On-The-Roof Gang
Class #7
Class #7 convened 1 February 1932 and finished 28 April 1932. Chief Radioman Malcolm “Felix” Lyon, a self-taught operator from Class #0, was the instructor.
Chief Radioman Jesse Bryan Byrd
Bryan Byrd graduated from OTRG Class #7 and was assigned to Station CAST in Olongapo, Philippines. He completed an assignment on board USS Augusta before he was sent to Washington, DC to become the instructor for On-the-Roof Gang Class #15. He died in his apartment in Washington, DC while assigned as the OTRG instructor during Class #16.
Bryan Byrd before he was selected for Chief Radioman.
You can read about Bryan Byrd in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1 – Prelude to War.
Byrd was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
23 Feb 1932: Washington, DC (under instruction)
03 Jan 1933: Olongapo, P.I.
06 Jan 1934: USS Augusta
17 Jan 1935: USS Augusta
Pertinent data:
Born: 8 November 1896
Location: North Carolina
Died: 22 September 1935
Location: Washington, DC
Interment: Balance Family Cemetery, Hatteras, North Carolina
Radioman First Class Frederick Lee “Freddie” Freeman
Freddie Freeman attended OTRG Class #7 and was assigned to Station CAST in Olongapo, Philippines. After a successful tour, he completed a short assignment at the American Legation in Peiping, and then afloat assignments on board USS Augusta and USS Pennsylvania. He received a commission and was assigned to OP-20-G as a code-breaker. He eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Freeman was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
23 Feb 1932: Washington, DC (under instruction)
03 Jan 1933: Olongapo, P.I.
06 Jan 1934: Peiping, China
17 Jan 1935: USS Augusta
13 Jan 1936: USS Pennsylvania (en route)
06 Jan 1937: USS Pennsylvania
12 Jan 1938: {expunged text}
09 Jan 1939: Washington, DC (cryptographic duty)
14 Feb 1940: Navy Dept. (cryptographic duty)
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (cryptographic duty)
Pertinent data:
Born: 21 November 1900
Location: Celeste, Texas
Died: 3 February 1975
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Interment: Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
Chief Radioman Walter Joseph “Sandy” McGregor
Sandy McGregor graduated from OTRG Class #7 and was assigned to Station CAST in Olongapo, Philippines. He suffered from a congenital heart condition and spent some time at Mare Island Naval Hospital on his was to assignment in Washington, DC. When his friend and classmate, Bryan Byrd, died while teaching OTRG Class #16, he stepped in to complete the class. He went on to teach an additional four classes (#17-20), a number second only to the OTRG patriarch Harry Kidder. His heart condition kept him from being assigned to the fleet, so he remained in Washington, DC, working in OP-20-G. He died while still on active duty in 1941. Building 514 on Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida is named McGregor Hall in his honor.
Chief Radioman Walter "Sandy McGregor in Washington, DC
You can read about Sandy McGregor in On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1 – Prelude to War.
McGregor was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:
23 Feb 1932: Washington, DC (under instruction)
03 Jan 1933: Olongapo, P.I.
06 Jan 1934: Olongapo, P.I.
17 Jan 1935: Mare Island Hosp. (not performing radio intelligence duties)
13 Jan 1936: Washington, DC
06 Jan 1937: Washington, DC
12 Jan 1938: Washington, DC
09 Jan 1939: Washington, DC (performing cryptographic duty)
14 Feb 1940: Navy Dept. (performing cryptographic duty)
24 Feb 1941: Navy Dept. (performing cryptographic duty)
Pertinent data:
Born: 4 February 1906
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Died: 27 February 1941
Location: Bethesda, Maryland
Interment: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
