Rex L. Loftin Papers
Object NameDiary
Historic Owner
Rex L. Loftin
Association
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11)
DateJune 1, 1944–1945
PeriodWorld War II
Mediumpaper, ink
ClassificationsCommunication Artifacts
Credit LineCollection of the Intrepid Museum. Gift of the family of Rev. Rex L. Loftin. A 2020.20
Object numberA2020.20
DescriptionExtent: 1 diary, 1 folderDiary; June 1, 1944–December 7, 1944. The diary covers part of Rex Loftin's service on board USS Intrepid. It begins with Intrepid traveling from San Francisco to Pearl Harbor, carrying supplies and sailors. From there, Intrepid travels to the Marshall Islands to pick up sailors and casualties to bring them back to Pearl Harbor once again. Loftin describes repairs to the ship at Pearl Harbor, the shakedown cruise after it, and continuing back into action. He describes the task force and the groups it is separated into (38.1, 38.2, and 38.3), other ships they are sailing with (USS New Jersey, USS Bunker Hill, USS Cabot, and USS Independence). Loftin describes Intrepid's actions in the Marshall Islands and the Philippines, including Intrepid attacking various parts of the Japanese fleet. He describes the October 29 kamikaze attack on Intrepid and briefly mentions the destruction of Gun Tub 10, as well as the kamikaze attacks on November 25. He also mentions other events on Intrepid such as Crossing the Line, Ulithi, and refueling.
Form; Document for Gear Shipment, no date. U.S. Receiving Station, San Francisco, California. Addressed to "Supply Officer, USS Tadcen, Treasure Island, San Francisco, Calif." Form is to ship "One sea bag" for Rex Lavon Loftin.
Letter; from M. Dewitt Safford, Chaplain, U.S. Naval Reserves, June 1945 (4 pages). Printed on green paper. Addressed to "Dear Friends,” it describes what Safford has been up to for the past year, on and off Intrepid.
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