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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