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WAVES, Women, Personnel, Reserve, Aviation, Casualties, Aviation
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Annual Report, Navy and Marine Corps Military Personnel Statistics, 30 June 1964. NAVPERS 15658(A). (Washington, DC: Bureau of Naval Personnel, Headquarters - US Marine Corps, 1964): 76-77.

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US Navy Personnel in World War II

Service and Casualty Statistics

Related Resources:

Aviation Personnel Fatalities in World War II
World War II Casualties

Deaths - Due to Enemy Action - Officers
Deaths - Due to Enemy Action - Enlisted and Officer Candidates
Deaths - Due to Other Than Enemy Action - Officers
Deaths - Due to Other Than Enemy Action - Enlisted
Deaths - Due to Other Than Enemy Action - Officer Candidates
Naval Personnel - Active Service Casualties - By Area - Officers
Naval Personnel - Active Service Casualties - By Area - Enlisted

1. Number on active duty on 7 Dec 1941 was:

Officers

35,760

  
Enlisted 301,589 (incl OC)
Total

337,349

  

2. The number of officers and enlisted personnel that served in the Navy during World War II. 

7 Dec 1941 - 31 Dec 1946 was 4,183,466 (390,037 officers and 3,793,429 enlisted)

3. Volunteers and Draftees in WWII:

Total enlistments, 12/1/41 to 12/31/46 3,793,429  
Total inducted into Navy, prior 12/31/46 1,549,285  

(of those inducted, 189,365 remained inductees; 1,359,920 voluntarily enlisted as USN-SV or USNR-SV)

4. Total of 3,546,179 persons entered the Naval Service during World War II.

5. Male and Female enlisted input from civil life, July 1941 thru Dec 1945:

  1941   1942   1943   1944
  Male Female   Male Female   Male Female   Male Female
TOTAL 88,783     873,045 5,985   996,490 36,451   882,266 42,419
Jan       59,522     47,893 2,172   105,154 3,860
Feb       41,652     60,401 2.993   62,914 4,252
Mar       39,264     58,843 3,401   123,619 4,721
Apr       31,610     65,655 2,271   118,327 3,716
May       33,053     76,424 1,908   123,809 3,590
Jun       48,968     103,792 2,514   82,758 3,895
Jul 9,138     74,148     108,584 3,466   51,300 4,189
Aug 10,152     86,813     98,278 4,225   58,442 4,717
Sep 9,688     124,483 556   100,222 3,819   44,338 4,188
Oct 10,579     131,361 2,102   103,998 3,707   42,533 3,204
Nov 7,257     116,202 1,715   79,839 2,922   35,634 1,506
Dec 41,969     85,969 1,612   92,561 3,053   33,438 581
  1945
  Male Female
TOTAL 465,793 10,608
Jan 63,008 605
Feb 63,805 511
Mar 69,909 1,457
Apr 44,032 1,648
May 39,091 1,665
Jun 44,394 1,637
Jul 41,632 1,886
Aug 29,542 1,199
Sep 23,949  
Oct 17,538  
Nov 16,280  
Dec 12,613  

6. An estimated 3,639,615 (87%) of Navy Personnel served overseas and in all probability were exposed to combat.

Number serving ashore outside U.S. on 21 Jul 45 543,284
Number serving afloat outside U.S. on 21 Jul 45 1,565,898
Number serving ashore U.S. on 31 Jul 45 1,296,343

7. The male enlisted strength of the Navy V-J Day (2 Sep 1945) was 2,994,696.

Peak strength of Navy overseas (as of 30 June 1945) Officers 198,383
  Enlisted 1,923,910
  Total 2,122,293

8. Peak strength was on 31 Jul 1945 - 3,405,525.

9. Peak strength by theater of operations:

European (continental) 49,801 On 30 Nov 1944
North Atlantic (ashore & afloat) 150,046 On 30 Jun 1944
Mediterranean (ashore & afloat) 90,175 on 31 Aug 1944
Pacific (ashore & afloat) 1,366,716 on 31 Aug 1945
CBI (Ceylon, Burma & India) Not available

10. Peak strength of various staff corps officers during World War II (Warrants not included):

  TOTAL AIM COMO OTHER OFFICERS
         
Med Corps 30 Sep 45 14,494 20 8 14,466
Men 14,444 20 8 14,416
Women 50     50
         
Supply Corps 31 Oct 45 17,310 17 11 17,282
Men 16,351 17 11 16,323
Women 959     959
         
Civil Eng Corps 30 Sept 45 7,486 11 11 7,464
Men 7,484     7,462
Women 2     2
         
Dental Corps 31 Oct 45 7,220 2   7,218
Men 7,218 2   7,216
Women 2     2
         
Chaplain Corps 30 Sept 45 2,808 1   2,807
Men 2,808 1   2,807
         
Nurse Corps 30 Jun 45 11,086     11,086
Women 11,086     11,086

11. Average length of service of officers and enlisted in World War II was 2 years 6 months.

12. Estimated age distribution of enlisted personnel in World War II based on data as of 30 June 1945 was:

AGE GROUP PERCENT
 
Under 20 20.72
20 12.88
21-24 28.39
25-29 18.62
30-34 10.79
35-39 6.35
40-44 1.41
45-49 0.56
50-54 0.17
55 & Over 0.11

13. During World War II, the USNR outnumbered USN personnel on active duty by a 3 to 1 majority (from 31 July 43 - 31 Dec 45). During this period the USNR composed between 76.8% to 90.5% of total personnel on active duty. In May 45, 90.5%; on 31 Jul 45 the month in which the Navy hit its peak strength, USNRs on active duty composed 87.4% of all Navy personnel.

Deaths - World War II - Due to Enemy Action

Deaths - Due to Enemy Action - Officers

Type of Casualty Grand Total Officers, Enlisted, Officer Cand. Officers
Total Officers Men Women
USN USNR Retired WAVES USNR Nurses
USN USNR USN USNR
                   
Total Combat Deaths 36,950 4,025 1,038 2,982 5 . 0 0 0
                   
Killed in Action 30,831 2,148 737 1,407 4 . . . .
1941* 2,155 104 49 55 0 . . . .
1942 2,809 205 106 98 1 . . . .
1943 4,524 277 115 161 1 . . . .
1944 7,685 515 117 397 1 . . . .
1945 11,446 828 244 583 1 . . . .
1946 2,212 219 106 113 0 . . . .
                   
Killed in Action 
(Air Combat)		 3,173 1,514 172 1,341 1 . . . .
1941 26 9 4 5 0 . . . .
1942 81 41 12 29 0 . . . .
1943 315 143 47 96 0 . . . .
1944 502 244 20 224 0 . . . .
1945 1,071 516 53 462 1 . . . .
1946 1,178 561 36 525 0 . . . .
                   
Died of Wounds 1,837 151 29 122 0 . . . .
1941 36 3 2 1 0 . . . .
1942 181 26 11 15 . . . . .
1943 251 26 3 23 . . . . .
1944 677 44 5 39 . . . . .
1945 692 52 8 44 . . . . .
1946 0 0 0 0 . . . . .
                   
Died Prisoner of War 919 180 96 84 0 . . . .
1941 0 0 0 0 . . . . .
1942 187 15 10 5 . . . . .
1943 143 7 3 4 . . . . .
1944 414 78 47 31 . . . . .
1945 172 77 35 42 . . . . .
1946 3 3 1 2 . . . . .
                   

Other Deaths Due
Enemy Action

 190 32 4 28 . . . . .
1941 0 0 0 0 . . . . .
1942 20 9 3 6 . . . . .
1943 18 1 0 1 . . . . .
1944 70 4 0 4 . . . . .
1945 48 8 0 8 . . . . .
1946 34 10 1 9   . . . .

* Includes USS Reuben James & USS Kearney, Oct 1941

Deaths - Due to Enemy Action - Enlisted and Officer Candidates

Type of Casualty Enlisted Total Officer Candidates Included With Enlisted USNR
Total Enlisted Men Women
USN USNR USN-1 Fleet Reserve WAVES V-10
               
Total Combat Deaths 32,925 14,296 18,136 276 217 0 5
               
Killed in Action 28,683 12,540 15,766 240 137 0 4
1941* 2,051 1,965 61 0 25 . 0
1942 2,604 1,862 726 0 16 . 0
1943 4,247 2,500 1,713 7 27 . 0
1944 7,170 1,998 5,087 66 19 . 1
1945 10,618 3,335 7,078 157 48 . 3
1946 1,993 880 1,101 10 2 . 0
               
Killed in Action
(Air Combat)		 1,659 627 1,015 17 0 0 1
1941 17 16 1 0 . . 1
1942 40 35 5 0 . . 1
1943 172 128 44 0 . . .
1944 258 74 181 3 . . .
1945 555 198 353 4 . . .
1946 617 176 431 10 . . .
               
Died of Wounds 1,686 432 1,233 15 6 0 0
1941 33 31 2 0 0 . .
1942 155 106 46 0 3 . .
1943 225 66 159 0 0 . .
1944 633 126 499 6 2 . .
1945 640 103 527 9 1 . .
1946 0 0 0 0 0 . .
               
Died Prisoner of War 739 673 0 0 66 0 0
1941 0 0 . . 0 . .
1942 172 129 . . 43 . .
1943 136 132 . . 4 . .
1944 336 321 . . 15 . .
1945 95 91 . . 4 . .
1946 0 0 . . 0 . .
               

Other Deaths Due
Enemy Action

 158 24 122 4 8 0 0
1941 0 0 0 0 0 . .
1942 11 4 4 0 3 . .
1943 17 2 14 0 1 . .
1944 66 13 51 1 1 . .
1945 40 4 31 2 3 . .
1946 24 1 22 1 0 . .

* Includes USS Reuben James & USS Kearney, Oct 1941

Deaths - World War II - Due To Other Than Enemy Action

Deaths - Due To Other Than Enemy Action - Officers

Type of Casualty Grand Total Officers, Enlisted, Officer Cand. Officers
Total Officers Men Women
USN USNR Retired WAVES USNR Nurses
USN USNR USN USNR
                   
Total Deaths 
Non-Combat		 25,664 5,883 828 4,859 147 . 10 12 27
                   
Natural Causes 5,533 841 247 452 129 . 3 4 6
1941 9 3 1 0 2 . 0 0 0
1942 498 74 28 31 15 . 0 0 0
1943 1,146 139 31 89 16 . 0 1 2
1944 1,619 237 58 137 38 . 0 3 1
1945 1,591 237 69 121 43 . 2 0 2
1946 670 151 60 74 15 . 1 0 1
                   
Aviation Accidents 8,184 4,142 373 3,756 1 . 3 3 6
1941 38 15 7 8 0 . 0 0 0
1942 722 347 43 303 1 . 0 0 0
1943 2,171 1,010 98 910 0 . 1 1 0
1944 2,590 1,304 81 1,216 0 . 0 2 5
1945 2,126 1,164 89 1,073 0 . 2 0 0
1946 537 302 55 246 0 . 0 0 1
                   
Other Deaths 11,947 900 208 651 17 . 4 5 15
1941 30 1 0 1 . . 0 0 0
1942 920 67 27 39 1 . 0 0 0
1943 2,041 145 34 102 3 . 1 2 3
1944 4,504 323 66 246 6 . 0 2 3
1945 3,243 249 39 196 5 . 3 0 6
1946 1,209 115 42 67 2 . 0 1 3

Deaths - Due To Other Than Enemy Action - Enlisted

Type of Casualty Enlisted
Total Enlisted Men Women
USN USNR USN-1 Fleet Reserve WAVES 
V-10
             
Total Deaths
Non-Combat		 19,095 5,056 13,117 433 394 95
             
Natural Causes 4,601 907 3,201 143 311 39
1941 6 5 0 0 1 0
1942 419 173 176 0 70 0
1943 985 191 698 16 76 4
1944 1,344 182 1,010 47 90 15
1945 1,331 173 1,017 70 56 15
1946 516 183 300 10 18 5
             
Aviation Accidents 3,515 1,162 2,304 36 2 11
1941 20 19 1 0 0 0
1942 278 212 66 0 0 0
1943 922 363 555 2 2 0
1944 1,161 286 850 19 0 6
1945 910 153 741 12 0 4
1946 224 129 91 3 0 1
             
Other Deaths 10,979 2,987 7,612 254 81 45
1941 29 21 8 0 0 0
1942 848 474 346 0 28 0
1943 1,878 684 1,156 13 19 6
1944 4,155 755 3,281 88 14 17
1945 2,978 472 2,342 132 18 14
1946 1,091 581 479 21 2 8

Deaths - Due To Other Than Enemy Action - Officer Candidates

Type of Casualty Officer Candidates
Total Officer Candidates V-5 V-7 V-12 Naval Academy Midshipmen
           
Total Deaths
Non-Combat		 686 573 9 95 9
           
Natural Causes 91 32 6 49 4
1941 0 0 0 0 0
1942 5 3 1 0 1
1943 22 14 2 5 1
1944 38 10 1 27 0
1945 23 4 2 15 2
1946 3 1 0 2 0
           
Aviation Accidents 527 516 0 9 2
1941 3 3 0 0 0
1942 97 97 0 0 0
1943 239 235 0 4 0
1944 125 122 0 1 2
1945 52 49 0 3 0
1946 11 10 0 1 0
           
Other Deaths 68 25 3 37 3
1941 0 0 0 0 0
1942 5 3 1 0 1
1943 18 12 0 5 1
1944 26 6 1 19 0
1945 16 3 1 12 0
1946 3 1 0 1 1

Naval Personnel (1/) - Active Service Casualties - World War II - By Area

Active Service Casualties - By Area - Officers (1/)

Area

 Grand Total Officers & Enlisted Officers
Total Officers Enemy Action Non-Enemy
Action Deaths
Total Deaths Wounded
             
Grand Total 100,392 13,208 7,325 4,025 3,300 5,883
1941 (Oct & Dec) 2/ 3,338 223 204 116 88 19
1942 15,379 1,722 1,234 810 424 488
1943 16,476 2,368 1,073 608 465 1,295
1944 30,926 4,198 2,325 1,212 1,113 1,863
1945 31,857 4,139 2,489 1,279 1,210 1,650
1946 2,416 568 0 0 0 568
             
Atlantic - Total 10,966 1,219 615 306 309 604
1941 (Oct & Dec) 2/ 165 18 10 7 3 8
1942 1,366 151 77 32 45 74
1943 2,226 299 92 56 36 207
1944 5,876 583 365 158 207 218
1945 1,241 138 71 53 18 67
1946 92 30 0 0 0 30
             
Asiatic - Total 40,920 4,166 3,779 2,080 1,699 387
1941 (Dec) 194 23 23 10 13 0
1942 2,948 307 305 254 51 2
1943 2,042 177 177 169 8 0
1944 10,972 1,244 1,159 703 456 85
1945 24,450 2,343 2,115 944 1,171 228
1946 314 72 0 0 0 72
             
Pacific - Total 30,765 3,945 2,588 1,508 1,080 1,357
1941 (Dec) 2,944 177 171 99 72 6
1942 9,903 952 845 524 321 107
1943 7,201 937 655 350 305 282
1944 8,033 1,156 635 273 362 521
1945 2,353 661 282 262 20 379
1946 331 62 0 0 0 62
             
Mediterranean - Total 4,597 398 641 129 212 57
1941 (Dec) 0 0 0 0 0 0
1942 63 7 7 0 7 0
1943 2,128 160 149 33 116 11
1944 2,180 192 165 77 88 27
1945 211 34 20 19 1 14
1946 15 5 0 0 0 5
             
United States - Total 13,144 3,480 2 2 0 3,478
1941 (Dec) 35 5 0 0 0 5
1942 1,099 305 0 0 0 305
1943 2,879 795 0 0 0 795
1944 3,865 1,013 1 1 0 1,012
1945 3,602 963 1 1 0 962
1946 1,664 399 0 0 0 399

Active Service Casualties - By Area - Enlisted (1/)

Area Enlisted
Total Enlisted Enemy Action Non-Enemy
Action Deaths
Total Deaths Wounded
           
Grand Total 87,184 67,403 32,925 34,478 19,781
1941 (Oct & Dec) 2/ 3,115 3,057 2,101 956 58
1942 13,657 12,005 8,329 3,676 1,652
1943 14,108 10,044 5,912 4,132 4,064
1944 26,738 19,889 7,530 12,359 6,849
1945 27,718 22,408 9,053 13,355 5,310
1946 1,848 0 0 0 1,848
           
Atlantic - Total 9,747 6,919 3,674 3,245 2,828
1941 (Oct & Dec) 2/ 147 140 104 36 7
1942 1,215 761 294 467 454
1943 1,927 1,072 804 268 855
1944 5,293 4,187 1,910 2,277 1,106
1945 1,103 759 562 197 344
1946 62 0 0 0 62
           
Asiatic - Total 36,754 34,712 15,960 18,752 2,042
1941 (Dec) 171 167 97 70 4
1942 2,641 2,592 2,288 304 49
1943 1,865 1,853 1,842 11 12
1944 9,728 8,941 3,571 5,370 787
1945 22,107 21,159 8,162 12,997 948
1946 242 0 0 0 242
           
Pacific - Total 26,820 21,779 11,609 10,170 5,041
1941 (Dec) 2,767 2,750 1,900 850 17
1942 8,951 8,593 5,736 2,857 358
1943 6,264 5,212 2,781 2,431 1,052
1944 6,877 4,875 991 3,884 2,002
1945 1,692 349 201 148 1,343
1946 269 0 0 0 269
           
Mediterranean - Total 4,199 3,973 1,672 2,301 226
1941 (Dec) 0 0 0 0 0
1942 56 54 8 46 2
1943 1,968 1,900 485 1,415 68
1944 1,988 1,883 1,056 827 105
1945 177 136 123 13 41
1946 10 0 0 0 10
           
United States - Total 9,664 20 10 10 9,644
1941 (Dec) 30 0 0 0 30
1942 794 5 3 2 789
1943 2,084 7 0 7 2,077
1944 2,852 3 2 1 2,849
1945 2,639 5 5 0 2,634
1946 1,265 0 0 0 1,265

1/ Exclude Marine Corps and Coast Guard

2/ Includes Hostile Action Occurring October 1941

[END]

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Published: Mon Jul 27 14:12:10 EDT 2020