Finding Aid for the James E. Doole, Jr. Second World War correspondence 2017.078.w.r

Sharon Clairemont
Center for American War Letters Archives
3/13/2018
Leatherby Libraries
Chapman University
Orange, CA 92866
speccoll@chapman.edu


Contributing Institution: Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: James E. Doole, Jr. Second World War correspondence
Creator: Doole, James Edward, Jr.
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.078.w.r
Physical Description: .3 Linear feet (9 folders)
Date (inclusive): 1943 June 3 - 2004 February 28
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence from Lt. James Edward Doole, Jr., USN to his mother during the Second World War.
Language of Material: English .
Container: WWII 104
Container: 1-9
Container: 1-9

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of James E. Doole, III.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by material type, author and date.
  • Series 1, Correspondence from James E. Doole, Jr. to his mother, Mildred M. Doole
  • Series 2, Photographs
  • Series 3, Aviators flight log books
  • Series 4, CPT pilot rating book
  • Series 5, Navy baseball memorabilia
  • Series 6, Biographical information

Biographical / Historical

Lieutenant James E. "Bud" or "Jimmy" Doole, Jr., United States Navy excelled at baseball, especially in pitching, at Dartmouth College. He was chosen to join the team "Cloudbusters" at the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School at Chapel Hill, NC. There he played with professional ballplayers such as Ted Williams, Buddy Hassett, Johnny Pesky and Johnny Sain, among others. Sain autographed scorecards and news articles that are in Series 7, Folder 7 of this collection. Doole wrote about the professional players in letters to his mother (Series 1, Folder 1). -- Biographical information in Series 8 contains references to Doole's service in the Hawaii National Guard, on helicopters during the Vietnam War.
See biographical material in Series 8. -- Obituary in Las Vegas Review Journal: http://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary.aspx?n=james-doole&pid=141821557
Biographical profile on Chelmsford High School alumni site: http://chsalumni.org/hall-of-fame-members/32-hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-members/1995/108-james-e-doole-jr-1941-d

Access Information

Donor irrevocably transfers, conveys, and assigns to Chapman University all Intellectual Property Rights for the Donated Materials. For more information, consult original donation form.

Preferred Citation

- [Item title, Box number, Folder number] James Edward Doole, Jr. Second World War correspondence (2017.078.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

Content Description

This collection contains correspondence from Lt. James Edward Doole Jr., USN to his mother during the Second World War. It also contains photographs, newspaper clippings, flight log books and biographical information.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Marine Corps
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific islands
World War (1939-1945) -- Pacific Area
Ted Williams (Theodore Samuel Williams)
Johnny Sain

box WWII 104, folder 1-4, folder 1-4

Series 1, Correspondence from James E. Doole, Jr. to his mother, Mildred M. Doole 1943-1945

Physical Description: .3 Linear Feet(4 folders)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains 98 correspondence from Lt. James E. Doole, Jr., USN to his mother during his service in the Second World War. He writes to her at home in Chelmsford, MA beginning in June 1943, signing his letters "Bud." His first letters are written from Chapel Hill where he is in U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School. He writes of oppressive heat and rigorous physical training. On June 5, 1943 he writes of his hope of joining the base team th "Cloudbusters." He writes "I saw the ball game. Here are some of the boys on the club - Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Dusty Cooke (all Red Sox); Buddy Hassett (Yankees); Harry Craft (Cincinnati); Johnny Sain, Joe Coleman, Eddie Moriarity (Braves - also Buddy Gremp) ... Williams is as crazy as ever ... He really is a very funny guy and the boys here seem to like him. He definitely has not washed out..."
On June 9th he writes of being asked to try out for the team "I got in good by pitching a pretty good round of batting practice to such boys as Hassett, Williams, Pesky, Craft, etc. Buddy Hassett is a swell guy, a beautiful line-drive hitter, a real pleasure to pitch to."
June 16 - "Baseball is going prettty well...I'm in good with Ted because he likes me to pitch batting practice." He writes of the team getting special preferential treatment when they travel to other bases to play. "This baseball is a good racket - you're really in the big time playing with these guys. Again, we got mobbed for autographs!" July 23 - he writes he is going with the team to New York to play and of plans to see her there. In August he writes from the Naval Air Station at Bunker Hill, Indiana where he has flight training and expects to fly several hours a day for 8 - 12 weeks. He writes of learning and being tested on aerobatics, flying in formation, night flying. In early December 1943 he writes from the Naval Air Training Center near Pensacola, FL where he is stationed for intermediate training.
On Dec. 31 he writes "Well, I'm a Marine at last."
In January 1944 he writes of qualifying for "VB2", dive bomber flying. "Heaven knows what kind of planes I will be flying after I get my wings - anything from a P-38 Lightning to the transport command with B-24 Liberators. That's what I like about it. I'll probably have a chance to try 'em all out!" marvels at the capabilities of RADAR, writes of the challenges of learning instrument flying. April 1 - "My instructor congratulated me on having completed the cadet syllabus without getting a single downcheck." Writes he can't become a flight instructor when he finishes training in April because he won't yet be 21 yrs. old. The next letter, June 1944, is written from Edenton, NC. It is the first letter in which he uses the rank of lieutenant. In Sept. 1944 he is writing from MCAS Cherry Point, NC awaiting assignment orders to be a pilot or co-pilot. He describes the luxuriousness of the officers' quarters "...just like any good hotel..." Dec 23 - "We're all first pilots now and I've been flying everyday." There is a letter to James "Bud" Doole from Earl Wett dated April 23, 1944 written from the Naval Hospital at St. Albans, NY. Wett writes how severe seasickness aboard Navy ship in North Atlantic resulted in weight loss and hospitalization. In March 1945 Doole is in California, he writes of visiting Los Angeles and Hollywood beore after arriving at MCAD Miramar near San Diego. April 20 he writes he is leaving San Diego and headed to San Francisco and April 27 he writes he is aboard a transport ship the USS General Langefitt in the Pacific. May 8 he writes of his trip across the Pacific, of approaching Pearl Harbor and spending leave in Honolulu and Waikiki. He tells of having "worked a little deal with one of the censors" and so writes of many details of the ship that he might otherwise have to leave out of his letters. "This morning we were awakened at 6:15 by the Captain's voice, announcing the surrender of Germany... This morning we awoke to find the legendary Guadalcanal off our port bow - we were passing through the Solomon Islands... Now listen closely, I'll tell you the big secret. On Friday, the 11th, we expect to pull into Manus Island, the largest island of the Admiralty group. This is the main base of the 1st Marine Air Wing to which I am attached." Doole serves as a co-pilot on a B-25. June 8 - "There's not much to tell about night flying missions. The purpose is to keep the Japs awake - that's all." June 20 - "the last few weeks a few of our boys have flown up into the Philippines and some more of the islands on a certain type of job there's no need of explaining ... This is probably against censorship rules but anyway two of the squadrons, 433 included, have started a training program in the use of rockets." Aug. 8 - "Well I suppose you all are excited about the atomic bomb ... He writes about various recrational activities, movies and sports, especially of pitching on a base team. He shares news of friends and family back home, former Dartmouth buddies, and men he met in training. August 14 he writes of hearing the news of the Japanese surrender over short wave from Radio Tokyo, but also writes not to expect him home anytime soon. "I have plenty of stationery but no will to write." He writes of moving to a new location, probably by ship. "... I hardly believe we'll be sent homein a hurry - especially when McArthur is running the show. He's agreat guy to those in the States, but boy do the Marines and the Navy hate him!!" August 30 - He writes from Hollandia on the coast to New Guinea, of a brawl between Marines and Navy sailors over occupation of an officer's club, of suffering a serious cut on his leg and getting it sewn up at a hospital. Sept 6 - Censorship ended, he writes of flying bombing routes over Rabaul on New Britain and Kavieng on New Ireland. He complains of crowded conditions on the LST taking them to Malabang, Mindanao. Arriving in Mindanao he writes they are not able to go ashore due to Moro uprising, but next day set up camp. He speculates about his squadron's future and about late season baseball back home. Sept. 17 - ... this outfit is headed for the States ... striaght dope from the C.O.. However, we have to wait for transportation which may take two or three months." Oct. 3 - "We finally have electricity in our tents, just in time for the World Series broadcasts... I doubt I'll have enough ambition to write anyone for the rest of my stay here." Oct. 20 - "...10 of our planes are leaving Tuesday the 23rd, for Hawaii - naturally, I'm on one of the planes. Our planes are completely stripped down, all guns and armor plating have been removed They really get up and go now." He continues to write of his group's flight plans to get to Ewa in Hawaii. He writes along the way from Peleliu, Guam, Saipan, Eniwetok, Wake, and Midway. Nov. 6 - He writes of arrival in Hawaii, "pickling" the planes to preserve them, complains of having to wear a tie again on base, and discusses his "points" situation. Nov. 28 "I'm too darned excited to write much of a letter 'cause I'm going to be discharged!!" He writes he is to report to the Discharge Center in Boston by mid-December. In the last letter in the collection, postmarked Dec. 4, he writes from Evanston, IL of plans to take a train to New York and "I will definitely be home bythe 15th." There is a partial letter at the end of the series. It has no saluation page, but is signed "Love, Jim." It is undated but makes reference to the visiting the Space Needle in Seattle.
box WWII 104, folder 5, folder 5

Series 2, Photographs

Physical Description: .01 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains one color portrait of Lt. James E. Doole, Jr., USN including: a copy of a headshot photo of James E. Doole, Jr. on the cover of a remembrance card from Punahou School; a black and white photo of Doole and other pilots/air cadets standing in front of an airplane (c. 1943); an informal photograph of Doole wearing a Dartmouth Baseball jacket and cap seated on bleachers with six young women in casual poses. Writing on the back of the baseball photo is "Before The Game," and lists the names "Clarice Davis, Beverly, Sally Neidlinger, Sue Neidlinger, Nancy Gile, Barbie Dent" and is dated "1942 Pre-enlist."
box WWII 104, folder 6, folder 6

Series 3, Aviators flight log books 1943-1945

Physical Description: .05 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains two Aviators Flight Log books belonging to Lt. James E. Doole, Jr., USN; each covering the same period of time and the same flights, 1943 - 1945.
box WWII 104, folder 7, folder 7

Series 4, CPT pilot rating book 1943

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains one CPT Pilot Rating Book. The name of the controlled CPT course is "Elementary Navy" and the student is James Edward Doole, Jr. The book indicates the ground course was taken at Maine Central Institute and flight instruction was at the municipal airport in Pittsfield, Maine. Dates of instruction are 3/15/1943 thru April 30, 1943.
box WWII 104, folder 8, folder 8

Series 5, Navy baseball memorabilia

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains baseball programs, news articles and score cards pertaining to Doole's association with the baseball team at the United States Navy Pre-Flight School at Chapel Hill, NC. Doole writes of his team experiences in his 1943 letters to his mother (Series 1).
This series includes the following items:
  • 1) a scorecard from a game of Chapel Hill Cloudbusters v. Yanklands listing Doole as well as Johnny Sain, Ted Williams, Buddy Hassett, John Pesky and other professional players. Babe Ruth is listed as manager of the Yanklands. The scorecard is autographed by John Sain.
  • 2) a program from a benefit baseball game in Raleigh, NC between the Norfolk Naval Training Station vs U.S. Naval Pre-Flight School, July 14, 1943 icluding score card listing players.
  • 3) A schedule of team movement for the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School baseball team, July 26, 1943 for a game in New York at Yankee Stadium. It is a typewritten page autographed by John Sain.
  • 4) A newspaper article headlined "Former Cloudbuster Pitcher Writes Lt. Kepler from Peru" containing a letter (to the Editor) of appreciation written to Lt. George Kepler from Jimmy Doole. Accompanying the news article is another article including photographs of James E. Doole, Jr. and George Costopoulos upon their commissioning as second lieutenants.
  • 5) A page from a scrapbook that includes a newspaper column "The Lookout" by Frank Moran with headline "'Bud' Doole Playing With Stars...", a newspaper clipping listing Cloudbuster batters and their averages as well as a list of pitchers and their records, and the "CLOUDBUSTER" banner from the newspaper.
  • 6) a scrapbook page with two articles, one headlined "Cloudbusters Win Over Burlington By 9 to 4 Count" and the other, headlined "Cadet John Sain Pitches Victory," includes game statistics. The page is autographed by John Sain.
  • 7) A quotation about James Doole from Paul Wysard's review of Leigh Montville's book "Ted Wiliams: The Biography of an American Hero."
box WWII 104, folder 9, folder 9

Series 6, Biographical information

Physical Description: .01 Linear feet(1 folder)
Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

This series contains biographical material about James E. "Bud" Doole, Jr. including two copies of a biography written by his son, James E. Doole, III (aka Kimo); an autobiographical summary written for a Dartmouth alumni publication; a program for a memorial service for Doole; an obituary highlighting Doole's coaching career at Punahou School published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin.