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C. H. Paulsen Papers, 1930-1952 (bulk 1941-1945): Finding Aid

Published in October 2017

Summary Information

  • Publisher: United States Naval Academy. Special Collections & Archives.
  • Publisher Address:
    589 McNair Road
    Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5029, USA
    Phone: 410-293-6917
    https://www.usna.edu/Library/sca/index.php
  • Call number: MS 454
  • Location: Special Collections & Archives Department - Manuscripts
  • Title: C. H. Paulsen Papers
  • Dates: 1930-1952
  • Bulk Dates: 1941-1945
  • Size: 0.83 linear feet
  • Container Summary: 2 manuscript boxes, 4 oversize folders
  • Creator: Paulsen, Carley Herbert, 1892-1973
  • Language(s) of material: English
  • Abstract: The C. H. Paulsen Papers span from 1930 to 1952, with a bulk of the material produced between 1941 and 1945. The papers are predominantly the product of Paulsen's service as a U.S. Naval Reservist with Amphibious Bases, United Kingdom during World War II, focusing on the U.S. Navy's presence in England, the repair and maintenance of amphibious landing craft, and the aftermath of the Invasion of Normandy, especially with regards to naval materiel, as well as the conversion of S.S. Europa into an American troop transport of the same name.

Biography of C. H. Paulsen

Carley Herbert Paulsen was born on July 25, 1892. On April 6, 1917, while a resident of the Bronx, New York, Paulsen enrolled in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Machinist's Mate, Second Class. After training at Great Lakes Naval Training Station, he was appointed an officer in the Reserves on March 1, 1918. During World War II, Paulsen was recalled to active duty and assigned to Amphibious Bases, United Kingdom, where he worked in the receiving, maintenance, and repair of Allied landing craft for the Invasion of Normandy. Later, he was assigned to U.S. Naval Advance Base Bremerhaven where he participated in the conversion of S.S. Europa into a U.S. Navy troop transport. Carley Herbert Paulsen died on August 2, 1973.

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Description of Contents

The C. H. Paulsen Papers, comprising 0.83 linear feet of documentation, span from 1930 to 1952, with a bulk of the material produced between 1941 and 1945. The papers are predominantly the product of Paulsen's service as a U.S. Naval Reservist with Amphibious Bases, United Kingdom during World War II, focusing on the U.S. Navy's presence in England, the repair and maintenance of amphibious landing craft, and the aftermath of the Invasion of Normandy, especially with regards to naval materiel, as well as the conversion of S.S. Europa into an American troop transport of the same name.

Included in the papers are orders, memoranda, blueprints, maps, rosters, drawings, photographs, postcards, and printed ephemera, such as brochures.

The Paulsen Papers are organized into two series by document type. Series 1: Subject Files focuses on the U.S. Navy's Eleventh Amphibious Force and the operation of Advanced Naval Bases in the United Kingdom, especially with regards to the Invasion of Normandy. The series also touches upon the conversion of merchant vessels to military use (including Europa) and seized German warships (such as Prinz Eugen). Series 2: Photographs offers depictions of many of the same topics as Series 1, with a special focus on individual American Advanced Naval Bases in the United Kingdom and damaged landing craft.

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Arrangement

The C. H. Paulsen Papers are organized into the following two series:

  • Series 1: Subject Files, 1930-1952
  • Series 2: Photographs, 1944-1948
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Access and Use

Access

Access to any potentially classified material is restricted.

Copyright and Permission

The C. H. Paulsen Papers are the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

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Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of David S. Paulsen in June 1986 and Mrs. C. H. Paulsen in October 1987. Accession Nos. 86-25 and 87-36.

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Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

The Paulsen Papers have been partially digitized. The materials can be accessed through the Nimitz Library Digital Collections at: https://usna.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01USNA_INST/ik5eus/alma991006447687106751.

Related Archival Material

Additional material pertaining to landing craft operations surrounding the Invasion of Normandy may be found in the John R. Johannesen Papers, MS 431; World War II Ship Action Reports, MS 415; and World War II Battle Action and Operational Reports, MS 416 in Special Collections & Archives, Nimitz Library.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

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Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

C. H. Paulsen Papers, MS 454

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in October 2017. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in October 2017.

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Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

  • Europa (Ship : 1930-1961)
  • Landing craft -- United States
  • Navy-yards and naval stations, American -- England
  • Operation Neptune
  • Operation Overlord
  • Paulsen, Carley Herbert, 1892-1973
  • Ships -- Maintenance and repair
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Amphibious operations
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- France -- Normandy
  • World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American

Genre Terms

  • Architectural drawings (visual works)
  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts
  • Maps (documents)
  • Orders (military records)
  • Photographs
  • Printed ephemera
  • Rosters
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Contents List

Series 1: Subject Files, 1930-1952 Boxes 1-2, MSOS, MSXOS

Series Description

Documentation of Paulsen's service in the Naval Reserves in World War II. In particular, the files pertain to the maintenance and repair of landing craft surrounding the Allied Invasion of Normandy, U.S. Navy bases in the United Kingdom, German shipbuilding capacity, seized German vessels, and the conversion of merchant vessels to military use, notably conversion of the German ocean liner Europa into an American troop transport. Included in the series are orders, memoranda, blueprints, maps, rosters, drawings, and brochures.

Among the documents are several hand-drawn diagrams indicating landing craft locations at Omaha Beach on D-Day +12, June 18, 1944, following a storm.

Series Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by topic and document type.

Box 1 Folder 1

APc Small Coastal Transports and Motor Torpedo Boats, 1942-1944

Specifications, equipment, and construction. Includes materials on boats constructed in Annapolis.

Box 1 Folder 2

Awards and Commendations, 1945

Includes material regarding a Unit Commendation for U.S.S. SC 1290.

Box 1 Folder 3

U.S.S. Butler, 1944 July

Single copy of ship's newspaper.

Box 1 Folder 4

Clippings, undated

Box 1 Folder 5

Eleventh Amphibious Force - Orders and Notices, 1944

Includes information on the organization and assignment of landing ships, as well as a Junior Officers' Guide.

Box 1 Folder 6

U.S.S. Europa, 1945

Commissioning program, pre-commissioning report, plan of the day, and Norddeutscher Lloyd brochures.

Drawer MSXOS Folder 1

U.S.S. Europa - Plans, 1930-1945

Original Blohm & Voss plans and U.S. Army troop berthing conversion plans.

Box 1 Folder 7

German Ships and Shipbuilding, 1947-1951, undated

Reports of the Tripartite Naval Commission on German shipyards, German ships in U.S. Navy custody, and German shipbuilding capacity.

Box 1 Folder 8

German Surrender and Non-Fraternization, 1945

COMNAVFORFRANCE Letters.

Box 1 Folder 9

"A History of the United States Naval Bases in the United Kingdom", 1944

Box 1 Folder 10

Humor, undated

Box 1 Folder 11

"Inclining Experiments for converted Merchant Vessels", 1941

Drawer MSOS Folder 1

Landing and Transport Craft - Plans and Specifications, 1942-1943

Plans and fan specifications for ATL, LST, and LCI craft.

Box 1 Folder 12

Maintenance, 1944-1945

Includes materials regarding landing craft inventories, maintenance schedules, damage to landing craft suffered on D-Day, LST operational plans, and Utah Beach salvage efforts.

Box 1 Folder 13

Maintenance, 1944-1945

Includes materials regarding the condition of returning LCTs, landing craft damage following D-Day, maintenance plans following V-E Day, and the mission of maintenance in Operation Overlord.

Box 1 Folder 14

Miscellaneous Ephemera, undated

Includes a beer token from the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line.

Box 1 Folder 15

Miscellaneous Orders and Requests, 1944-1945, undated

Drawer MSXOS Folder 2

Normandy Invasion - Diagrams, 1944

Diagrams of landing craft locations at Omaha Beach on D-Day +12, June 18, 1944.

Box 1 Folder 16

Off-shore Procurement of Ships, 1952 February

Memo regarding procurement negotiations with foreign countries.

Box 1 Folder 17

Rosters and Directories, 1944-1945

Officer rosters for Amphibious Bases United Kingdom and Amphibious Craft Twelfth Fleet.

Box 1 Folder 18

Rosters and Directories, 1950-1952, undated

Officer rosters for U.S. Advanced Naval Base, Bremerhaven and the Tripartite Merchant Ship Inspection Committee.

Box 1 Folder 19

U.S. Armed Forces in U.K., undated

Guides and maps of England for U.S. service members.

Box 2 Folder 1

U.S. Naval Advanced Amphibious Base Salcombe, 1945

Booklet of base operations.

Drawer MSOS Folder 2

War Maps, 1944-1945

Commercially printed maps commemorating World War II.

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Series 2: Photographs, 1944-1948 Box 2

Series Description

Black-and-white photographs produced in conjunction with Paulsen's service in World War II with Amphibious Bases, United Kingdom. Specifically, the photographs depict damaged American landing craft, U.S. Navy bases in the United Kingdom and their repair shops, the port of Bremerhaven, and Omaha and Utah beaches following the Invasion of Normandy. Included among the photographs are several picture postcards.

Series Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by topic.

Box 2 Folder 2

Bipartite Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Committee, 1948

Committee held at U.S. Naval Advanced Base Bremerhaven.

Box 2 Folder 3

Bremen and Bremerhaven, 1945, undated

Box 2 Folder 4

Damaged Ships - LST-327, 1944 August-December

Box 2 Folder 5

Damaged Ships - LST-391, 1944 November

Box 2 Folder 6

Damaged Ships - LST-493, 1945 April, undated

Images of the ship run aground at the entrance to Bremerhaven.

Box 2 Folder 7

Damaged Ships - LST-512, 1944 November

Box 2 Folder 8

Damaged Ships - SC-1332, 1944 November, undated

Box 2 Folder 9

Damaged Ships - H.M.S. Whitaker, 1945 February

Box 2 Folder 10

Damaged Ships - Unidentified, 1945 April

Box 2 Folder 11

U.S.C.G.C. Eagle, 1946

Eagle in heavy seas.

Box 2 Folder 12

England, undated

Includes images of Devonshire and Stonehenge.

Box 2 Folder 13

U.S.S. Europa, 1945, undated

Includes images of Europa's commissioning. Also includes interior photographs and photos likely taken from the deck of Europa while still owned by the Norddeutscher Lloyd Line, as well as a portrait of Fritz Kreisler on deck.

Box 2 Folder 14

Normandy Invasion, 1944 June, undated

Images of Omaha and Utah beaches, landing craft, Cherbourg, and Atlantic Wall fortifications.

Box 2 Folder 15

Portraits, 1944, undated

Includes a portrait of Commodore V. E. Korns.

Box 2 Folder 16

Prinz Eugen (Cruiser), 1945, undated

Box 2 Folder 17

U.S.S. Raven (Minesweeper: AM-55), 1944 May

Box 2 Folder 18

Sperrbrecher, undated

German minesweeper.

Box 2 Folder 19

Unidentified Aerials, undated

Box 2 Folder 20

Unidentified Ports and Harbors, undated

Box 2 Folder 21

Unidentified Ships, undated

Box 2 Folder 22

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Dartmouth, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 23

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Deptford, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 24

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Falmouth, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 25

U.S. Naval Bases in England - New Haven, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 26

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Plymouth, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 27

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Poole, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 28

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Portland, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 29

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Salcombe, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 30

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Saltash, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 31

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Southampton, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 32

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Weymouth, 1944 August

Box 2 Folder 33

U.S. Naval Bases in England - Unidentified, 1944 December, undated

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