On-The-Roof Gang
Class #17
Class #17 convened in January 1936 and completed in May 1936. Chief Sandy McGregor was the instructor.
OTRG Class #17
Front row (L-to-R): Pete Hively, John Taylor, Merle Lynch.
Back row (L-to-R): Jack Layman, Jack Ledford, Mike Carmichael, CRM Walter McGregor (instructor), and Bill Williams.
Radioman Third Class Kenneth Earl “Mike” Carmichael
Mike Carmichael graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station CAST at Cavite Naval Base in the Philippines. He then transferred to Station ABLE in Shanghai and then Station HYPO in Hawaii, where he was at the outset of World War II.
The NCVA printed an interesting article about Lieutenant Commander Carmichael in Cryptolog Volume 12, Summer 1991, page 13 (reprinted in its entirety here):
Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Earl (Mike) Carmichael might certainly go down in Naval Security Group history as the "Father" of NSG training.
At Bainbridge Island, Washington, Carmichael was Department head of Training, when the " CT rating was established, and the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) assumed the training responsibility for the rating. Carmichael was ordered to BUPERS to write curricula for the "R" and "O" branches and was then ordered to the Naval Training Center in San Diego. Here, Lieutenant Commander Carmichael was Officer-in-Charge for the first "CT-class A" school. After establishing this school, he was order to nearby Imperial Beach, California, to set up the final classified phase of “R” and “O” class A schools.
In 1959, in company with Commander F. V. Mason, CTC A. O. Moses and BUPERS representatives, me made the first visit to the vast wasteland that was Naval Air Station Corry Field, Florida. The purpose was to inspect the grounds and aircraft hangars as a possible Naval Security Group schools site. With the assistance then, of the entire school staff at Imperial Beach, he drew up the initial plans for what now is the Naval Technical Training Center, Corry Station, Florida.
When he retired from the navy, Lieutenant Commander Carmichael and Mrs. Carmichael retired in the city of Imperial Beach, almost in sight of his old school’s command.
Kenneth “Mike” Carmichael at Station A Shanghai, China in 1937 and as a Lieutenant Commander right before his retirement.
Carmichael was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
06 Jan 1937: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
12 Jan 1938: Shanghai, China
09 Jan 1939: Fourth Marines
14 Feb 1940: 4th Marines Shanghai
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Mike Carmichael’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 12, Summer 1991, page 18:
Kenneth Earl (Mike) Carmichael, Lieutenant Commander, USN, Retired, OTRG, NCVA, died 9 April 1991 in National City, California. Born 11 November 1913, he entered service in December 1932 After serving in USS PENSACOLA from 1933 to 1935, he went to Washington for On-the-Roof training (Class #17), and subsequently served at many Naval Security Group locations including Cavite, Philippine Islands; Shanghai, China; Hawaii; Bainbridge Island, Washington; Guam, Marianas Islands; Morocco; Washington, DC; Frankfurt, Germany; and Imperial Beach, California.
In 1949, Lieutenant Commander Carmichael reported to San Diego and then Imperial Beach, California as the officer-in-charge of the first cryptologic training school established and operated under the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Once again, in 1957, he was assigned to Imperial Beach, this time as Executive Officer. Lieutenant Commander Carmichael retired from the Navy on 1 April 1960 after 27 years of active service.
After leaving the Navy, he entered service with the Department of Employment, State of California until retiring from that position in 1976.
Inurement was at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, California.
Lieutenant Commander Carmichael and his surviving wife Eleanor were married in 1940 and had two children.
Pertinent data:
Born: 11 November 1913
Location:
Died: 9 April 1999
Location: National City, California
Internment Location: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, California
Radioman Second Class Paul Verink “Pete” Hively, Jr.
Pete Hively graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station CAST in the Philippines. In April 1941, by then a Radioman First Class, he was assigned to Station V in Samoa to relieve Ted Wildman. During the war, he was advanced to Chief Radioman and then the Chief Warrant Officer. In 1951, he was assigned as the Assistant Officer in Charge of the US Naval Radio Station, Bainbridge Island in 1951. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer.
Hively was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
06 Jan 1937: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
12 Jan 1938: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
09 Jan 1939: 16th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 12th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: 11th Naval District
Pertinent data:
Born: 19 November 1914
Location: California
Died: 26 October 1994
Location: Seal Beach, California
Radioman Second Class Harold Eugene “Jack” Layman
Jack Layman graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Heeia, Hawaii. In 1938, he was reassigned to Station ABLE in Shanghai, China via Station CAST in the Philippines. By February 1941, he was stationed in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he was at the outset of World War II. He remained on active duty through the war, earning a commission.
After the war he served in Adak, Alaska and as the Commanding Officer of Winter Harbor.
Harold “Jack” Layman in Shanghai, China, circa 1939
Layman was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
06 Jan 1937: Heeia, T.H.
12 Jan 1938: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
09 Jan 1939: Fourth Marines
14 Feb 1940: 4th Marines, Shanghai
24 Feb 1941: 1st Naval District
Jack Layman’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 30, Spring 2009, page 21:
Harold L. LAYMAN, 98, OTRG, of Ormond Beach, FL passed away on 14 January 2009. Mr. Layman served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He retired as an Officer after twenty-seven years of service. During his military career he received numerous commendations and awards, including a commendation from President Ronald Reagan for his service with the “On-the-Roof” Gang who intercepted and broke the Japanese telegraphic codes during World War II. Jack, as he was called, was also part of the original group that later became the current NSA. Jack, his wife Shirley, and their family relocated to Ormond Beach in 1958 when he took a position with RCA at Cape Canaveral. He worked in the space program for twelve years. He was a champion amateur golfer, enjoyed fishing, and was an avid tennis player while in the Navy. Jack also enjoyed a good game of cards and poker night with his children and grand- children. He is survived by his wife Shirley; sons Robert and Harold; daughters Melissa and Robin; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorial Contributions may be made to Florida Hospital Oceanside Hospice, 624 South Atlantic Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32176.
Pertinent data:
Born: 17 April 1911
Location: West Virginia
Died: 14 January 2009
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida
Radioman Third Class Robert Howell “Jack” Ledford
Jack Ledford graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. In 1937, he was reassigned to Station CAST at Cavite Naval Base, Philippines. By February 1941, he was stationed in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he was at the outset of World War II. He transferred back to Station HYPO in Hawaii in 1943 and earned advancement to Warrant Officer and then a commission as an Ensign. He served through World war II and retired as a Lieutenant.
Ledford was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
06 Jan 1937: Heeia, T.H.
12 Jan 1938: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
09 Jan 1939: 16th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 16th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: 1st Naval District
Pertinent data:
Born: 22 November 1912
Died: 26 March 1986
Location: Woodbury, Georgia
Internment Location: Fort Bragg Post Cemetery, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Radioman Third Class Merle Edward Lynch
Merle Lynch graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station Cast at Cavite Naval Base, Philippines. In 1938, he was reassigned to Station ABLE in Shanghai, China.
Merle Lynch at Station ABLE Shanghai, China, circa 1939
Lynch was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
06 Jan 1937: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
12 Jan 1938: Navy Yard, Cavite, P.I.
09 Jan 1939: Fourth Marines
14 Feb 1940: Fourth Marines, Shanghai
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept.
You can read about Merle Lynch in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1 – Prelude to War.
Merle Lynch’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 06, Summer 1985, page 7:
MERLE E. LYNCH
Lynch, Merle E. pioneer Japanese radio intercept operator dies 22 March 1985 at age 71. Lynch, known as “Little Beaver,” was one of the early operators at the Shanghai Station. Lynch retired as CWO and made his home in Maryland. Lynch’s neighbors knew him as “Shorty.” He took great pride in his garden, growing those unusual vegetables and plants that were normally hard to grow. Lynch was known to be a very straightforward gentleman who frowned on “fanfare,” and who held honesty and truth as a valued human trait. Lynch was interred at the Cheltenham (MD) Veteran Cemetery.
Pertinent data:
Born: 4 June 1913
Location: Nanty-Glo, Pennsylvania
Died: 22 March 1985
Location: Lothian, Maryland
Internment Location: Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, Maryland
Radioman Third Class Clarence Poe “John” Taylor
John Taylor graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Heeia, Hawaii where he served until 1939. In October of that year, he was ordered to Shanghai, China. He was next assigned to Cavite, Philippines and later on Corregidor Island. He was transferred to Cheltenham, Maryland in June 1941 where he served until August 1942 at which time he was reassigned to Chungking (Happy Valley) China as Radioman in Charge.
His later duty stations included Naval Security Group Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Guam; Yokosuka, Japan; Staff Commander Sixth Fleet as officer in charge of the Security Group detachment. He also served in Port Lyautey, Morocco and Bremerhaven, Germany. His last duty was with the National Security Agency where he retired in August 1957.
Taylor was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
06 Jan 1937: Heeia, T.H.
12 Jan 1938: Heeia, T.H.
09 Jan 1939: 14th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 16th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: Asiatic Station
Clarence Taylor’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 20, Fall 1999, page 17:
Lieutenant Commander Clarence Poe Taylor, NCVA, a member of the "On-the-Roof' Gang Class 17, passed away on 26 July 1999. He entered naval service in August 1930 in New Bern, South Carolina. After recruit training he attended Radio Operator School in Hampton Roads, Virginia. During 1930-31 Lieutenant Commander Taylor was assigned to USS CHESTER where he spent the remainder of his first cruise.
After reenlistment Commander Taylor requested duty with Commander Cruisers and was ordered to USS TATTNALL to await the commissioning of the USS QUINCY. In 1936 he was ordered to Washington, D.C. for specialized training as an intercept operator. Upon completion of his training he was ordered to Heeia, Hawaii where he served until 1939. In October of that year he was ordered to Shanghai, China. He was next assigned to Cavite, Philippines and later on Corregidor Island. He was transferred to Cheltenham, Maryland in June 1941 where he served until August 1942 at which time he was reassigned to Chungking (Happy Valley) China as Radioman in Charge.
His later duty stations included Naval Security Group Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Guam; Yokosuka, Japan; Staff Commander Sixth Fleet as officer in charge of the Security Group detachment. He also served in Port Lyautey, Morocco and Bremerhaven, Germany. His last duty was with the National Security Agency where he retired in August 1957.
After retirement Commander Taylor spent one year in the investment business before joining his brother-in-law in business. In 1979, he and his wife moved to Georgetown, South Carolina.
Pertinent data:
Born: 1 July 1910
Location: Craven, North Carolina
Died: 26 July 1999
Radioman Third Class Robert Raymond “Bill” Williams
Bill Williams graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #17 in May 1936 and was assigned to Station CAST at Cavite Naval Base, Philippines. In 1940, he was assigned to Winter Harbor, Maine, where he was for the outset of the war. Retired as a CWO2.
Bill Williams in Cavite Naval Base, Philippines, circa 1938
Williams was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
6 Jan 1937: Navy Yard Cavite, P.I.
12 Jan 1938: Navy Yard Cavite, P.I.
9 Jan 1939: 16th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 16th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: 1st Naval District