Capt. Eugene P. Rankin Personal Papers
Scope and Contents
Three (3) boxes, 12”x5”x10.5”. The collection contains many photographs, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, and dozens of once confidential documents, all of which are related to World War II, the Turtle, Project Mercury, and the USS Kearsarge. This spans a total of 38 folders. Items in folders are numbered by Box.
Dates
- 1944 - 1997
- Majority of material found within 1945 - 1963
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
Biographical / Historical
Eugene P. Rankin was born in 1916. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Pensacola, Florida, in 1941. In 1943, he served in World War 2 in the Pacific Theater. There he was the commanding officer in a “Black Cat Squadron”, conducting nighttime attack missions consolidated PBY Catalina patrol bombers. After the war he was one of the crew members of the “Truculent Turtle”, a Lockheed P2V-1 Neptune. This was the first plane to fly across the Pacific Ocean without refueling. It was the longest un-refueled flight made to that point – 4000 miles (6,400 km) and the “Turtle” held this world record for 16 years.
Afterwards, Rankin became a Captain of the USS Kearsarge (CV-33). The Kearsarge was tasked with assisting Project Mercury, in that it would have to recover astronauts who splashed down in the ocean after orbiting the Earth. The Kearsarge recovered Captain Wally M. Schirra, Jr., USN, (who signed photographs in collection) and later Colonel Gordon Cooper, USAF. In 1967, Rankin retired from the Navy. He passed away on August 27, 2000.
Extent
0.36 Cubic Feet (Three (3) boxes, 12”x5”x10.5”)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Eugene P. Rankin was born in 1916. He graduated from the Naval Academy at Pensacola, Florida, in 1941. In 1943, he served in World War 2 in the Pacific Theater. There he was the commanding officer in a “Black Cat Squadron”, conducting nighttime attack missions consolidated PBY Catalina patrol bombers. Afterwards, Rankin became a Captain of the USS Kearsarge (CV-33). The Kearsarge was tasked with assisting Project Mercury, in that it would have to recover astronauts who splashed down in the ocean after orbiting the Earth.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this Collection were donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum.
- Title
- The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Eugene P. Rankin Personal Papers
- Author
- Alan Renga
- Date
- 11/10/2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives Repository
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101 USA US
(619) 234-8291
(619) 233-4525 (Fax)