Register of the John Sidney McCain papers
Finding aid prepared by Aparna Mukherjee
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2008
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: John Sidney McCain papers
Date (inclusive): 1933-1945
Collection Number: 82114
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5 manuscript boxes
(2.0 Linear Feet)
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
Creator:
McCain, John Sidney, 1884-1945
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 1982
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], John Sidney McCain Papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Biographical Note
| 1884 August 9 |
Born, Carroll County, Mississippi |
| 1901-1902 |
Student, University of Mississippi |
| 1906 |
Commander, ensign, U.S. Navy |
| |
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, |
| 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 |
Earned the Navy Cross |
| |
Returned to the Pacific Theater as Commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force |
| 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 |
Posthumously appointed Admiral effective that date |
| |
Died, Carrollton, Mississippi |
Scope and Content of Collection
The papers of John Sidney McCain, acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & 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
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations
World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations
Aviation
Officers
United States. Navy
United States. Navy. Carrier Task Force, Second
Correspondence
1933-1945
Scope and Contents 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 1, folder 2
1935-1940
Scope and Contents 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 1, folder 3
1939-1941
Scope and Contents note
Letters to John H. Towers. See also folder 7
box 1, folder 4
1940-1942
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence with Robert L. Ghormley, H. F. Leary, G. L. Roberts, and John H. Towers
box 1, folder 7
1942 January - 1945 August
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence with John H. Towers. See also folder 3
box 1, folder 8
1943 October - 1944 August
United States Navy File
1941-1945
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence, dispatches, Fast Carrier Task Force instructions, operating orders and procedures, and war diary, arranged
alphabetically and then in chronological order
box 1, folder 9
Action reports
1944 October 29
box 1, folder 10
1939 June - 1941 November
box 1, folder 11
1941 January - 1942 April
Subject file
General note
See also Photographs
box 2, folder 1
Dispatches REF Storm
1944 December 15-22
box 2, folder 2-3
Operation orders I-44 and 2-44
1944 August-September and undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes standard operating procedures, undated
box 2, folder 4
Task Force 38 operations
1945 January 25
box 2, folder 5
War diary - Roster of daily activities
1944 August 18 - 1945 July 31
Scope and Contents note
Includes 12 photographic prints taken in Formosa, Japan, Philippines, and Russia
United States Pacific Fleet
box 3, folder 1
Fast Carrier Task Force instructions
1944-1945 and undated
Second Carrier Task Force and Commander Task Force 38
box 3, folder 2
Undated
Scope and Contents note
Air support plan in support of bombardment groups, distribution list, strategic targets - Tokyo, and map. Operation orders
2-45 and 3-45
box 3, folder 3
1944 February - 1945 June
Scope and Contents note
Thirty Eight, operation order 2-45
box 3, folder 4
1944 October 2-29
Scope and Contents note
Commander Task Group 38 Point One Action Report. Includes 6 photographic prints taken in the Philippine Islands
box 3, folder 5
1944 November 13 - 1945 January 1
Scope and Contents note
Communication plan numbers 2-45
box 3, folder 6
1945 July 2-August 15
Scope and Contents note
Includes 1 photographic print taken in Tokyo area
box 4, folder 1
1944 December - 1945 August 22
Scope and Contents note
Commander Task Force 38 Action Report. Includes 2 photographic prints, 1944 December 5, taken in Japan
box 4, folder 2
1945 June 7
Scope and Contents note
Includes 11 photographic prints generally of individuals taken in the Pacific area
box 4, folder 3-4
1945 July-August
Scope and Contents note
Includes copies of photographs
Photographs
1939-1946
Scope and Contents 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 4, folder 5
Shipping damage, 31 photographic prints
1944 January 3-December 14 and undated
Scope and Contents 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 4, folder 6
Second Carrier Task Force
1944 January 3 - 1946 October 10 and undated
Scope and Contents note
25 prints photographed by U.S.S. Cowpens, U.S.S. Essex, U.S. Navy
box 4, folder 7
Bombing of Japan depicted in 36 prints
1944 October 10 - 1946 October 16 and undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes greetings sent to John S. McCain on his birthday and anniversary, 1945, August 9
box 5, folder 1
Sibuyan sea battle depicted in 3 prints
1944 October 24
Scope and Contents note
photographed by U.S.S. Franklin, U.S. Navy
box 5, folder 2
Luzon Islands, Philippine Islands
1944 October 25 - 1945 January 12
Scope and Contents note
photos by U.S.S. Franklin and U.S.S. Ticonderoga, U.S. Navy. 16 prints
box 5, folder 3
Manila Bay depicted in 6 prints
1944 November 5
box 5, folder 4
Miscellaneous prints
1944 January - 1945 September
Scope and Contents note
photographed by U.S.S. Navy and U.S.S. Shangrila, U.S. Navy. 28 prints
