Saturday, May 14, 2016

RWA in San Diego - A Future Duchess Lands on Navy Base Coronado



Reminder: I have a special giveaway for Military Appreciation Month at this link.

Continuing our virtual tour of Navy Base Coronado (link and link), from Early Aviators (link),

On September 25, 1917, Lieutenant Earl W. Spencer, USN, a 29-year-old Naval Aviator, Academy Class of 1910, was ordered to duty in command of Naval Air Station, San Diego. He was instructed to ... establish a permanent Naval Air Station for training purposes.



Alas, Lieutenant Spenser would be eclipsed by his socialite wife, Wallace Warfield Spencer.  From the CINC Navy website (link),

Even the base's first commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Earl W. Spencer Jr., USN, added a degree of celebrity to North Island. His wife was Wallis Warfield, a prominent socialite who remarried twice, and become the late Duchess of Windsor for whom King Edward of England gave up his throne in 1936.

Presumably military life (and an alcoholic husband) did not suit Wallis' tastes.  Still, she was the "first wife" of Navy aviation on Coronado Island.  Remember, "coronado" is crown in Spanish - a foreshadowing of a crown that never came for the Baltimore-born socialite.

Spencer's second (of five) wife, Miriam Maze, remarried Vice Admiral Arthur Radford, who later became the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Radford, like Spencer, graduated from the Naval Academy and received his wings as a Naval Aviator.

Next:  Aircraft carriers pull into port.

USS Langley
USS Langley, the Navy's first aircraft carrier 

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash. To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about Navy ships - have you toured any?

I toured the USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier, when it pulled into Pearl Harbor in 2012 (link).

2. Comments are open through Saturday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City





22 comments:

  1. I've never been on an Navy ship still that was still on active duty. I have toured the Grey Ghost - USS Lexington currently docked in Corpus Christi Bay.

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  2. I've never toured a Navy ship but my dad was in the Navy when he was a teenager.

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  3. I've never toured a navy ship I would love to however

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  4. Sounds like these people got around! Haven't been on a Navy ship, but hope to get to the Intrepid Museum one of these days.

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  5. I toured some when I was a kid, then some in Charleston SC & Honolulu

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  6. No have. It inkt not
    Great pictures
    Kimh

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  7. I toured a Navy ship a long time ago. It was enormous & most impressive.

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  8. I have never been aboard a navy ship.

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  9. I have never toured a naval ship but I'd like to!

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  10. It was in the summer several years ago, but the US Alabama is docked in Mobile Bay, Alabama and available to tour, along with a submarine and a couple other exhibits. My dad was in the USN during WWII and I have photos of him being soooo tan and thin... Now I KNOW WHY.. there was no air conditioning... it is so HOT !! We toured during July and thank goodness some parts were now air conditioned!!! Thanks to all who are or have served!!

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  11. I have toured many. San Diego has quite a few and there are some her in Connecticut at Groton.

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  12. I toured a couple when I visited DC but it was a long time ago and I don't remember the names.

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  13. I've toured HMS Belfast which is near Tower Bridge, London. It has to be one of the most fascinating but creepiest things that I've ever done. There was such a peculiar odor on the ship which we all noticed.

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  14. No but I like to

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  15. How fabulous to be able to tour one of these ships. I myself have not been through one.

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  16. I have toured the USS Midway and the USS Stennis.

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  17. Interesting bits of history. Spencer's marriage record wasn't very good. Military life can be hard on a marriage, but 5 wives is still a bit much. and since some remarried military men, the military life was not the problem.

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  18. I have toured the USS North Carolina Battleship in Wilmingon, NC.

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  19. I've never visited a Naval Ship but would like to.
    Enjoyed the post. Very interesting.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  20. I've never visited a Naval Ship but would like to.
    Enjoyed the post. Very interesting.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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