World War II Honoree

Arthur William Chaffee

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Ventura, California

Honored By

Terry William Chaffee

Relationship

Son

SERVED AS MACHINIST'S MATE 2ND CLASS ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI, HAWAII, KAHULUI NAVAL AIR STATION, RE-BUILDING AIRCRAFT ENGINES SUCH AS NAVY F4F HELLCATS AND F4U VOUGHT CORSAIRS. SERVED WITH CARRIER AIRCRAFT SERVICE UNIT 32. ALSO SERVED AS A SHORE PATROLMAN AND DELIVERED THE MAIL THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND USING A HARLEY DAVISON MOTORCYCLE WITH SIDECAR FOR BRIEF PERIODS WHILE STATIONED THERE. TRAINED IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA BEFORE BEING SENT TO SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA AND BECAME PART OF AN AIR-SEA RESCUE UNIT AS PART OF A PBY CREW. HELPED IN RESCUING DOWNED PILOTS WHO HAD CRASHED OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST. DURING HIS STAY AT SAN PEDRO, HE PLAYED AN EXHIBITION GAME OF TENNIS FOR THE 'TROOPS' WITH THE FAMOUS BILL TILDEN. BEFORE HE WAS RE-ASSIGNED TO MAUI. HELPED PUT TOGETHER A CAPTURED JAPANESE ZERO FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY AT THE SAN PEDRO PAVILION.