Description
The World War II Naval Aviator Flight Log Book of Lt. Theodore Roosevelt III, the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Octavo, [212pp]. Brown cloth, title stamped in black on front. Name of Theodore Roosevelt III, his rank, and “USNR” written on front cover.
This log covers flights by Lt. Roosevelt from August 1942 – May 1947. Roosevelt was a Navy Pilot and served as flag lieutenant to Rear Admiral John D. Price, transporting him throughout the Pacific Theater. He also participated in combat operations, including a January 30, 1944 bombing of Midway, noted as “Midway-Wake Bombing” in the log. This bombing raid was the first time PB2Y Coronado (“The Flying Boat”) was used for night bombing operations. Roosevelt would later receive the Navy Air Medal for his participation in this raid. On September 9, 1944, Roosevelt escorted Admiral Nimitz, Rear Admiral Price, Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, and Admiral John Henry Towers on a test of the Martin PBM Mariner.
A unique piece of World War II history and Rooseveltiana.
Theodore Roosevelt III (1914-2001) was the son of Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., and the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt. He volunteered for service as a Naval Aviator during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater. He participated in vital bombing raids on Midway, Wake Island, Eniwetok, and Guadalcanal, as noted in the log book. He was often assigned to flight duty on the Naval Air Transport Planes (a.k.a. “Flying Boats”), which were ideal for officer transport, but not for combat operations. After the war, Roosevelt became an Investment Banker and a trustee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
