Photo By Kare Lohse
KISKA WEATHER UNIT CAPTURED
(WX16-Sept.22) NAVYS KISKA WEATHER UNIT HELD PRISONERS BY JAPS--Ten of these 12 men, pictured when they
were operating a Navy Weather and radio station unit on Kiska before Jap invasion, are now held prisoners. Two
were not present when the Japs took over and only the dog was found when Yanks recaptured the island. In the
group are: Front, (L to R) Ship's Cook John C. McCandless, Oakmont, PA.; Radioman Robert Christensen, Bremerton,
Wash.; Aerographer's Mate Walter Monroe Winfry, Cliffside Park, N.J.; Seamen Gilbert E. Palmer, Evansville, Ind.;
Wilfred Ivan Caffey, Coquille, Ore.; Back Row (L to R) Aerographer's Mate James Leroy Turner, Seattle, Wash.; Chief
Pharmacist's Mate Rolland L. Coffield, Seattle; Aerographer's Mate William Charles House, Escondito, Calif.; Lt.
Mulls (not further identified); Gunner's Mate LeThayer E. Eckles, Osborne, Kans.; Photographer's Mate Lou
Yaconelli, North Hollywood, Calif.; Radioman Madison L. Courtenay, Jr., Riverhead, (text illegible). Lt. Mulls and
Yaconelli were not captured. (AP Wirephoto).
[NOTE: A correction sent to us by Glen Palmer, son of "Gilbert E. Palmer," indicates that Gilbert's name is actually
"Milo G. Palmer. Our thanks to Glen for this update!]
The dog remained on Kiska. Her name was "Explosion." She looked like either a shepherd/lab mix or some sort of
husky mix. The text was partially obscured.