Parents: India (Seals) and William A. Bailey
Step father: William Eugene Hines
Siblings: Walter Eugene Hines, Lyda Jo Hines
Wife: Catharine Viola Sparrow (married Mar 8 1942 at Parsons, Kansas)
In August 1941, Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Kansas and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he was commissioned an Ensign. He was placed on active duty on Jan 16 1942 and reported to the US Naval Armed Guard Center in New Orleans in April 1942.
(from ancestry.com and www.armed-guard.com)
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USNR
Service No: 118708
Awards: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/STAR
Entered the Service from Missouri
The Wichita was an American merchant ship built in 1921 for the US Shipping Board. Originally steam powered (SS), it was converted in 1929 to diesel propulsion (MV). After entering WWII, the ship was equipped with four .50cal guns and one 4inch gun mounted to the stern, and a US Navy Armed Guard crew was routinely assigned to the ship.
On Sept 1, 1942, Ensign WILLIAM T. BAILEY was in command of the current 10-man Armed Guard crew and he was on board as the Wichita left Takoradi (now part of Ghana) with a load of general cargo. After four months and several ports, they were finally heading west, bound for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and then New York.
On the morning of Sept. 19th, the unescorted ship was spotted about 300 miles east of Barbados by German submarine U-516. The freighter was sailing a zigzag course at a speed of about 11 knots when U-156 attacked, firing two torpedoes. Neither hit. The submarine repositioned itself and fired another torpedo, this one hitting between the foremast and the bridge causing the Wichita to sink in less than a minute. According to U-516's logbook, the sub surfaced and searched the area but found no survivors or lifeboats.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 10 US Navy Armed Guards on board, none survived.
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About the US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II.
The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels..."
from:http://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
There is also a memorial headstone at Arlington National Cemetery which includes family links.
Step father: William Eugene Hines
Siblings: Walter Eugene Hines, Lyda Jo Hines
Wife: Catharine Viola Sparrow (married Mar 8 1942 at Parsons, Kansas)
In August 1941, Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Kansas and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he was commissioned an Ensign. He was placed on active duty on Jan 16 1942 and reported to the US Naval Armed Guard Center in New Orleans in April 1942.
(from ancestry.com and www.armed-guard.com)
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
USNR
Service No: 118708
Awards: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/STAR
Entered the Service from Missouri
The Wichita was an American merchant ship built in 1921 for the US Shipping Board. Originally steam powered (SS), it was converted in 1929 to diesel propulsion (MV). After entering WWII, the ship was equipped with four .50cal guns and one 4inch gun mounted to the stern, and a US Navy Armed Guard crew was routinely assigned to the ship.
On Sept 1, 1942, Ensign WILLIAM T. BAILEY was in command of the current 10-man Armed Guard crew and he was on board as the Wichita left Takoradi (now part of Ghana) with a load of general cargo. After four months and several ports, they were finally heading west, bound for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and then New York.
On the morning of Sept. 19th, the unescorted ship was spotted about 300 miles east of Barbados by German submarine U-516. The freighter was sailing a zigzag course at a speed of about 11 knots when U-156 attacked, firing two torpedoes. Neither hit. The submarine repositioned itself and fired another torpedo, this one hitting between the foremast and the bridge causing the Wichita to sink in less than a minute. According to U-516's logbook, the sub surfaced and searched the area but found no survivors or lifeboats.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 10 US Navy Armed Guards on board, none survived.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
About the US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II.
The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels..."
from:http://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
There is also a memorial headstone at Arlington National Cemetery which includes family links.
Parents: India (Seals) and William A. Bailey
Step father: William Eugene Hines
Siblings: Walter Eugene Hines, Lyda Jo Hines
Wife: Catharine Viola Sparrow (married Mar 8 1942 at Parsons, Kansas)
In August 1941, Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Kansas and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he was commissioned an Ensign. He was placed on active duty on Jan 16 1942 and reported to the US Naval Armed Guard Center in New Orleans in April 1942.
(from ancestry.com and www.armed-guard.com)
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
USNR
Service No: 118708
Awards: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/STAR
Entered the Service from Missouri
The Wichita was an American merchant ship built in 1921 for the US Shipping Board. Originally steam powered (SS), it was converted in 1929 to diesel propulsion (MV). After entering WWII, the ship was equipped with four .50cal guns and one 4inch gun mounted to the stern, and a US Navy Armed Guard crew was routinely assigned to the ship.
On Sept 1, 1942, Ensign WILLIAM T. BAILEY was in command of the current 10-man Armed Guard crew and he was on board as the Wichita left Takoradi (now part of Ghana) with a load of general cargo. After four months and several ports, they were finally heading west, bound for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and then New York.
On the morning of Sept. 19th, the unescorted ship was spotted about 300 miles east of Barbados by German submarine U-516. The freighter was sailing a zigzag course at a speed of about 11 knots when U-156 attacked, firing two torpedoes. Neither hit. The submarine repositioned itself and fired another torpedo, this one hitting between the foremast and the bridge causing the Wichita to sink in less than a minute. According to U-516's logbook, the sub surfaced and searched the area but found no survivors or lifeboats.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 10 US Navy Armed Guards on board, none survived.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
About the US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II.
The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels..."
from:http://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
There is also a memorial headstone at Arlington National Cemetery which includes family links.
Step father: William Eugene Hines
Siblings: Walter Eugene Hines, Lyda Jo Hines
Wife: Catharine Viola Sparrow (married Mar 8 1942 at Parsons, Kansas)
In August 1941, Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Kansas and enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve where he was commissioned an Ensign. He was placed on active duty on Jan 16 1942 and reported to the US Naval Armed Guard Center in New Orleans in April 1942.
(from ancestry.com and www.armed-guard.com)
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
USNR
Service No: 118708
Awards: PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL W/STAR
Entered the Service from Missouri
The Wichita was an American merchant ship built in 1921 for the US Shipping Board. Originally steam powered (SS), it was converted in 1929 to diesel propulsion (MV). After entering WWII, the ship was equipped with four .50cal guns and one 4inch gun mounted to the stern, and a US Navy Armed Guard crew was routinely assigned to the ship.
On Sept 1, 1942, Ensign WILLIAM T. BAILEY was in command of the current 10-man Armed Guard crew and he was on board as the Wichita left Takoradi (now part of Ghana) with a load of general cargo. After four months and several ports, they were finally heading west, bound for St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and then New York.
On the morning of Sept. 19th, the unescorted ship was spotted about 300 miles east of Barbados by German submarine U-516. The freighter was sailing a zigzag course at a speed of about 11 knots when U-156 attacked, firing two torpedoes. Neither hit. The submarine repositioned itself and fired another torpedo, this one hitting between the foremast and the bridge causing the Wichita to sink in less than a minute. According to U-516's logbook, the sub surfaced and searched the area but found no survivors or lifeboats.
There were 40 Merchant Mariners and 10 US Navy Armed Guards on board, none survived.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
About the US NAVY ARMED GUARD
"The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II.
The men of the Armed Guard served as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels..."
from:http://www.armed-guard.com/about-ag.html
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
There is also a memorial headstone at Arlington National Cemetery which includes family links.
Inscription
BAILEY WILLIAM T ENSIGN USNR MISSOURI
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