Aircraft carrier, 1954 (approximate): Finding Aid

Biography of Joseph Bryan, III

Joseph Bryan, III was born on April 30, 1904 in Richmond, Virginia. In 1927, he graduated from Princeton University, where he had served as chairman of Tiger Magazine and associate editor of both the Daily Princetonian and Nassau Literary Magazine. After a year of traveling through Europe, Asia, and Africa, Bryan returned to Richmond in 1928 where he served as a reporter and columnist for the News Leader. Following his time with the News Leader, he wrote for the Chicago Daily Journal, Time, Fortune, and The New Yorker, before rising to managing editor of Town and Country and associate editor of The Saturday Evening Post. Bryan resigned from The Saturday Evening Post in June 1940 to work as a freelancer.

In the 1930's, Bryan served in the U.S. Field Artillery Reserve, rising to the rank of first lieutenant in 1932, but resigned in 1937. With America's entry into World War II, he commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserve in January 1942. Initially assigned to instruction in Air Combat Intelligence, Bryan was assigned to the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Aircraft, Southwest Pacific in Australia following his successful completion of the Air Combat Intelligence course in October 1942. Bryan was next attached to the staff of Commander, Battleship Division 8 aboard U.S.S. Massachusetts (Battleship: BB-59), followed by duty on the staff of Commander, Aircraft Solomons in Munda and Bougainville. In March 1944, he returned to the United States but, shortly thereafter, was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet to work in Public Relations. Back in the Pacific, he served on the staff of Admiral Marc Mitscher aboard U.S.S. Lexington (Aircraft carrier: CV-16), ultimately publishing the experiences of Air Group 16 in the Battle of the Philippines as Mission Beyond Darkness. Bryan's final tour was on the staff of Admiral Arthur W. Radford aboard U.S.S. Yorktown (Aircraft carrier: CV-10) from January through May of 1945.

After the conclusion of World War II, Bryan returned to freelance work and collaborated with Admiral William F. Halsey on Admiral Halsey's Story, originally published in 1947. Bryan's other books include The Windsor Story (1979) and Hodge Podge Two (1989). Joseph Bryan, III died on April 3, 1993 in Richmond, Virginia.

Description of Contents

Joseph Bryan's Aircraft Carrier, originally entitled A Far Bell Ringing, comprising a single, hand corrected typescript, was transcribed in approximately 1954. The manuscript reproduces the diary Bryan kept from January through May 1945, while serving on the staff of Admiral Arthur W. Radford aboard U.S.S. Yorktown (Aircraft carrier: CV-10) during World War II.

Bryan's manuscript opens with a roster of the officers and men mentioned throughout the diary, followed by a glossary of World War II naval terms. The diary proper begins on January 30, 1945 and proceeds chronologically until April 30, 1945, with a final entry simply dated as May 1945. Opening with Bryan's attachment to Admiral Radford's staff, the diary chronicles the participation of the Yorktown and her air group in operations against Iwo Jima, the Japanese home islands, and Okinawa. In addition to discussing the ship's engagements with the enemy, the diary also notes aspects of daily life, shipboard routine, Bryan's interactions with pilots and other officers and sailors aboard the Yorktown, and duties and operations on the flag bridge.

Arrangement

The diary entries in Aircraft Carrier are arranged chronologically.

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

Aircraft Carrier is 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.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

The pages spanning diary entries from April 10 through May 1945 are brittle and should be handled with extreme care.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Joseph Bryan, III in 1957.

Related Materials

Related Archival Material

The bulk of Joseph Bryan, III's personal papers can be found in the J. Bryan Papers, 1935-1985, C0569 at the Princeton University Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Materials Cataloged Separately

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

Publications Citing These Papers

Bryan's manuscript was published as Aircraft Carrier in 1954 by Ballantine Books.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Aircraft carrier, MS 495

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

Bryan, J. Aircraft Carrier. New York: Ballantine Books, 1954.

Howe, Marvin. "Joseph Bryan 3d, 88, an Author." New York Times April 6, 1993.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in April 2019. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in April 2019.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Bryan, J. (Joseph), 1904-
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations, American
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Pacific Ocean
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American
• Yorktown (Aircraft carrier, CV-10)

Genre Terms

• Diaries
• Manuscripts