Because it was I think 1934 when they both joined. Since Bob was 4 years older than my father Bob must have been 21 or 22 when he joined the Marine Reserves with him. So, Dad was either 17 to 18 when they began and I think they finished the Reserves in 1937 sometime too. I think also Bob likely was married during this time too so it likely was something they both enjoyed doing together while flying in open cockpit bi-planes called Hellcats which were usually painted Yellow.
I asked google AI what Bi-planes the Marine core reserves flew in the 1930s and this is what it said:
I can't figure out which plane they both flew in because I can't find a 2 passenger biplane that the Marine core used. that had a pilot and a gunner. maybe if I ask the question differently?
finally got a useful answer which is likely the Curtiss SBC Helldiver which had both types featuring two crew (pilot and gunner/radio operator) and machine guns for defense/offense, fitting your description of pilot and gunner roles.
What I learned today is that my father and Uncle Bob were also radiomen in addition to being gunners on their marine core biplane likely from 1934 to 1937 I believe and that likely Bob was married while all this was going on on weekends when they were in the marine core reserves in Seattle together flying bi-planes.
This actually makes more sence because during world War II they needed them building Liberty ships in Seattle for the war effort especially in the Pacific which supplied all the bases and troops all over especially the Pacific Theater of the war. And because they had already served in the Marine Core reserves this likely was acceptable to the laws governing young men then. Also, since they were trained electricians during World War II by their father likely starting at age 10 or 12 years old they could wire up Liberty ships for the U.S. Navy because then the Marine core was a part of the Navy I believe too and they had both already served 4 years in the reserves from 1934 to 1937.
begin quotes:
- Grumman F3F Flying Barrels (F3F-1, F3F-2): These were the premier biplane fighters for the Navy and Marines in the late 1930s, known for their nimble handling and unique fuselage shape. They were armed with nose-mounted machine guns for the pilot and could carry small bombs.
- Curtiss SBC Helldiver: A two-seat scout-bomber with tandem cockpits for a pilot and a radio operator/gunner, equipped with a machine gun for the rear seat, perfect for observation and light bombing.
- Pilot & Gunner: Both aircraft had designated crew positions for a pilot and a rear-facing gunner/radio operator.
- Marine Reserve Use: While specific Seattle Reserve unit mentions aren't detailed in these snippets, the F3F series was assigned to Marine squadrons (VMF-1, VMF-2) in the late 1930s, and SBCs were standard Navy scout-bombers used by the Marines.
- Context: These were the last of the biplane fighters and scout-bombers before the transition to monoplanes like the F4F Wildcat.
- The Grumman F3F-1 was a carrier-based biplane fighter used by both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps in the late 1930s. It was the last American biplane fighter to serve before the monoplane era took over with aircraft like the F4F Wildcat. Entering service in 1936, the F3F-1 featured a distinctive barrel-shaped fuselage, enclosed cockpit, and retractable landing gear...all quite advanced for a biplane of its time. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 radial engine, it was fast, nimble, and well-liked by pilots, although by the time World War II began, it was already considered obsolete.Aug 19, 2025 — The Grumman F3F-1 was the last American biplane fighter before the monoplane era. It was used by both the U.S. Navy an...Facebook
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