February 22, 2013
Oroville Mercury Register
June 19, 1942
Biggs Sailor On Lexington Reaches Home
“We Were Ready,” Albers Says; Tells of Big Battle
Biggs- Buddy Albers, 20, captain of a fighter plane on the Carrier
Lexington and son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Albers of Biggs, who is
visiting on leave here, was so busy with his mechanic’s duties during
the big battle of the Coral Sea that he had little time to observe
details of the fight. “We were ready for them,” he related. “There’s
not much I can say except what’s already been given out. I was pretty
busy looking after my plane.” “Some of the pilots did not return,”
was all he would say as to number missing. Queried as to his escape
from the carrier, Albers said, “We just went down ropes over the
side.” Asked about the rubber rafts in which he and others waited,
Buddy replied that he was on the raft more than an hour before he
was picked up by a ship and taken to San Diego. Laughingly he explained
that “of course he was a little nervous.” Albers wears the gold
campaign bar representing service overseas since the start of the
war. He enlisted in December, 1940, and has advanced rapidly to
his present navy mechanic’s rank of captain of a fighter plane.
Albers knew Howard Gould of Oroville, killed on the Lexington. “He
was below,” Albers said.
Oroville Mercury Register
June 20, 1942
Elmer Rae At Flying School
Elmer Rae, former resident of Oroville, is a dispatcher at the Chico
Army Flying School, it was learned here. Rae joined the army June
3, 1941 and was transferred to Chico from Moffett Field where he
had been stationed with the army air corps. A graduate of Oroville
High School in 1936, Rae had made his home in San Francisco for
a number of years. Oroville Mercury Register June 19, 1942 Totes
It In Arthur C. Dyer who walked in two miles with a tire over his
shoulder to help his Uncle Sam meet the rubber shortage, Dyer, who
is a miner and sniper on the Feather River, describes his location
as “the southeast quarter of Section 5.” His is the fourth cabin
up stream on left, “right under Table Mountain.” I know where there
are some more old tires along the river, and I’ll bring them in,”
he said.
(Stu- Sniper had something to do with catching Gold or maybe
a little bird.)
Oroville Mercury Register
June 19, 1942
Over 28 Tons Of Rubber Given Here
More than 28 tons of used rubber has been turned in to service stations
in Oroville district, according Earl Ward, local chairman. On a
checkup with the rubber drive committee it was disclosed that oil
companies had purchased 57,090 pounds of rubber up to Wednesday
night. Of this amount 4668 pounds was donated. This condition was
rather disappointing Ward said, as it was hoped that a much greater
proportion would be donated, increasing the amount to go to the
American Red Cross, USO and Army and Navy relief. Hoefling Brothers
of Surcease Mine delivered 920 pounds of rubber to the Shell Oil
bulk plant, making the requests that the $9.20, which the rubber
brought, be donated to the USO campaign. In order that all donors
be given credit, a record is being set up showing the names and
amounts given.
Oroville Mercury Register
June 19, 1942
Bootlegging Tires, Tubes In Oroville
There is still bootlegging of tubes and tires in Oroville “and we
have a line on it,” George S. Dyer, chairman of the price administration
and rationing board, told the Fellows Club Thursday. He added that
“it will surprise you” when it is told who is doing it. It is illegal
to transfer ownership of used tires or tubes. Consent of the rationing
board must be obtained under the law, he said.
Stu’s Notes:
You can see all about the Chico Army Flying School out at the
Chico Air Museum, that is located next to the Chico Airport, we
are always looking for members. So go out there Thursday, Friday
or Saturday Morning and you will be amazed at what we have. I can
say we as I am a member. I have a little plaque out there with 40
names on it, 40 young men that died training out there. They flew
all over our Valley. Arthur C. Dyer, what a patriotic man from his
picture you can see he was not a young man.
Sad that one man would do that when other men would make a profit
off of those tires illegally, while our men were dying for lack
of Rubber.
This is the first I’ve heard of Buddy Albers; sounds like he was
Crew Chief of the plane he took care of from what little I’ve learned,
each fighting plane of the U.S. Forces in WWII had a group of men
who took care of a certain plane. It meant a lot to them and they
wished with all their heart that their plane and pilot, or crew,
if a bigger plane made it safely home. I guess he did loose his
plane as the ship they both were on went down. Sadly his friend
Howard Gould wasn’t so lucky. There is a street named for Howard
out at the Oroville Airport, which now wears a Gold star. I’m proud
of that. Howard Gould was the Uncle of Stan Starkey.
Memorial Day planning starts in March. Happy Birthday today to nephew
Jonathan and also our First President George Washington