Capt. Eugene P. Rankin Personal Papers, 1944-1997, bulk bulk

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Summary

Creators:
Rankin, Eugene P.
Abstract:
Eugene P. Rankin was born in 1916. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Pensacola, Florida, in 1941. In 1943, he served in World War 2 in the Pacific Theater. There he was the commanding officer in a “Black Cat Squadron”, conducting nighttime attack missions consolidated PBY Catalina patrol bombers. Afterwards, Rankin became a Captain of the USS Kearsarge (CV-33). The Kearsarge was tasked with assisting Project Mercury, in that it would have to recover astronauts who splashed down in the ocean after orbiting the Earth.
Extent:
0.36 Cubic Feet Three (3) boxes, 12”x5”x10.5”
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Background

Scope and content:

Three (3) boxes, 12”x5”x10.5”. The collection contains many photographs, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, and dozens of once confidential documents, all of which are related to World War II, the Turtle, Project Mercury, and the USS Kearsarge. This spans a total of 38 folders. Items in folders are numbered by Box.

Biographical / historical:

Eugene P. Rankin was born in 1916. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Pensacola, Florida, in 1941. In 1943, he served in World War 2 in the Pacific Theater. There he was the commanding officer in a “Black Cat Squadron”, conducting nighttime attack missions consolidated PBY Catalina patrol bombers. After the war he was one of the crew members of the “Truculent Turtle”, a Lockheed P2V-1 Neptune. This was the first plane to fly across the Pacific Ocean without refueling. It was the longest un-refueled flight made to that point – 4000 miles (6,400 km) and the “Turtle” held this world record for 16 years.

Afterwards, Rankin became a Captain of the USS Kearsarge (CV-33). The Kearsarge was tasked with assisting Project Mercury, in that it would have to recover astronauts who splashed down in the ocean after orbiting the Earth. The Kearsarge recovered Captain Wally M. Schirra, Jr., USN, (who signed photographs in collection) and later Colonel Gordon Cooper, USAF. In 1967, Rankin retired from the Navy. He passed away on August 27, 2000.

Acquisition information:
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Terms of access:

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

Preferred citation:

[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]

Location of this collection:
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 234-8291
archives@sdasm.org
Website