain functional offices which were closely attached to the Naval Operating Base command. Purely statistical information is not considered so important in this connection as is some discussion of those problems, functions, or responsibilities with which ComNOB and the officers of his official family were concerned. In the chapter which follows this next one there is a discussion of the activities, other than the Staff

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offices or functions, which were components of the Naval Operating Base, Terminal Island (San Pedro). It must he emphasized that the chapter on NOB activities makes no pretence of presenting the complete, detailed history of each of these activities. The writing of such a history is a very considerable project in itself. In a number of cases, such as the Naval Drydocks (now the Naval Shipyard) and the Naval Air Station, such histories have already been written; in other instances the story of the individual activities, in so far as it concerns their internal, technical development and operation, is contained in the histories being prepared by the various bureaus and offices of the Navy Department. In view of the fact that this present history is essentially an administrative history, the discussions of the various NOB activities must chiefly be concerned with the relationships of ComNOB to these activities and their relationships to each other and to other activities in the Eleventh Naval District and throughout the naval establishment. Of course there must be some discussion of their principal functions, of their reasons for being. But for detailed, statistical accounts of the development and operation of these exceedingly varied activities, one must seek in the individual stories of these

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organizations or in the histories of the bureaus and offices which exercised technical control over them. Likewise it is not the intention to present in this administrative history of the Naval Operating Base a technical, engineering account of the construction of the many buildings and other installations which came to compose this naval base. Such an account properly belongs and is to be found in the history being prepared by the Bureau of Yards and Docks, under whose cognizance came all this construction activity. This present history is chiefly concerned with the development of the administrative structures of the Naval Operating Base and with the problems pertaining thereto.

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NOTES & REFERENCES

1*. ND11/ON2(b)(A5-Me) (Serial A1797) 19 June 1940; 1ND C/L 34-40.

2. ASSTND/11/P16-1 (Serial #53) 22 July 1940; Memo from AssistComdt to Lieut. E. L. Sleeth, (MG), USN, (Ret), U. S. Naval Dispensary, Long Beach.

3. ASSTND/11/P-11-4/00 Serial 108.

4. ASSTND/11/P-16-4/00 Serial 123 MLG.

5. ASSTND/11/P1-2 (Serial 417) cjh; 1 November 1940; Asst. Comdt. to ComEleven.

6. NDll/0N2(c)(A5-Pn); 8 November 1940; 11ND C/L #108-40.

7. Memorandum to Lieut. Comdr. E. C. Peterson, USN, NAS, San Pedro, from Lieut. Comdr. W. W. Feineman, USN (Ret) (Act.), Executive Officer; 3 December 1940.

8. Memorandum from Planning Officer (Capt. H. E. Kays) to ComEleven; 27 January 1931.

9. Naval District Manual Revised 1927; X. The Logistic Activities; pp 14 and 15, paragraphs 59 - 65.

10. 0P-30B2-AJ (Restricted) CNO Serial 110330 of 12 April 1941; to ComEleven.

11. ND11/A3/(A7-Cn) (Serial W-206) 17 April 1941; ComEleven to CNO. Ltr. proposed draft of which was ultimately sent.

 

*This item is to be found in Appendix A, which is arranged chronologically.

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12*. ASSTND/11/A3-1 (Serial 539); 24 April 1941; from Asst. Comdt. to ComEleven.

13*. NDll/A3/(A7-Cn) Serial W-219, 25 April 1941.

14*. ND11/A3/(A7-Cn) Serial W-206, 25 April 1941; ComEleven to CNO (Naval District Division); signed by Byron McCandless, Acting.

15*. ND11/P16-5/(A6-Ru) Serial 0-281; 31 March 1941; ComEleven to Asst Comdt, Long Beach, signed by C. A. Blakely.

16. A3/SP-140/3 April 1941; ADIO Order #3 over signature of K. D. Ringle.

17. NB/A4-2/(1268)/ 5 June 1941; CincPac to CNO; 2nd End. to Com11 ltr NDll/A3(A7-Cn) Serial W-206; 25 April 1941.

18*. Navy Department General Order #154.

19. Ltr. from ComEleven to Captain Richard B. Coffman, USN, 9 October 1941.

20. ND11/A3(A7-Cb) (Serial W-301) 10 October 1941; ComEleven to CNO.

21. Ltr. Chief of Bureau of Navigation to Captain R. B. Coffman, USN, 14 October 1941.

22. CNO to BuNav, 15 October 1941; 1st End. on ltr. of ComEleven to CNO of 10 October 1941.

23*. ND11/A2-H(a)/NB49(A4-Hs) (Serial A-1641); 21 October 1941, 11ND C/L #89-41.

24. NB49/A3-1 (Serial 2134); 21 October 1941; Comdt NOB, to various heads of activities in new NOB, T.I.

25. NDll/00-F/www/Serial Q-05971; 30 October 1941; ComEleven to NOB Office.

26. NDll/00-H/www/Serial Q-05980; 31 October 1941; ComEleven to Lieut. Jack W. Hardy, USNR.

 

*This item is to be found in Appendix A, which is arranged chronologically.

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27. NDll/00-H/www/Serial Q-05974; 31 October 1941; ComEleven to Lieut. Comdr. Karl E. Hintze, USN, (Ret).

28. NT49/A2-11/( Serial 2267); 12 November 1941; NOB, San Pedro, C/L #2-41.

29. NB49/P16-3/00 (Serial 2202/ch/ 5 November 1941; 1st End. Comdt NOB to ComEleven.

30. NB49/A3-1/ (Serial 2407); 24 November 1941; ComdtNOB to ComEleven.

31. NDll/00-D/www/Serial Q-06591/ 26 November 1941; ComEleven to Lieut. Comdr. C. S. Deswarte.

32. A9/NB49/Serial 2393/MLG/ 25 November 1941.

33*. NB/0N2(San Pedro) (PW); 13 November 1941; Public Works Officer, 11ND, to Comdt NOB, SP.

34. NB49/A2-11/Serial 3077; 30 December 1941; NOB C/L #4-41.

35. NB49/A3-2/K(Serial 937); 25 March 1942; NOB C/L #4-42.

36. NB66/L21-3/Serial 1912/ 3 June 1942; Comdt NOB, S.P., to Chief BuSandA/

37*. 0P-38-C-LAC/12/3 (Serial 351138) 5 December 1941; CNO to CincPac and ComEleven.

38. L8/GWDD/hmb/Serial B-SP-737/ 14 April 1942; Port Director, SP, to Port Director San Diego.

39. ND11/A3/L24/(A7-Sr) (Serial W-497) 6 June 1942; ComEleven to Comdts. NOB's, San Pedro and San Diego.

40. NB66/A3-2/K (Serial 3001) 25 June 1942; NOB C/L #8-42.

41*. NB66/A3-l/c (Serial 1938) 8 June 1942; Comdt NOB to ComEleven.

 

*This item is to be found in Appendix A, which is arranged chronologically.

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42. 1st End - 29 June 1942 on Comdt NOB ltr to ComEleven--NB66/A3-l/c (Serial 1938); 8 June 1942; Com11 to Comdt NOB.

43. NB66/P17-2/c (Serial 4349}; 11 August 1942; also NB66/P17-2/c (Serial 4350); 11 August 1942; Comdt NOB to Chief, BuPers.

44. NB66/A3-1/K (Serial 4555) 4 September 1942; Comdt NOB to Chief, BuPers, via ComEleven.

45. ND11/ON2 (b)/Pl6-3/Serial Q-09183a) 9 September 1942; ComEleven to BuPers, 1st End. on Comdt NOB's ltr. NB66/A3-1/K (Serial 4555) 4 September 1942 to BuPers, via ComEleven

46. Ltr. from Chief of BuPers to Comdt NOB, SP, 5 September 1942, (17849)

47. Unofficial ltr. from Comdt NOB, SP, (Capt S. F. Helm, USN) to Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, USN, Chief of Naval Personnel; 20 September 1942.

48. A3-2; 5 October 1942; NOB C/L 10-42; also BuPers ltr. Pers-326-rma; 25 Sept. 1942. 1st End on above, NB66/P17-2/K (Serial 4862) 10 October 1942.

49. A3-2; 5 October 1942; NOB C/L 11-42.

50. NB66/A3-1/Serial 4474/ 26 August 1942; Comdt NOB to All Activities in LAxLB-SP Area.

51. NB66/N21/z (Serial 5030} 26 October 1942; ComdtNOB to SecNav, via ComEleven.

52. NB66/N21/K (Serial 129) 22 January 1943; Comdt NOB to Chief of Naval Personnel, via ComEleven.

53. Memorandum from Comdt NOB (Captain S. F. Helm) to Acting ComEleven (Captain G. M. Ravenscroft); 29 January 1943.

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54*. Chart of existent and proposed organizations for Comdt NOB, San Pedro, drawn as of 21 January 1943.

55. ND11/A3/A1-3/(A7-Sr) (Serial W-732); March 1943; ComEleven to Comdt NOB.

56. CO, U. S. Naval Drydocks ltr. N16/L24; 8 March 1943 to VCNO.

57. NDll/A16-l/N15-l/(A7-Cb) Serial W-735; 10 March 1943; ComEleven to CO, USNDD.

58. SecNav ltr. to AlNav; 0p-13c/jc/Serial 61513; 22 March 1943.

59*. NB66/A4-2/a (Serial 740) 10 April 1943; Comdt NOB, SP, to SecNav, via ComEleven. Also NDll/Al-3/N15-l(A7-Cb) (Serial W-780); 15 April 1943; ComEleven to SecNav, via VCNO; 1st End on Comdt NOB's ltr above.

60. NY13/A3-1/A4-2(C) Serial 97/15 April 1943; CO, USNDD to SecNav, via ComEleven.

61. Op-11-A-30/JAB/S02 18 48; Serial 512930-A; 8 April 1943; VCNO to ComEleven.

62. ND11/N15-1/Al-3(A7-Cb) Serial W-781; 17 April 1943; ComEleven to SecNav, via VCNO.

63*. 0p-13C-Jc/ Serial #101113; 14 June 1943.

64. 11ND/NY13/(A1-We) (Serial A-907) 18 June 1943; ComEleven to ComNOB.

65. P17-1; from SecNav to AlNav 032050/88; 8 May 1943.

66. NB66/PY/3/A6-5 (Serial 2571) 20 August 1943; Comdt NOB Operations Officer to various local activities. Also ND11/A4-1 (Serial B(SD) - 2191) RRF:mw 26 August 1943; ComEleven to ComNOB.

 

*This item is to be found in Appendix A, which is arranged chronologically.

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67. NB66/P16-l/00/(Serial 3048) 13 November 1943; ComNOB to BuPers, via ComEleven.

68. Pers-1041-ec, 25 January 1944; Complement of Officers.

69. NB66/A3-l/P17-2/00 (Serial 273) 12 February 1944; ComNOB to BuPers, via ComEleven.

70. Personal letter from Comdt NOB to Chief of BuPers; 25 May 1944.

71. NB66/P17-2/00/ (Serial 1068); 16 June 1944; ComNOB to Chief of Navpers; via ComEleven. Also NDll/A16-l(a)/(Al-We) (Serial A-974); 20 June 1944; End-1 on above; ComEleven to Chief of NavPers.

72*. NB66/P17-1/00 (Serial 1094); 21 June 1944; NOB C/L #16-44.

73. NB66/A3-1/ Serial Q-1521-22; 14 June 1944; ComNOB to ComEleven.

74. QB/NMSB/Report of Naval Manpower Survey Board in 11ND, re: Comdt NOB, TI.

75. NDll/P8-l(b) (A3-Jn); 22 February 1944; ComEleven to Senior Member of NMSB.

76*. NB66/A3-1 (Serial 3043)/ 9 November 1944; ComNOB to CNO, via ComEleven

77*. A3(A7-Am) (Serial W-1560); 18 November 1944;End-1 bn above; ComEleven to CNO.

78. NB66/A3-l/A9-8/2:Rs/ (Serial 2612); 1 October 1945; ComNOB to ComEleven.

79. NB66/A3-1/NY13/2:Rs/ (Serial 2613); 1 October 1945; ComNOB to ComEleven.

80. SecNav Serial 19P02 of 20 November 1945 to ComEleven.

81*. NB66/ND11/A1-3/A3-1/2:ck/ Serial 3499; 10 December 1945. Com U.S. NavBase to ComEleven.

 

*This item is to be found in Appendix A, which is arranged chronologically.

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82. [The source document was unreadable for this entry]

83. Op24B-pd (Serial 202 P24) CNO to ComEleven.

84. ND11/A1-3/(A7-Am) (Serial W-3205); 30 January 1946; ComEleven to Comdt U. S. Naval Base, Terminal Island.

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