Project 888
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Name: Paul Franklin ALLEN Rank / Rating: S1-Seaman First Class Service #: 605 64 29 DOB: 1926 From: Bibb County, AL Parents: William Lonzo Allen and Sarah Estelle White Allen Went Aboard: Apr 27, 1944 Age When Ship Went Down: 19 Spouse: Children: Grandchildren: Bio Submitted By: Patricia Stephens (Admin) |
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Paul was the son of William Lonzo Allen (1892-1972) and Sarah Estelle “Ethel” White (1898-1957) of Bibb Co., AL. They married in West Blocton, Bibb Co., AL on Dec 30, 1916. William Lonzo was born in Woodstock, Bibb Co., AL and was living in West Blocton when he registered for the WWI draft. William Lonzo and Ethel left their homeplace and were living in Tuscaloosa Co., in April 1946 when their son, Oliver Reynolds Allen, registered for the WII draft. In 1950, he and his wife and one son were living in Holt, Tuscaloosa Co., AL.
Paul was born c1926 in West Blocton, Bibb Co., AL.(3). His siblings were brothers Oliver Reynolds, Harold, Leonard and Willie J. and sisters Lois, Carolyn and Jewel, all born in Bibb.
On the 1940 census, the family had moved from Woodstock closer to Centreville, in Bibb Co. Paul is listed as 14 years old and had completed the sixth grade. He was working as a farm laborer, most likely on the farm with his father. The family was living in a rented house on Montevallo Road and were probably tenant farmers, as were most of the families in this small rural southern community.
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| Due to conflicting, missing or unavailable records, this bio is based in part upon reasonable assumptions. A copy of Paul's Official Military Personnel File is needed to know the details of his service and correct any assumptions Paul enlisted in the US Navy on April 12, 1943 at Birmingham or Bessemer, Jefferson Co., AL. Early records note Birmingham and later note Bessemer. No draft registration card was located which indicates he enlisted at age 17 with parental consent. The records are not clear as to Paul's training after his enlistment. He is noted in the records of the Auxiliary Air Station, Barin Field, Naval Aviation Training Center (NATC) at Pensacola, FL. Actually, Barin Field was located not far from Pensacola in Foley, AL, even though the address was listed as Pensacola. The date he arrived is not recorded, but on May 7, 1943 he was transferred to the Naval Air Training Station (NATS), Pensacola, "for duty." The muster roll for NATS shows Paul enlisted April 12, 1943 and arrived there on April 14, 1943. This entry is in conflict with the above record showing he was at Barin Field prior to his arrival at NATS and not transferred until May 7, 1943. After enlisting, Paul should have been required to spend a minimum of three weeks in basic training**. Yet, the above record shows that two days after he enlisted, he was transferred to the NATS in Pensacola, FL. A review of NATS records show other recruits arriving there within a day or two of enlistment. This researcher can offer no explanation for these dates. Neither the Air Station at Barin Field nor the NATS offered USN basic training. Paul wrote a letter to his hometown newspaper that was published on May 27, 1943. It verifies that he was stationed at NATS, but conflicts with the date in the NATS records for his advancement from AS (Apprentice Seaman) to S2c (Seaman second class) - July 1, 1943. Also, Paul states he had been in the Navy "two months" which would indicate he enlisted in March, rather than April, 1943. No record was found with an enlistment date other than April 12, 1943. Paul Allen In The Navy In Florida "I want to subscribe for The Press for a year or so long as $2.00 will pay. I am the son of Will Allen, Centreville, Alabama, Rt. 2. We have lived there for five years now, but I am now serving my country in Uncle Sam's Navy. I have been in service for two months and like it better every day. My address is: Paul F. Allen, S 2-c USN B'ldg. 601 M.A.A. U.S.N.A.T.S. Pensacola, Fla." Another letter to the editor was published on July 8, 1943 provides a clue to his training: Changes of Address of Men In Service Paul F. Allen, S 2-c, USNR Communication Dept. UNATC Bldg. 45 Pensacola, Fla Note the address is the "Communication Department." Another letter was written to the editor on Oct 18, 1943. Paul A. Allen At Pensacola, Fla Dear Jim, I receive your paper each week and enjoy reading it. I want to remind the people back home that this is not time for forty winks and talking in your slumber, because one of Hitlers prowing jinks could easy get your number. A Sailor what's worth the name will safe guard this their nation by putting in a lot of work, and cutting conversation. Yours very truly, Paul A. Allen Paul completed seven months of training in Pensacola with the rate of S2c. He was transferred and on Nov 20, 1943 he arrived at Fleet Air Wing Eight’s (FAW-8) Headquarters Squadron at Naval Air Station, Alameda, CA. FAW-8 was based ashore in late 1943, assigned to the Pacific Fleet and was, ultimately, a subordinate organization command of Rear Adm M. A. Mitscher, USN, with whom Indy would later serve in his Fast Carrier Attack Force in the Pacific. The 1943 war diaries of FAW-8 Headquarters reveal the training of many men in a variety of duties in aircraft that included the SOC-1 that was flown by the VCS-4 pilots of Indy. On Dec 2, 1943, Paul wrote yet another letter to the editor requesting his address be changed to: Paul F. Allen, ARM 3-c Fleet Air Wing 8, Hedron Sqdn., Alameda, Calif. Note that he wrote his rating as ARM 3-c. No record was found that he was advanced to this rating. It may indicate that he hoped to be advanced to Aviation Radioman after completing his training. After five months at Alameda, CA and one year after he enlisted, Paul was transferred on April 26, 1944 to USS Indianapolis CA-35 Aviation Detail, VCS-4. The ship was anchored at San Francisco, CA when he walked the gangway to be accepted aboard. The report of changes of the aviation unit shows that four men with the rate of S2c came aboard on April 27, 1944 from HedRon Fleet Air Wing Eight, Alameda. Paul was one of them. Three other men came aboard from HedRon the same day but all with higher rates and ratings; three were Aviation Radiomen 3c. In addition, five members of the aviation detail transferred off Indy that day to HedRon Fleet Air Wing Eight. Indy departed her berth in San Francisco for the pier at Shoemaker, Dublin CA, where about 150 passengers came on board on April 29th. On May 1st, the ship sailed for Pearl Harbor. Training exercises were carried out each day including the Seahawks being launched by catapult and recovered back on board. This was very hazardous duty for Paul in anything other than a calm sea. Indy reached Pearl Harbor on May 6th and remained until the 26th. Every opportunity was taken to conduct additional training while Indy sailed forward to Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands. At Majuro on Jun 1st and 2nd, thirteen new aviation crewmembers came aboard to replace those who disembarked at Pearl Harbor and Majuro. This was significant in that Indy carried only 20 members of the aviation crew and four pilots at that time. Adding these 13 men to the 6 men who came aboard with Paul in April created a detail with little experience on board. The only experienced men were the four pilots. Training exercises were conducted daily, but time was short and the urgency must have been overwhelming to Paul. Nine days later Indy began her support in the capture and occupation of Saipan. This action was followed by her actions in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on the 19th and 20th, and a second bombardment of Saipan on the 30th of June. The pilots flew multiple missions each day without incident. Less than three months after his assignment, on July 15th Paul was transferred from the aviation detail to the regular crew of Indianapolis. The reason for the transfer is not known, but the report of changes show Paul was one of two men of the detail transferred to Indy that day. Also, it shows two new crewmembers transferred to the detail who had been in the USNR longer than Paul. It is assumed they had priority over the assignments and that there was a quota on the number of aviation detail crewmembers. Paul's change of duty occurred while Indy was at anchor at Saipan and four days before she would be engaged in the bombardment of Guam. The division Paul was assigned to is not known, but Paul had a lot to learn in a very short time. In his new assignment, in addition to the above engagements, Paul was present for the capture and occupation of both Tinian and the southern Palau Islands. He now had 3 bronze battle star devices to attach to his Asiatic-Pacific ribbon. Indianapolis returned to the US to Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA, on Oct 29, 1944, for overhaul and repairs. Paul’s rate advanced on Nov 1, 1944, to S1c. Like many young sailors, Paul made a bad choice on Dec 3, 1944. He failed to report back to Indy on time and was delivered to the ship by the shore patrol. Deck court was held on Dec 11th and Paul’s punishment was a reduction in pay by $22 per month for a period of 2 months and he was confined to the ship for a period of 20 days. It was a harsh reminder that rules were not broken in the US Navy. There are no records showing he made poor choices going forward. He likely did not want to repeat the consequences. Paul never returned to the aviation detail. He continued to serve as a crew member of Indianapolis and was on board when she departed Mare Island on Jan 3, 1945 sailing back to the Pacific. As flagship of the 5th Fleet, Indianapolis participated in the raids against Honshu and the Nansei Shoto in the Ryakyu Islands and the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands from Feb 15 to Mar 1, 1945. On Mar 17th the raids in support of the Okinawa Gunto operations began and Indianapolis supported the engagement. On Mar 31st the ship was struck by a kamikaze pilot. Nine crewmembers were killed and twenty injured. Any doubts Paul had about the realities of war were now gone. Indy returned to the US for repairs and remained in dry dock at Mare Island, CA for over two months. Paul was likely granted furlough during this time. It is possible he spent time with his family and discussed all the news he had read in the local newspaper. Paul was on board when Indianapolis departed Mare Island on her top-secret mission to deliver component of the atomic bomb to Tinian. She departed Tinian and after a short stop at Apra Habor, Guam, she sailed on July 27th to Leyte, her final destination. Half-way there, Indy was struck by two torpedoes from Japanese submarine I-58 and sank in 12 minutes. Paul had served eight months on board Indianapolis and was only 19 years old at his death. His name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing in the Manila American Cemetery, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart, posthumously. He was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 1 silver star. One silver star represented 5 bronze stars awarded to Indianapolis during his time on board. You are not forgotten, Paul. Notes: **"By war's end, the length of recruit training would fluctuate 28 times from as low as three weeks to as high as ten weeks, depending on how many recruits shipped off to training each month." [Faram, Mark, MC1, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs (3 Jun 2021), Midway, Momentum and Manpower - The Navy's Bureau of Personnel in WWII. Online at navy.mil] After Paul's death, his parents removed from Bibb Co. to Tuscaloosa Co., AL. The USN casualty books record the address of the parents at the time of the casualty. This can lead to confusion about the hometown of the deceased. | |
Bibb Co., AL Marriage Book, 1908-1919, p. 392. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 citing William Lonzo Allen 1940 US Census, AL, Bibb Co., Prec. 5, Centerville. Enumerated 30 Apr 1940. HH #23 citing Will L. Allen 1950 US Census, AL, Tuscaloosa Co., Holt. Enumerated 7 Apr 1950. HH #127 citing William A. Allen USN WWII Muster Rolls, 1938-1949; Ancestry database USN Ships, Stations and Other Naval Activities, 1939-1949; Ancestry database The Centreville Press, (Bibb Co., AL), Thurs, July 27, 1944, p. 4; citing letter from Paul F. Allen The Centreville Press, (Bibb Co., AL), Thurs, Dec 2, 1943, p. 4; citing change of address for Paul F. Allen The Centreville Press, (Bibb Co., AL), Thurs, May 27, 1943; p. 4; citing Paul F. Franklin, address at Pensacola. The Centreville Press, (Bibb Co., AL), Thurs, Oct 21, 1943; p. 4; citing letter to the editor Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Vol. 2, Patrol Squadron Shore Establishments, Appendix 6, p. 1 Department of the Navy. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Intelligence Division. Office of Naval Records and Library. Online http://catalog.archives.gov/id/78293133 The Birmingham News, (AL), Dec 14, 1944, p. 32; citing obit of Lois Allene Franklin sister of Paul Allen Ancestry.com. U.S., Navy Casualties Books, 1776-1941 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA. Combat Naval Casualities, WWII, Vol AL-MO. Alabama; p. 1 citing Paul Franklin Allen s/o Mr & Mrs William Lonzo Allen, Tuscaloosa
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