These messages were on the Eldridge List. Since John Eldridge was born and grew up in Buckingham, I thought I'd pass them along. Leila --------------- USS Eldridge From: "Paul Maynard Ramey Jr" Sent: May 22, 2001 1:27 AM Subject: [ELDRIDGE-L] Re: need help with my Eldridge line Please reply if you know anything about these. Thanks. Paul P.S. Around 1940 or so American navy had a ship named USS ELDRIDGE. Anyone know what Eldridge it was named after? ----------------------- Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 15:57:44 -0000 From: "RICHARD A ELDRIDGE" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [ELDRIDGE-L] DE 173 Eldridge & Liberty Ship George Eldridge Hi Paul, DE 173 was named for Lcdr John Eldridge, Jr of VA. He was CO of Scouting Sqdn 71 aboard Aircraft Carrier Wasp and was killed in the Solomon Islands. Liberty Ship (class 441 Freighter) Named for George Eldridge was launched in 1944. Chief Boatswain Mate Eldridge. Developed the "Eldridge Rig" in the early days of WW2. Used extensively for underway replenishment by US Navy. This is the ship that I had a "vague memory" was named for Bosun Eldridge. Additional Info in > www.hazegray.org < Richard --------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 20:06:43 -0500 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [ELDRIDGE-L] USS ELDRIDGE SITES USS ELDRIDGE SITES: History and Info http://www.soteria.com/brown/letters/philly3.htm Pictures and Info http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-e/de173.htm ------------------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 17:48:59 -0400 From: Judge Frank Eldridge <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Subject: [ELDRIDGE-L] Re: ELDRIDGE-D Digest V01 #82 The query made was regarding the destroyer escort John Eldridge which was commissioned in 1944. John Eldridge was my Uncle and was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, the son of John Eldridge and Lillian Moorman Spencer Eldridge. In 1927 he graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy and trained as a pilot on the converted German cruiser that was made into the aircraft carrier Langley, flying bi-planes. He did test pilot work with the Dauntless Devistator dive bomber, crashing twice. When WW II broke out he was on the carrier Wasp in the North Atlantic commanding the 71st Wing as Lt. Commander under Squadron Commander Snowden. Their first mission was the ferrying of planes to the Island of Malta. After the Battle of the Coral Sea, one carrier was sunk and one badly damaged; therefore, the Carriers Hornet and Wasp were transferred to the Pacific to support the Marine landing in August of 1942 on Guadalcanal. During the operations the carrier Wasp was sunk while Eldridge's 71st squadron was in the air. They landed on the Hornet to refuel and rearm; there was no room on the carrier for their planes so they could stay but their planes would be pushed over the side or they could join the Marine air wing on the captured Japanese airfield renamed Henderson Field. Lt. Cmdt. Eldridge chose to take his planes to fight on and continued to do so through October. Twice Eldridge was shot down but returned through the Japanese lines with the help of natives and Coast Watchers. In late October, Eldridge received orders to return to the States to take over training at Pensacola Naval Air Station, the primary naval training area, but word came that under the cover of a storm a large Japanese task force of troopships and escorts was coming down the slot to land Re-enforcements. Cmdt. Eldridge took up a flight of volunteers to intercept the task force. He was credited with sinking a cruiser and breaking up the convoy; however, all planes were lost. His body was never recovered, but his bullet riddled plane and the body of his gunner were found in shallow water. Lt. Cmdt. Eldridge posthumously received the Navy Flying Cross, the second highest decoration to the Congressional Medal of Honor. Also the destroyer escort was named for him. More information is available in "The Lonely Vigil," "The Cactus Air Force," "The History of the Marine Air Force in WWII," and "The U.S. Naval History of WW II." Sincerely yours, Frank M. Eldridge