Register of the John Sidney McCain Papers
Processed by Aparna Mukherjee
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305-6010
Phone: (650) 723-3563
Fax: (650) 725-3445
Email: archives@hoover.stanford.edu
© 2008
Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved.
Register of the John Sidney McCain Papers
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford University
Stanford, California
- Processed by:
- Aparna Mukherjee
- Date Completed:
- 2008
- Encoded by:
- Elizabeth Konzak
© 2008 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: John Sidney McCain Papers
Dates: 1933-1945
Collection number: 82114
Creator:
McCain, John Sidney
Collection Size:
5 manuscript boxes,
(1.9 linear feet)
Repository:
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford, California 94305-6010
Abstract: The John Sidney McCain papers consist of correspondence, reports, dispatches, orders, and photographs relating to American
naval aviation and to naval operations in the Pacific Theater during World War II. John Sidney McCain was an admiral in the
United States Navy and a Commander of the Second Carrier Task Force in World War II. He was awarded Navy Cross for his heroism
and the Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Stars for exceptional service
Physical location: Hoover Institution Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to
copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives
at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see
or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible.
Publication Rights
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John Sidney McCain Papers, [Box no.], Hoover Institution Archives
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1982
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find
the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number
of boxes listed in this finding aid.
Biographical Chronology
| 1884 August 9 |
Born, Carroll County, Mississippi |
| 1901-1902 |
Student, University of Mississippi |
| 1906 |
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, |
| |
Commander, ensign, U.S. Navy |
| 1920 |
Graduate, Naval War College |
| 1935-1936 |
Flight instructor (naval aviator), Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida |
| 1937-1939 |
Commanded the aircraft carrier Ranger (CV-4) |
| 1939 |
Served as Commander of Air Forces for Western Sea Frontier and the South Pacific Force |
| 1941 |
Promoted through grades to Rear Admiral |
| 1943 July |
Promoted to Vice Admiral |
| 1942 September - 1943 July |
Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics |
| 1943 July |
Deputy Chief, naval operations for air, Commander, Carrier Task Force |
| 1943 August |
Rose to the rank of Vice Admiral as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations |
| 1944 |
Returned to the Pacific Theater as Commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force |
| |
Earned the Navy Cross |
| 1945 |
Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with two Gold Stars for outstanding performance as an air planner and carrier task
force commander and awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry
|
| 1945 September 2 |
Witnessed the Japanese surrender on board U.S.S. Missouri |
| 1945 September 6 |
Died, Carrollton, Mississippi |
| |
Posthumously appointed Admiral effective that date |
Scope and Content of Collection
The papers of John Sidney McCain, acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1982, deal with United States naval aviation
and naval operations in the Pacific theater during Second World War.
The papers have been organized into three series. Correspondence includes letters, of a both official and personal nature,
with names of some prominent correspondents mentioned and arranged chronologically. The United States Navy File covers air
distribution lists, dispatches, orders, and operating procedures relating to American naval operations particularly in the
Pacific region. Last but not the least are the photographs divided by the creator generally into groups including the date,
the location, and the names of photographers.
The original order of the McCain papers has been maintained and security- classified documents have been pulled out of the
collection.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into 3 series: Correspondence, United States Navy File, and Photographs
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
United States. Navy--Aviation.
United States. Navy. Carrier Task Force, Second
United States. Navy--Officers.
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations.
World War, 1939-1945--Naval operations.
Container List
Correspondence,
1933-1945
Scope and Content Note
Personal and official correspondence sent to and received from John Sidney McCain, arranged chronologically. Includes correspondence
with C. M. Austin, M. M. Dupre, L. B. Porterfield, John N. Towers, and others. Also includes memoranda and related materials.
Box/Folder: 1 : 2
1935-1940.
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence with C. M. Austin, M. M. Dupre, L. B. Porterfield, W. C. I. Stiles, Zane Thompson, Jr., M. J. Torlinski,
and others
Box/Folder: 1 : 3
1939-1941.
Scope and Content Note
Letters to John H. Towers. See also folder 7
Box/Folder: 1 : 4
1940-1942.
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence with Robert L. Ghormley, H. F. Leary, G. L. Roberts, and John H. Towers
Box/Folder: 1 : 7
1942 January - 1945 August.
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence with John H. Towers. See also folder 3
Box/Folder: 1 : 8
1943 October - 1944 August
United States Navy File,
1941-1945
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence, dispatches, Fast Carrier Task Force instructions, operating orders and procedures, and war diary, arranged
alphabetically and then in chronological order
Box/Folder: 1 : 9
Action reports,
1944 October 29
Box/Folder: 1 : 10
1939 June - 1941 November
Box/Folder: 1 : 11
1941 January - 1942 April
Subject file.
Note
See also Photographs
Box/Folder: 2 : 1
Dispatches REF Storm,
1944 December 15-22
Box/Folder: 2 : 2-3
Operation orders I-44 and 2-44,
1944 August-September and undated.
Scope and Content Note
Includes standard operating procedures, undated
Box/Folder: 2 : 4
Task Force 38 operations,
1945 January 25
Box/Folder: 2 : 5
War diary - Roster of daily activities,
1944 August 18 - 1945 July 31.
Scope and Content Note
Includes 12 photographic prints taken in Formosa, Japan, Philippines, and Russia
United States Pacific Fleet
Box/Folder: 3 : 1
Fast Carrier Task Force instructions,
1944-1945 and undated
Second Carrier Task Force and Commander Task Force 38
Box/Folder: 3 : 2
Undated.
Scope and Content Note
Air support plan in support of bombardment groups, distribution list, strategic targets - Tokyo, and map. Operation orders
2-45 and 3-45
Box/Folder: 3 : 3
1944 February - 1945 June.
Scope and Content Note
Thirty Eight, operation order 2-45
Box/Folder: 3 : 4
1944 October 2-29.
Scope and Content Note
Commander Task Group 38 Point One Action Report. Includes 6 photographic prints taken in the Philippine Islands
Box/Folder: 3 : 5
1944 November 13 - 1945 January 1.
Scope and Content Note
Communication plan numbers 2-45
Box/Folder: 3 : 6
1945 July 2-August 15.
Scope and Content Note
Includes 1 photographic print taken in Tokyo area
Box/Folder: 4 : 1
1944 December - 1945 August 22.
Scope and Content Note
Commander Task Force 38 Action Report. Includes 2 photographic prints, 1944 December 5, taken in Japan
Box/Folder: 4 : 2
1945 June 7.
Scope and Content Note
Includes 11 photographic prints generally of individuals taken in the Pacific area
Box/Folder: 4 : 3-4
1945 July-August.
Scope and Content Note
Includes copies of photographs
Photographs,
1939-1946
Scope and Content Note
Photographs of bombing of Japan, Luzon Islands, Manila Bay, Second Carrier Task Force, shipping damage, Sibuyan sea battle,
and miscellaneous prints, arranged chronologically. Names of photographers, often names of ships, have been mentioned whenever
available
Box/Folder: 4 : 5
Shipping damage, 31 photographic prints
1944 January 3-December 14 and undated
Scope and Content Note
Photo by U.S.S. Cowpens, U.S.S. Hornet, U.S.S Franklin, U.S.S Hancock, U.S.S. Ticonderoga, and U.S.S. WASP, U.S. Navy
Box/Folder: 4 : 6
Second Carrier Task Force,
1944 January 3 - 1946 October 10 and undated.
Scope and Content Note
25 prints photographed by U.S.S. Cowpens, U.S.S. Essex, U.S. Navy
Box/Folder: 4 : 7
Bombing of Japan depicted in 36 prints,
1944 October 10 - 1946 October 16 and undated.
Scope and Content Note
Includes greetings sent to John S. McCain on his birthday and anniversary, 1945, August 9
Box/Folder: 5 : 1
Sibuyan sea battle depicted in 3 prints
1944 October 24,
Scope and Content Note
photographed by U.S.S. Franklin, U.S. Navy
Box/Folder: 5 : 2
Luzon Islands, Philippine Islands,
1944 October 25 - 1945 January 12,
Scope and Content Note
photos by U.S.S. Franklin and U.S.S. Ticonderoga, U.S. Navy. 16 prints
Box/Folder: 5 : 3
Manila Bay depicted in 6 prints,
1944 November 5
Box/Folder: 5 : 4
Miscellaneous prints,
1944 January - 1945 September,
Scope and Content Note
photographed by U.S.S. Navy and U.S.S. Shangrila, U.S. Navy. 28 prints
