THREE FIRSTS -- Radioman H. Rankin of the SPARS set a record in 1943 by being the first SPAR to make an official flight in a U.S. Navy blimp, the first SPAR to make an official flight in a U.S. Navy blimp in World War II and the first SPAR to broadcast from the U.S. Navy blimp.
This distinction came to the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.A. Rankin, 619 Maryland S.E., in 1943, along with a certified aviator's flight log book, signed and awarded by Rear Admiral W.R. Munro, 7th naval district commandant, when Radioman Rankin made a 5 hour flight in a blimp during which she talked over short wave radio telephone, as part of the SPARS first birthday observance.
Radioman Rankin entered service in March of 1943 and after her indoctrination at Hunter college, took radio training at Miami university, Oxford, Fla., and received her radioman rating in September and was assigned to Miami, Fla.
Before entering service, she was a stenographer in the superintendent's office of the Chicago North Western railroad.
Source: Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, Dec. 31, 1943 (photo included)
Dorothy Rankin Gets Ensign Commission
Among the SPAR officers just commissioned at the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., was Ensign Dorothy Helen Rankin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Albert Rankin of 619 Maryland S.E.
Before her employment in office managerial and secretarial positions with Style Shoppe, Inc, and Fink's Apparel Shop, and Chicago & Northwestern Railway in Mason City, Miss Rankin attended Manly public schools, Mason City high school and Hamilton School of Commerce in Mason City, Iowa.
The new officer enlisted in the Coast Guard in March, 1943, and upon completion of her basic training at Hunter college, attended the Navy training school at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and was stationed as a R.M. 2/c in the communications office, Miami, Fla, when ordered to the Academy as a SPAR cadet.
Miss Rankin holds the distinction of being the first SPAR to make an official flight mission in World War II, making an anti-sub flight patrol from Richmond, Fla., to Palm Beach to broadcast there from a blimp in connection with the SPAR anniversary program in 1943.
A member of the National Forensic League high school debating organization, she is interested in such hobbies as golf, fishing, bowling and travel.
She has 5 cousins in the army. They are: Lt. Charles S. Rankin, Army air corps; Sgt. Donald Rankin; Sgt. William Kahre; Sgt. Walter Kahre and Pvt. Maynard Coy.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, September 18, 1944 (photo included)
Dorothy Rankin is Given Appointment
SPAR Ensign Dorothy H. Rankin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.A. Rankin, 619 Maryland, S.E., has been made assistant records and assignments officer of the Coast Guard in Cleveland.
Miss Rankin, who is on leave of absence from the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in Mason City, enlisted in March, 1943. She is in the second regiment of SPARS sent to the U.S. Naval training station, The Bronx, New York, before the SPAR training station in Palm Beach was opened.
Her indoctrination was followed by a special radio course in Oxford, Ohio, after which she was assigned to radio duty in Miami, Fla. From there Miss Rankin went to the Coast Guard academy in New London, Conn., officer training.
Ensign Rankin has one brother in service, Edward Rankin, navy apprentice now in Farragut.
Source: The Mason City Globe-Gazette, October 27, 1944
