PHOTO GALLERY THREE:
Most of the images in this gallery are scans of photographs made available by ERIE crew members Donald Leetch (Radioman 3rd Class) and Joseph Osenkowski (Baker 2nd Class). The photo of Francis J. Shema (Pharmacist Mate 1st Class) was donated by his son, Christopher. Most of the photos were taken using small personal cameras, so the quality is not the best.
Unfortunately, with the passage of more than 60 years, it is difficult to assign names to faces. Thus, persons visible in many of these photos are unnamed. Anyone who can positively identify any of these persons (or wishes to correct any crew member that has been mis-identified) is urged to contact the site administrator.
Click on the descriptor links below to view each photograph.
Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Officers and Chief Petty Officers, shortly after commissioning of the ERIE, July 1936, on airplane deck. Officers seated (l to r): Lt. (jg) A. Wildner (First Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) J.L. Kemper (Assistant Engineer Officer); Lieutenant (jg) N. Hall (Navigator and “C” Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) J.M. Stuart (Chief Engineer and “M” Division Officer); Lieutenant C.R. Woodson (First Lieutenant); Lieutenant Commander H.P. Knickerbocker (Executive Officer); Commander E.W. Hanson (Commanding Officer); Lieutenant Commander C.S. Bailey (Supply Officer); Lieutenant W.G. Kilbury (Medical Officer); Lieutenant (jg) T.C. Green (Gunnery and Second Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) C. Hawkins (Aviation); Second Lieutenant D.J. Decker (Officer-in-Charge, Marine Detachment). Chief Petty Officers (l to r): H.W. Morrison, CMM; J.V. Nash, CBM; C. Free, CSK; A.J. Stokes, CCStd; R.E. Chellis, CMM; A.J. Sanders, CQM; A.A. Schlaegel, CEM; I.J. Holtz, CWT; R.L. Humston, CRM; J.A. Minahan, CCM; E.T. Dembinski, CMM; J.V. Cassel, CPhM; E.T. Goley, CFC.
Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Officers, Marine Detachment and Deck Force shortly after commissioning of the ERIE, July 1936, on airplane deck. Officers seated (l to r): Lt. (jg) A. Wildner (First Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) J.L. Kemper (Assistant Engineer Officer); Lieutenant (jg) N. Hall (Navigator and “C” Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) J.M. Stuart (Chief Engineer and “M” Division Officer); Lieutenant C.R. Woodson (First Lieutenant); Lieutenant Commander H.P. Knickerbocker (Executive Officer); Commander E.W. Hanson (Commanding Officer); Lieutenant Commander C.S. Bailey (Supply Officer); Lieutenant W.G. Kilbury (Medical Officer); Lieutenant (jg) T.C. Green (Gunnery and Second Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) C. Hawkins (Aviation); Second Lieutenant D.J. Decker (Officer-in-Charge, Marine Detachment).
Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Officers and Engineering Force shortly after commissioning of the ERIE, July 1936, on airplane deck. Officers seated (l to r): Lt. (jg) A. Wildner (First Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) J.L. Kemper (Assistant Engineer Officer); Lieutenant (jg) N. Hall (Navigator and “C” Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) J.M. Stuart (Chief Engineer and “M” Division Officer); Lieutenant C.R. Woodson (First Lieutenant); Lieutenant Commander H.P. Knickerbocker (Executive Officer); Commander E.W. Hanson (Commanding Officer); Lieutenant Commander C.S. Bailey (Supply Officer); Lieutenant W.G. Kilbury (Medical Officer); Lieutenant (jg) T.C. Green (Gunnery and Second Division Officer); Lieutenant (jg) C. Hawkins (Aviation); Second Lieutenant D.J. Decker (Officer-in-Charge, Marine Detachment).
Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer, shortly after the commissioning of the ERIE, July 1936. Commander E.W. Hanson (on left) and Lieutenant Commander H.P. Knickerbocker.
Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and Heads of Departments shortly after commissioning of the ERIE, July 1936. L-R are: Lieutenant (jg) N. Hall (Navigator); Lieutenant (jg) J.M. Stuart (Engineer Officer); Lieutenant C.R. Woodson (First Lieutenant); Lieutenant Commander H.P. Knickerbocker (Executive Officer); Commander E.W. Hanson (Commanding Officer); Lieutenant Commander C.S. Bailey (Supply Officer); Lieutenant W.G. Kilbury (Medical Officer); Lieutenant (jg) T.C. Green (Gunnery Officer).
Officers at a baseball game in Panama, photo taken early April to early June, 1942. From left side: Unidentified Marine officer; Captain Andrew R. Mack (Commanding Officer); Lt. Commander Daniel J. Sweeney (Executive Officer); Lt. George O. Kunkle (Engineering officer); Lt. Commander Frank Novak (Engineering Officer); Lt. Gilbert F. Gorsuch (Dental Officer); unidentified officer; and kneeling, Lt. Commander R. M. McComas (Medical Officer).
Part of ERIE’s pre-war band playing at a baseball game, probably in Panama, 1941. On tuba is Bandsman (later Radioman) Don Leetch.
The full band and an honor guard formed by some of the Marines who served on the ERIE are shown here at some special occasion at an Admiral’s home, Balboa, Canal Zone. 1941. Front row (l to r): Donald Leetch (tuba, Santiago Colacado (baritone horn), Russell Murray (trombone), Joe Lanuza (trombone), Jesse Brockway (trumpet), Edward Kaiser (trumpet), Raymond Arnold (trumpet). Back row (l to r): Verdun Phillips (bass drum), Ira Neo (Peck horn), Gene Leek (clarinet), Jack Sample (clarinet and piano), Charles Steeples (clarinet), Arthur Hughes (snare and trap drums).
ERIE's band, directed by bandmaster Richards, playing at a ceremonial occasion in Panama. SPERON is the acronym for the Special Services Squadron for which ERIE was the flagship.
Unidentified crewmember standing at the stern as the ERIE departs from the Galapagos Islands.
Commander A.W. Ashbrook reads orders for a 1940 Crossing of the Line ceremony. Standing to the right is an officer tentatively identified as Lt. Commander J.S. Lillard, the Executive Officer.
Unidentified crewmember devours a roasted chicken in the enlisted men's mess.
Lyall M. Anderson, Watertender 2c, rests on main deck.
Machinist's Mate Louis F. Hyde works at lathe in ERIE's machine shop.
Unidentified crewmember poses aboard ERIE, July 1939.
Electrician's Mate 2c Stephen Yuhas poses next to number 1 six inch gun on bow of ERIE.
Captain Mack’s dog, Toughie, on deck with a sailor and a Marine, both unidentified.
Commander Andrew R. Mack looks on as Davy Jones reads the Crossing the Line proclamation.
Musician 2c Edward L. Kaiser is about to get his graphite stripes in a Crossing the Line Ceremony.