On-The-Roof Gang
Class #20
Class #20 convened in November 1937 and completed in March 1938. Chief Sandy McGregor was the instructor. Due to a mix-up, nine Sailors were assigned to Class #20. Purely by alphabetical order, Sam Winchester was pushed into the next class.
OTRG Class #20:
L to R (sitting): James Johnson, Henry Ethier, and Duane Whitlock
L to R (standing): Charles Walters, CRM Sandy McGregor (Instructor), Pearly Phillips, Ralph Briggs, and Glenn Evans.
Missing from photo: Elliott Okins
Photo possibly taken in the OP-20-G spaces.
Radioman Third Class Ralph Talmadge “Red” Briggs
Ralph Briggs graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. In 1941, he transferred to Station M in Cheltenham, Maryland, where he reportedly copied the “Winds Execute” message. Despite his insistence in that he intercepted the all-important Japanese diplomatic message, no evidence was ever found to corroborate his story. He swore his watch supervisor, Chief Radioman Daryl Wigle, could back up his story, but Wigle never did. During the war, he was promoted to Chief Radio Electrician (Warrant), the grade at which he retired.
Ralph Briggs as a Warrant Officer in an undated photo
You can read more about Briggs and the Winds Execute message controversy in:
NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 03, April 1982, page 1 “Lost Winds Execute Message Controversy – Briggs’ Own Story”
Cryptolog, Volume 05, Fall 1983, page 7 “Briggs Confused Claims British Author Costello”
Cryptolog, Volume 08, Fall 1986, page 1 “Brit Researcher Confirms Briggs’ Winds Execute Intercept”
Cryptolog, Volume 08, Summer 1987, page 1, “The Winds Execute Intercept”
SRH-051 “Interview with Mr. Ralph T. Briggs”
NSA publication, “West winds Clear – Cryptology and the Winds Message Controversy: A Documentary History.”
Briggs was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Under instruction at Navy Dept.
09 Jan 1939: 14th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 14th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Transferred to Station M, Cheltenham, MD in March 1941.
You can read more about Ralph Briggs in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1 – Prelude to War.
Ralph Briggs’ obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 19, Fall 1998, page 13:
RALPH T. BRIGGS
CWO Ralph Tallmadge Briggs, U.S. Navy, Retired, OTRG, died on 1 September 1998 in Henderson, Nevada. He was born in 1914 in Chicago, Illinois and entered the Navy on 20 April 1934. He was one of the founders of the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association and a member of the NCVA Board of Directors all during the formative years of the Association.
He was an original member of the “On-the-Roof” Gang. During his nearly 30 years of active Navy service he had duty with Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet; Director, Naval Communications; Head Communications Supplementary Activities; Commander, US Naval Group China; Director Armed Forces Security Agency; National Security Agency; Fleet Radio Unit Pacific; Commander Naval Security Group; Commander Naval Forces Far East; and Joint Intelligence Center Pacific. He retired from active service in 1969.
Ralph was a person of controversy. He adamantly insisted that while on the mid-watch at Cheltenham, Maryland on 4 December 1941 he intercepted the “WINDS CODE EXECUTE” message which signaled the beginning of the war in the Pacific. He immediately transmitted the intercept by teletype to OP-20-G (Captain [then Commander] Lawrence Safford). During the Joint Congressional Investigation of Pearl harbor that convened in 1945, Captain Safford underwent extensive interrogation. He recalled having received the “WINDS” intercept and, needing collaboration traced the intercept operator (Briggs) down. After meetings with Captain Safford, CWO Briggs agreed to testify but was ordered not to by his commanding officer. Neither the intercept nor related log entries have ever been found. Captain Safford and CWO Briggs always claimed cover-up conspiracy.
Pertinent data:
Born: 1914
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Died: 1September 1998
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Internment Location: Precinct Cemetery, Earlville, Illinois
Radioman Second Class Henry Edward “Tony” Ethier
Tony Ethier graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station CAST in the Philippines. In 1940, he transferred to Station ABLE in Shanghai, China, which closed a short time later. He then transferred the Joseph Rochefort’s Combat Intelligence Unit in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He was commissioned during the war and retired as a Commander.
Tony Ethier in an undated photo
Ethier was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
09 Jan 1939: 16th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 16th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Pertinent data:
Born: 10 October 1914
Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
Died: August 1978
Location: California
Internment Location: Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California
Radioman Second Class Glenn Everette “Bob” Evans
Bob Evans graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Heeia, Hawaii. He transferred to Station V in Vaitogi, Samoa. During the war, he received a commission and retired as a Lieutenant Commander.
Evans during OTRG training
Evans was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
09 Jan 1939: 14th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 14th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: Samoa
You can read more about Glenn Evans in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1 – Prelude to War.
Evans' obituary was published in the NCVA's Cryptolog magazine, Volume 12:
GLENN EVERETTE EVANS
Glenn E. Evans, lieutenant commander, USN, Retired, OTRG, died recently. He was born in Deerfield, Missouri on 22 July 1913 and enlisted in the Navy in August 1932. Available records indicate he served in USS PENNSYLVANIA and was promoted to RM3 and then RM2 while attached. His first cryptologic duty was at Heeia, Hawaii starting in April 1938, At Vaitogi, Samoa in 1941 he was the radioman-in-charge. He was promoted to chief radioman while at Bainbridge Island, Washington in 1942 and was commissioned ensign in 1944 while serving in Australia. As World War II ended, he was the Officer-in-Charge of the Naval Detachment at Werribee, Australia.
After the war, from 1946 to 1948, he served as officer-in- charge of the Naval Radio Station Carolina, PR. On 1 Au- gust 1954 he was promoted to his highest rank, lieutenant commander, and retired from active-service while in that grade on 1 September 1962. Lieutenant Commander Evans' last tour of duty was as Navy Liaison Officer, PACOM ELINT Center, Headquarters, 5th Air Force, in Japan.
After retirement he was employed as the Director, Navy Satellite Operations Center, Headquarters, Naval Communications Command, Washington, D.C.
Pertinent data:
Born: 22 July 1913
Location: Deerfield, Missouri
Died: 19 December 1990
Internment Location: Oak Hill Cemetery, Quitman, Georgia
Radioman Second Class James Humphries “Johnny” Johnson
Johnny Johnson graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station BAKER in Guam. In 1939, he transferred to Station ABLE in Shanghai, China. In 1940, he was assigned to Station CAST in the Philippines. Later in 1940, he transferred to Station M, Cheltenham, Maryland and in 1942 was assigned to Station HYPO in Wahiawa, Hawaii. While at Station HYPO, he deployed multiple time to Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs) supporting Task Force Commanders. He also deployed on the RIU for the invasion of Guam in 1944 and helped set up new intercept station there. During the war, he was advanced to Chief Warrant Officer and retired as a CWO2.
Johnny Johnson in Shanghai, circa 1939
Johnson was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
09 Jan 1939: Guam, M.I.
14 Feb 1940: Fourth Marines, Shanghai
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept.
Johnny Johnson’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 23,
JAMES HUMPHRIES JOHNSON
CWO2 James Humphries (Johnny) Johnson, USN (Ret) passed away in May 2002. He was a member of "On-the- Roof' Gang Class 20. Warrant Officer Johnson was born in Lithonia, Georgia on 4 April 1913. He entered naval service in 1934 and retired in 1955.
CWO2 Johnson underwent basic training in Norfolk, Virginia in 1934. He was assigned to the USS Arizona and transited there in USS Ranger (CV4). While serving on the Arizona he was accepted for special training at the Navy Department, Washington DC. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to Libugon Hill,-Guam in 1938. In 1939 he was transferred to Headquarters Company, Fourth Marines in Shanghai, China. In 1910 he was assigned to the 16th Naval District. Cavite, Philippine Islands. Later in 1940 he was transferred to the Naval Radio Station, Cheltenham, Maryland and in 1942 was assigned to the Supplementary Radio Station, Wahiawa. He served one year at the High Frequency DF Station, Palmyra Island. In 1943. back in Hawaii. he served with Rear Admiral Radford’s Task Group 58.10 to provide air cover for the Task Force and in 1941 on the USS INDIANAPOLIS with Admiral Spruance and his staff for the invasion of Kwajalein Atoll. Also in 1944 he served in USS NEW JERSEY on the staff of Admiral Spruance for raids on Truk and Palau Islands. He was attached to Headquarters Company (Marines) 1st Base HQ for the invasion of Guam and to set up a new intercept station on 16 June 1944. He was transferred back to the Naval Supplementary Radio Station Guam upon the arrival of Navy operators from Wahiawa under the command of Commander Howeth.
In 1945 he was transferred to the Naval Radio Station, Port Blakely, Washington then to Dupont’s Crossing, South Carolina. In 1947 he was assigned to Adak. In 1950 he attended training at Imperial Beach, California. He closed out his active duty at Tengan, Okinawa in 1953. He was married to Leola Williams. They raised three children and five grandchildren. Soon after he retired, he went to work at Cape Kennedy (1955) with the RCA Company
Pertinent data:
Born: 4 April 1913
Location: Lithonia, Georgia
Died: 2 May 2002
Radioman Third Class Elliott Eugene “Okie” Okins
Elliott Okins graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station BAKER in Guam. He then transferred to Station CAST in the Philippines, Station ABLE in Shanghai, and Station HYPO in Hawaii. He was in Heeia, Hawaii on 7 December 1941 and witnessed the Japanese attack on Kaneohe Air Station. During the war, he concentrated on training new katakana intercept operators at Wahiawa, calling this new group of trainees, the In-the-Attic Gang. He then continued his training activities at the new katakana intercept school in Bainbridge Island, Washington. He was commissioned and eventually retired as a Lieutenant Commander.
Elliott Okins during On-the-Roof Gang training in 1938, in Shanghai, circa 1939, and in Hawaii, circa 1945
Okins was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
09 Jan 1939: Guam, M.I.
14 Feb 1940: 16th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
You can read more about Elliott Okins in both On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1 – Prelude to War and Volume 2 – War in the Pacific.
Okins was one of a small number of On-the-Roof Gang members who wrote a book about his experiences in the Navy. His book, To Spy or Not to Spy, is a thinly-veiled fiction about his experiences as an On-the-Roof Gang operator.
Elliott Okins’ obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 12:
ELLIOTT EUGENE OKINS
Lieutenant Commander Elliott E. Okins, USN, Retired, OTRG, NCVA, 75, died Wednesday 20 February 1991. He was born 27 August 1915 in Auburn, Washington and was a member of Elks Lodge No. 1956.
A memorial Mass was said Monday, on 28 February 1991 in Henderson, Nevada. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California. He commenced Navy cryptologic service in October 1937 and remained on active duty continuously until his retirement in July 1960. During his service he was stationed at a number of cryptologic activities including Libugon, Guam; Cavite, Philippine Islands; Shanghai, China; Heeia and Wahiawa, Hawaii; Bainbridge Island, Washington; Headquarters, Naval Security Group, Washington, DC; and Imperial Beach, California.
He is survived by his wife Patricia of Henderson, Nevada, daughter Lila Ernest of California; son, Mike; three grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Pertinent data:
Born: 20 February 1915
Location: Auburn, Washington
Died: 20 February 1991
Location: Henderson, Nevada
Internment Location: Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California
Radioman Third Class Pearly Leon Phillips
Pearly Phillips graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station BAKER in Guam. In 1939, he was assigned to Station ABLE in Shanghai, China and then to Station M in Cheltenham, Maryland in 1940. During the war, he transferred to Station HYPO I Wahiawa, Hawaii, received a commission as an ensign, and transferred to Joseph Rochefort’s Combat Intelligence Unit in Pearl Harbor. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander. After his retirement, he established the On-the-Roof Gang social organization and was responsible for the first compilation of the On-the-Roof Gang “Muster List” in 1971.
Pearly Phillips as a Chief radioman in Guam, circa 1938 and as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in an undated photo
Phillips was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
9 Jan 1939: Guam, M.I.
14 Feb 1940: 16th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept.
Pearly Phillips obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 11, Summer 1990, page 14:
PEARLY L. PHILLIPS
Lieutenant Commander Pearly L. Phillips, USN, (Ret.), NCVA, OTRG, age 79, died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center 4 April 1990 of heart and kidney problems.
LCDR Phillips served 26 years on active duty, followed by an additional 10 years as a civilian at Naval Security Group Headquarters, in Washington, D. C.
Commander Phillips was an original member of the "On- the-Roof" Gang, class 20, 1937. He was founder of the OTRG organization and was an early member of the NCVA.
Prior to World War II, he was assigned as a Japanese communications intercept operator in China, the first formal shore intercept station. During the war, he served in the Pacific.
During his post war career, he served as Officer in Charge of the Navy Supplementary Radio Facility in Port Lyautey, Morocco, and he was later Head of the Naval Security Group Department, Naval Radio Station, Puerto Rico. He also served in the Naval Security Group Headquarters Activity in Washington. Interment was at Arlington National Cemetery, on 10 April 1990.
He is survived by his wife Rena, two sisters and two brothers. A son, Michael preceded him in death, during the Vietnam War.
Pertinent data:
Born: 30 October 1910
Location: Bogue Chitto, Mississippi
Died: 4 April 1990
Location: Washington, DC
Internment Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Radioman Second Class Charles Adolphus “Walt” Walters
Walt Walters graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. In 1940, he transferred to Station CAST in the Philippines and was listed in the second group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in March 1942 on board USS Permit. During the war, he served at the intercept site at Moorabbin, Australia and was advanced to warrant officer. He transferred to FRUMEL Melbourne, Australia.
Charles Walters in Corregidor circa 1941 and in an undated photo
Walters was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
09 Jan 1939: 14th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 14th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: Asiatic Station.
Pertinent data:
Born: 15 April 1914
Location: Georgia
Died: 18 July 1975
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Internment Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Radioman Second Class Duane Lewis “Whit” Whitlock
Whit Whitlock graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #20 in March 1938 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. In 1940, he transferred to Station CAST in the Philippines and was listed in the second group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in March 1942 on board USS Permit. During the war, he served at FRUMEL Melbourne, Australia. He remained on active duty for a total of thirty-two years, attaining the rank of Captain before his retirement in 1965.
Duane Whitlock as a Radioman First Class in the Philippines, circa 1940; as a Chief Petty Officer in Melbourne, Australia; and as a Captain in an undated photo
Whitlock was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
12 Jan 1938: Navy Dept. (under instruction)
09 Jan 1939: 14th Naval District
14 Feb 1940: 14th Naval District
24 Feb 1941: Asiatic Station
Duane Whitlock is featured in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2 – War in the Pacific
From Cryptolog Volume 28nr3-Summer2007.pdf
Duane L. WHITLOCK, CAPT, 90, of Strawberry Point, Iowa died on 10 April 2007. Born in Strawberry Point in 1917, he was able to join the Navy in 1935, during the Great Depression when very few were being recruited. He attended basic training and Radioman school in San Diego. After a tour on the USS RICHMOND (CL-9), he was recruited for what became OP-20-G. He became a member of the “On- the-Roof” Gang , graduating in class 20. He was posted to such places as Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. While stationed in Hawaii, he met and married his wife Gertrude. She was able to accompany Duane to the Philippines where their first daughter, Nadine, was born. A month later, November of 1940, Duane's family was evacuated to Gertrude's home in Hawaii. RM1 Whitlock and many others had to relocate to Corregidor when the Japanese invaded and moved down the Bataan peninsula. In March of 1942, Duane and 110 other souls boarded the USS PERMIT for evacuation from the “Rock” to Australia where FRUMEL was being established. En route, Duane was promoted to Chief Petty Officer, unbeknownst to him. In Australia, he was commissioned as an Ensign USN-R. Duane remained in the Navy after the war and in 1946 was made a regular officer. In a succession of changes of station, he trod the familiar route for many in OP-20-G between overseas stations and Washington, D.C., holding many positions including Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations (G-50) at the Naval Security Group Command Headquarters. Duane moved up the ranks in those 32 years of service to our country, achieving the rank of Captain in 1965. He retired in 1967 and lived in Virginia until 1977 when he and Gertrude moved to Danville, California to be closer to their children. After retirement, Duane proceeded to write about something he discovered during his service...that the title “systems analyst” doesn't mean that the person holding that title necessarily under- stands what a system is or how it functions. Duane poured almost 40 years into studying and describing various systems and how they all relate to each other. He published two books on the subject, Critical Thoughts and Notions and more recently The Search for Intelligent Design. The “Hadronic Journal” (a leading scientific publication) thought well enough of his writings that it published a special supplement devoted entirely to his work. In 1991, Duane's wife of 51 years, Gertrude, passed away. After numerous visits to his hometown of Strawberry Point, Iowa, he met and eventually married Evelyn Eliott in 1995. They moved from California to Strawberry Point where they enjoyed their twelve years of marriage. They eventually purchased apartments at the Strawberry Point Gernand Center and Lutheran Home. He is survived by his wife Evelyn, daughters Nadine Nowosad and Kathleen Shuey, and son Duane G. Whitlock.
Pertinent data:
Born: 1917
Location: Beloit, Wisconsin
Died: 10 April 2007
Location: Strawberry Point, Iowa
Internment Location: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Saint Helena, California
