James W Watts

NAVY AIR CADET
James W. Watts, 19, son of J. W. Watts, now of Neenah but formerly of Eau Claire, was recently appointed a Naval Aviation Cadet and has been transferred to the Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola, FL for intermediate flight training. Upon completion of his intensive training course there, Cadet Watts will receive his “wings” and commission in the Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve.

James W. Watts Wins Navy Wings

James W. Watts, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Watts, Neenah, won his Navy wings of gold and was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy Reserve recently at the Naval Aviation Training Center at Pensacola, FL.

Having been designated a naval aviator, he will go on active duty at one of the Navy's air operational training centers before being assigned to a combat zone.

Ensign Watts entered the service in March 1943 and received his training at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas; an airfield in California; Norton, OK; and Pensacola, FL.

His brother, Burton, Eau Claire, is a Petty Officer Second Class in the Seabees in New Guinea.

Jimmy and Bert Watts

Bert Watts was a Seabee stationed on the island of Leyte. Bert wrangled a two-day pass to visit his younger brother, who was a pilot aboard an aircraft carrier. Bert's brother Jimmy was a Navy F6F Hellcat pilot, fighting against the Japanese. Bert was allowed to board the aircraft carrier, but he discovered that Jimmy had gone on a combat mission two days before and had not returned. Lieutenant Watts was declared missing in action and later declared dead.

The Watts brothers grew up in the Third Ward area of Eau Claire