I am looking for the Deck Logs of the USS Duncan DD - 485, for August, September 1942.

Question

I am looking for the Deck Logs of the USS Duncan DD - 485, for August, September 1942. I know my father Charles Cecil Dunnagan (service number 634-09-59) was aboard the Duncan on August 7, 1942. I also know the Duncan was used to transport troops to the Pacific theater to their permanent duty station.

Textual Reference Branch, Archives II · Answer

Terri Dunnagan 
 Thank you for posting on the History Hub! 
 This is in response to your inquiry to the National Archives related to the Navy Deck Logs of the USS Duncan (DD-485) for dates in 1942. As the ship sank on October 25, 1942, the records for that month most likely went down with the ship. 
 Our WWII holdings for this ship include Deck Logs from April 16, 1942 to September 30, 1942, War Diaries from April 16, 1942 to July 31, 1942 and one Action Report from October 16, 1942. 
 Our current fee for electrostatic (paper) or digital (on CD-R or download) copies is $0.80 per page with a minimum mail order fee of $20.00. Please be aware that WWII Deck Logs usually average 35 pages per month, which would cost $28.00 per month to order. We would also need a mailing address and phone number in order to create a price quote. 
 Otherwise, by providing us the name of the ship or unit involved in the incident, a description of your researched incident(s) and the name of any individuals involved, and a date or the date range in which the incident occurred not to exceed three months, we can conduct a records review search on your behalf and provide up to 25 complimentary copies. 
 The War Diaries (without May 1942) have been scanned and are available on our online catalog. Enter the link: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4697018 In the Details area, click on the &ldquo;Search within this Series&rdquo; button, which will open a new page. In &ldquo;Advanced Search,&rdquo; enter the name of the unit or ship and click on the Search button. On the results page, click on the document title and a new page will open for viewing the record. 
 The April 16 - 30, 1942 War Diary can be found at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/133895916 
 The June 1942 War Diary can be found at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/133933134 
 And the July 1942 Action Report can be found at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/133963756 
 We invite you to continue the conversation with community members on History Hub. However, if you are interested in ordering copies of the Deck Logs, May 1942 War Diaries or the Action Report, please email us directly at archives2reference@nara.gov so that we can assist you further. 
 We hope this assists you with your research! 
 Sincerely, 
 Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) 
 RR2RR 23-43612-PC

Textual Reference Branch, Archives II · Answer

Terri Dunnagan 
 
 Thank you for posting your question on History Hub! 
 
 Given the complexity to your request, we would recommend sending your request archives2reference@nara.gov , so it can be handled in a more in-depth manner. 
 
 The 1942 deck logs of the USS Duncan (DD 485) have not been digitized and they are available at the National Archives in College Park, MD. The deck logs are not located in California. 
 
 As in our previous posting, we can offer you copies of the months that you need at $0.80 per page or you are welcome to visit the National Archives in College Park or hire a researcher to conduct this research on your behalf. 
 
 If Charles Cecil Dunnagan was not assigned to the Duncan then his name would not appear on the muster roll for the Duncan . Muster rolls are not passenger lists. They are the accounting of permanent personnel to a naval command, but this is not to say that a stray list of passengers can be found in the muster rolls. It is just not a regular item or permanent record. 
 
 As a passenger, Mr. Dunnagan may appear in the deck log, but there is a range beginning with no mention at all, to embarking "troops", to embarking personnel from unit X, or possibly a whole list of personnel embarking either written in or someone stapling a manifest to the page. 
 
 In any case, please send this request with a clear description of what you are looking for to archives2reference@nara.gov . At this point, what we understand is that you want a listing of Mr. Dunnagan taking passage aboard the Duncan through the Panama Canal. 
 
 We invite you to continue the conversation with community members on History Hub, but should you have follow up questions for the staff at Archives II, please email us at archives2reference@nara.gov so that we can assist you further. 
 
 We hope this assists you with your research! 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 Textual Reference Archives II Branch (RR2RR) 
 [23-48158] - NSP