Chester County PA Archives News.....With Our Men and Women in Armed Forces of U.S. September 10, 1942
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Eleanor Ryan eleanor.ryan@alum.rpi.edu May 2, 2007, 6:13 pm

Daily Local News September 10, 1942
Transfer of Gordon D. WHITCRAFT to the United States Army Air Force Air 
Transport Command and his promotion to the rank of captain is announced by the 
Air Adjutant General’s office in Washington.  Captain Whitcraft, who formerly 
was attached to the Air Corps Headquarters in the War Department, is now 
assigned to the staff of Major General Harold L. George.  The Air Transport 
Command headquarters is located in Gravelly Point, Va, across the Potomac 
River, but in the District of Columbia.  A former Philadelphia newspaperman, 
Captain Whitcraft was called into service as a second lieutenant in the Reserve 
last February 23.  His immediate assignment was at Carlisle Barracks, from 
where he was transferred to the War Department.  He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. 
Alger C. Whitcraft, 409 South Church street.
Patsy DI NICOLA, 127 East Barnard street, West Chester, son of Mr. and Mrs. 
Santina Di Nicola, has volunteered, and was inducted into the U.S. Navy on 
September 4th.  He had been employed as a foreman at the Bellanca Aircraft 
plant at New Castle, Del. He received many gifts from friends before he left.
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Gray, of Oxford, have received a letter from their son, 
Corporal Clarence J. GRAY, from somewhere in England, saying he had arrived 
safely, and is fine.  He asks his friends write to him at this address:  
Corporal Clarence J. Gray, 13008615, Company K, 26th Infantry, A.P.O. No. 1, 
care Postmaster, New York.  The Gray family formerly lived in West Chester.
Cadet Robert (Bing) MILLER, son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Miller, of 25 East 
Barnard street, left last Wednesday for Chapel Hill, N.C., where he will 
receive a basic pre-flight training course.  “Bing”, who enlisted in the Naval 
Air Corps, was graduated from the West Chester State Teachers College this past 
year and completed an eight-week primary training course at Muhlenberg College, 
Allentown, during the summer.
George EARNSHAW, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. George Earnshaw, of Honey Brook, is 
on a seven-day leave from the U.S. Naval Training Station, Newport, R.I., where 
he has completed his basic training.  On his return he will be assigned to 
advanced duties either at a shore base or aboard a ship of the fleet.  Earnshaw 
is a graduate of the Coatesville High School and was employed as a layerout in 
the Lukenweld, Inc., Inspection Department before enlisting in the service.
Lammott D. NEWMAN, son of Mrs. Alice Newman, of Marshallton, who has enlisted 
in the U. S. Marine Corps, left yesterday morning for Parris Island, S.C.
Private Matthew J. TRESS, who was inducted into the Army in June, and is 
stationed at Fort Belvoir, Va., in Company A, First Engineers, School Regiment, 
spent the week-end at his home with Mrs. Cresson WALTER, on Dean street, and 
with his fiancée, Miss Velma HANNUM, of Chatwood.  He will return this week-
end, when they will be married in the Methodist Church of West Chester.
Andrew SIMMLER, Jr., who enlisted in the United States Navy last December, is 
visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Simmler, 335 North New street, for a 
few days.  He is stationed aboard the U.S.S. Brooklyn at New York.
First Lieutenant Eli GEIGER, of the U.S. Army Engineering Corps, visited with 
his sister, Mrs. Francis R. GLENNER, and her family, here, over the week-end.  
Another brother, Private Harry Geiger, is at Fort Warren, Wyoming, in the 
Quartermaster Corps.
Corporal Lawrence E. ANDRESS, son of Mr. and Mrs. John G. Andress, of West 
Chester R.D. 2, who was called back to his camp to attend a Signal Corps 
School, has arrived safely at Camp Crowder, Mo.
Howard J. DURBOROW, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard J. Durborow, 310 South 
Darlington street, West Chester, recently graduated from the Aviation 
Machinist’s Mate School at Jacksonville, Fla., and has been promoted to Private 
First Class.  He enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1941, and received 
his “boot training” at Parris Island, South Carolina.  He was sent to 
Jacksonville Naval Air Station for an intensive course in airplane engines and 
is now a qualified airplane mechanic.  
John H. DOUGHERTY, A.S., son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard I. Dougherty, 385 Nields 
street, West Chester, has been transferred from Newport, R.I., and is now 
stationed at the U.S. Training Station at Wahpeton, N.D.
Private William Francis HARRIS, of West Grove, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps 
in July, has completed his training at Parris Island and is now at New River, 
N. C.  He called his mother by telephone on Saturday night, saying he was well, 
and would be home soon for a visit.  He is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. 
George Harris to enlist in the Marines.
Private First-Class Horace D. WILSON, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Heber Wilson of 
Anselma, who is located somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands, recently celebrated 
his birthday anniversary, and received cards and letters from over 120 
relatives, schoolmates and friends.  Private Wilson, who receives the Daily 
Local News regularly, writes that he is well and wishes to express his 
appreciation to his friends who have written to him.  He was graduated from the 
West Chester High School in 1936, and was inducted into the service on April 
10th.  His address is:  P.F.C. Horace D. Wilson, 33050926, Battery D, 57th 
A.C.A., A.P.O., 952, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, California.
Cadet John H. SPEER, 3rd, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Speer, of 731 North 
Walnut street, left last Wednesday for Chapel Hill, N. C. to take a basic 
preflight training course.  Cadet Speer, who enlisted in the Naval Air Corps, 
attended Bucknell University for two years prior to his entering the service.
First Class Private Vernon E. SCOTT, U.S.M.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter W. 
Scott, of 142 Nields street, was graduated from the Aviation Metal Smith 
School, Jacksonville, Fla., last Saturday.  “Barney” left for the West Coast on 
Tuesday, where he will be assigned to duty or be given further training.  He 
has the best wishes of his many friends.

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