On-The-Roof Gang
Class #24
Class #24 convened in May 1940 and completed in November 1940. Chief Radioman Antone Novak was the instructor.
Radioman Third Class James Byron “Cappy” Capron, Jr.
Jim Capron graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #24 in November 1940 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After a few months, he was transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the first group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in February 1942 on board USS Seadragon. During the war, he was stationed at the intercept site in Moorabbin, Australia. He served beyond the end of the war and retired in 1956 as a CWO2.
Jim Capron on Corregidor Island circa 1941 and in Moorabbin, Australia circa 1942
Capron was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Capron’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 30, Summer 2009, page
James B. “Cap” CAPRON, Jr., CWO, 90, FRUPAC (N4ITJ) died peacefully on 29 May 2009 at the Casey Hospice Center in Rockville, MD. Mr. Capron was born on 5 February 1919, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of James Byron and Charlotte Ruth Hatie Capron. After high school, Jim Jr. enlisted in the Navy in 1936 and served as a radio operator aboard various ships. In 1940, he returned to Washington to become one of Navy and Marine radio operators who formed the "On- the-Roof Gang" (OTRG), trained to intercept and analyze Japanese radio communications. After graduating from the OTRG Class 24, Jim was assigned to the Pacific Theater, including stations at Corregidor and Java. His tour also included a fortuitous assignment in Melbourne, Australia where he met his bride, Shirley Johanssen. After tours at many sites familiar to NAVSECGRU veterans, Jim retired from the U.S. Navy in 1956, but continued his service to our nation at the National Security Agency until 1971, during which time his family of four; wife Shirley, son Jim, and daughter Mary Ellen, lived first in Wheaton, and then in Annapolis, MD. After retirement from NSA, he and Shirley moved to Satellite Beach, FL, where they enjoyed the company of Navy friends and fellow retired Annapolitans. Jim and Shirley were married for 62 years until Shirley's death in 2006. Cap Capron particularly enjoyed his HAM radio shack and being on the “net” with Navy buddies and new contacts all over the world. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary Ellen, and survived by his son Jim Capron III, a grandson, and two great-grandsons.
A memorial service was held on 2 June 2009, in Rockledge, FL.
Pertinent data:
Born: 5 February 1919
Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died: 29 May 2009
Location: Rockville, Maryland
Interment Location: Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Florida
Radioman Second Class Gordon Oliver “Duke” Carnes
Duke Carnes graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #24 in November 1940 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After a few months, he was transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the third group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in April 1942 on board USS Seadragon. During the war, he was stationed at the intercept site in Moorabbin, Australia. At war’s end, he retired from the Navy as a CWO3 and remained in Australia.
Duke Carnes on Corregidor Island in 1941, in Moorabbin, circa 1942 (on bicycle), and in two undated photos
Carnes was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Pertinent data:
Born: 10 June 1914
Location: Conrad, Iowa
Died: 19 May 1972
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Interment Location: Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Australia
Radioman Second Class Wesley Smith “Wes” Knowles
Wes Knowles graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #24 in November 1940 and was assigned to to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After a few months, he was transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the third group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in April 1942 on board USS Seadragon. He served in Moorabbin and Adelaide River, Australia and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.
Wes Knowles on Corregidor Island, circa 1941 and in Moorabbin, Australia, circa 1942
Knowles was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Knowles’ obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 19
CTC Wesley S. Knowles, U.S. Navy, Retired, OTRG Class #24, died on 30 May 1997. He was born in Monticello, Arizona in 1914 and entered the Navy in 1933.
He served in USS PENSACOLA from November 1933 until March 1940. He attended OTRG school from May 1940 to November 1940. He spent WWII in the Pacific, serving in Hawaii, the Philippines and Australia. He was evacuated from Corregidor by submarine in April 1942.
He retired from active duty in 1953 and was employed by Civil Service at NSA until 1971.
Pertinent data:
Born: 12 May 1914
Location: Monticello, Arkansas
Died: 26 May 1997
Radioman Second Class Joseph Edward “Yardbird” Smith
Joseph Smith graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #24 in November 1940 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After a few months, he was transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the second group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in March 1942 on board USS Permit. During the war, he was stationed at the intercept site in Moorabbin, Australia.
Joseph Smith on Corregidor Island, Philippines, circa 1941
Smith was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Nothing more is known about Joseph E. Smith.
Radioman Second Class Lloyd Thomas “Red” Smith
Red Smith graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #24 in November 1940 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After a few months, he was transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the second group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in March 1942 on board USS Permit. During the war, he was stationed at the intercept site in Moorabbin, Australia. After the war, he was listed as a Warrant Officer and the Officer in Charge of the HFDF station on Gamatron Island.
Lloyd Smith on Corregidor Island, circa 1941
Smith was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Lloyd Smith’s death was reported in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 03, December 1981, page 16.
Pertinent data:
Died: 1981
Interment Location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
Radioman Second Class Harold Peder “Pete” Waldum
Pete Waldum graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #24 in November 1940 and was assigned to Station HYPO in Hawaii. After a few months, he was transferred to Station CAST on Corregidor Island, Philippines. He was listed in the second group of evacuees from Corregidor Island in March 1942 on board USS Permit. During the war, he was stationed at the intercept site in Moorabbin, Australia. After the war, he was listed as a Warrant Officer and the Officer in Charge of the Naval Radio Station at Imperial Beach, California.
Pete Waldum on Corregidor Island, circa 1941
Waldum was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
24 Feb 1941: 14th Naval District
Pete Waldum’s death was reported in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume 17, Summer 1996, page 23.
Pertinent data:
Born: 14 August 1917
Location: Mahnomen, Minnesota
Died: 7 June 1996
Location: Livingston, Montana
Interment Location: Conrad Memorial Cemetery, Kalispell, Montana
