Walter Budd Wimley

Walt Wimley ca. 1942

Daily Journal, March 12, 1949

Quick Facts

Significance:

US Navy Sailor, World War II, KIA

Place of Birth:

Wildwood, NJ

Date of Birth:

July 25, 1913

Place of Death:

Off Southwest Coast of Okinawa

Date of Death:

July 30, 1945

Place of Burial:

Vineland, New Jersey

Cemetery Name:

Siloam Cemetery

Walter Budd Wimley worked as a skilled mechanic from Wildwood, New Jersey, a small beach town not far from the US Naval Air Station in Cape May. He enlisted in the Navy on September 11, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At age 29, Wimley had a little more life experience than many new enlistees: he completed the 10th grade, he was a widower, he had dredging experience off the Cape May coast, he had been an instructor for the Civilian Conservation Corp, and for some reason he was missing the top of his left index finger. Due to his mechanical skills, Wimley enlisted as a machinist mate 2nd class (MM2c).¹

Wimley completed his basic training at US Naval Air Station Cape May, New Jersey, and then he reported to his first duty station. He worked in the Operations Department, but it was not long before the Transportation Department scooped him up and had him keeping all the trucks running. Wimley, however, wanted to work on airplanes. In January 1943, he reported to the US Destroyer Base in San Diego, California, with a letter of introduction from M.R. Brownell, Jr. Personnel Officer US Naval Air Station, Cape May, New Jersey, which outlined Wimley’s value and interest. It reads in part:

2. Upon reporting he had expressed interest in carrying on in aviation in which he had some experience in civilian life, shortly thereafter Wimley had to be drafted for the Transportation Department to take charge of the repair of station trucks.
3. During the time Wimley was attached to Operations he demonstrated not only a marked interest in aviation mechanics but also a strong aptitude for the work. ²

1943 was a good year for MM2c Walter Wimley. In May, he was transfered to the Naval Air Station in San Diego, California, and started working in the Emergency Repair Division of the A&R Department. With this position, Wimley finally recieved the chance to work and train on aircraft engine work. On July 16, he married Mae Kathryn Ardito and was granted three days leave for a honeymoon. On November 2, he was promoted to machinist mate 1st class (MM1c).

By March 1944, Wimley had received a new assignment. He had a new letter of recommendation from G.L. Sprague, Jr. Training Supervisor Emergency Repair Division, U.S. Naval Air Station, San Diego, California. The letter outlined the skills he worked hard to cultivate.

… He has done outstanding work, on all types of Naval Aircraft and has very good knowledge of the following operations:
1. General aircraft repairs
2. Aircraft engine repairs, replacements, testing, tune-up, preserving and servicing.
3. Hydraulic repairs, adjustments, replacements, etc.
4. Rigging on all types of flight controls
5. Landing gear repair, replacement, adjustment, etc He has taken 265 hours of specialized training on Aircraft engine work and 385 hours on General Aircraft Mechanics
He has shown excellent ability in adapting himself to the job at hand, a keen interest in both self improvement and the work to be done, initiative in organizing his work and a ready willingness to do whatever work had to be accomplished. We have come to place great faith in Wimley and will deeply regret losing his services.³

The Navy assigned him to a destroyer. Machinist Mate Wimley was received aboard USS Cassin Young (DD-793) on March 6, 1944. On April 23, 1944, he crossed the equator with his shipmates on their way to the South Pacific. He worked in the Engineering Department helping to keep the ship’s boilers and engines running.

Walt Wimley from the album of USS Cassin Young physician, Dr. Eugene Sevensma

On April 12, 1945, while on picket duty off the coast of Okinawa, the ship was strafed by enemy aircraft and a kamikaze struck the radar mast of Cassin Young and exploded. Shrapnel rained down on the ship. This attack killed one sailor and wounded 59 sailors others. Wimley sustained a leg wound, but he got a favorable prognosis and returned to duty. He was awarded a Purple Heart.

After repairing the radar equipment and mast, Cassin Young was again assigned to picket duty off the coast of Okinawa. On July 30, (five days after his 32nd birthday) the ship was hit a second time by a kamikaze. This time the plane crashed through the main deck and caused an explosion in the forward fireroom. This time 22 sailors died while 45 sailors were wounded. MM1c Walter Wimley was killed instantly.

The only personal space a sailor had on board was a small footlocker. Everyone stored their uniforms in the locker so sailors limited personal items to what they valued most: photographs and letters from home, a bible, or souvenirs. Wimley filled his locker with 15 handkerchiefs, a mix of wrenches, feeler gauge (used to measure the gap width or clearance between two parts) and thread gauge, three jackknives, but only one fountain pen. A box of shells may have reminded him of his home in Wildwood. It was a material collection reflecting the man he was; a skilled mechanic from a small beach town in New Jersey.

Lieut. (jg) R.C. Tanner described Walter Wimley as:

[…] He is industrious, reliable, and an excellent mechanic. He shows great interest in his work and spends a great deal of his time studying to advance himself. He is honest and straightforward and of excellent character.⁴

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Footnotes:

1. Official Military Personnel File of Walter Budd Wimley, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, MO.
2. Letter from M.R. Brownell, Official Military Personnel File of Walter Budd Wimley, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, MO.
3. Letter from G.L. Sprague, Jr. dated March 3, 1944, Official Military Personnel File of Walter Budd Wimley, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, MO.
4. Letter from Lieut. R.C. Tanner dated March 3, 1944, Official Military Personnel File of Walter Budd Wimley, National Personnel Records Center, National Archives and Records Administration, St. Louis, MO.