Naval Weather Service Association (NWSA)

 

 NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION

An association of Aerographers & Mates,
Meteorologists & Oceanographers

AGC W.S. McFarland, USN (Ret)

Biography

Service Years 1934-1960

Submitted by Dr. Margaretha Vlahos, Granddaughter

W.S. McFarland (aka MAC) was born in Goliad, Texas, in 1917. In 1934 at the age of 17 he joined the Navy. In 1941 he was stationed at Pearl Harbor serving onboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6).


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A young W.S. McFarland readies a PIBAL for launch, likely onboard USS Enterprise (CV-6)


He sailed to Brisbane Australia in 1942 which is where he met Dulcie May Frost, an Australian girl serving in the WACs who was the first female Drill Instructor at RAAF Base Amberley. They married in 1943 and in 1944 the needs of the Navy brought them, along with their daughter the first of five children, to Florida in the U.S. In 1945 Mac attended the Naval Air School at NAS Daytona Beach and their first son was born.

 

In 1946 the family was posted to Trinidad where their third child was born, another daughter, in 1947. The family was posted back to the U.S. in 1948 where Mac attended the AERM School at Lakehurst in New Jersey.
W.S. McFarland back row 2nd from left, AERM School, Lakehurst, NJ. No other names available. 23 April 1948

Personnel inspection onboard USS Oriskany (CV-34). AGC W.S. McFarland center row, 2nd in. 20 Jan 1951


In March 1951 Mac was serving on the USS Oriskany where he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer. Mac attended the NATTC Instructor School in Jacksonville, FL, graduating as an instructor in February 1952, the same year a second son was born.

AGC W.S. McFarland, standing first from left, NATTC Instructor School in Jacksonville, FL. Feb 1952

 

Between the years 1955-1957 the family was posted to Morocco at Port Lyautey where Mac was a meteorologist at Fleet Weather Central. A very cool embroidered patch (pictured below) has survived and is treasured by Mac’s great granddaughter.

In 1958 the family returned to Florida where Mac was offered a promotion which he declined as he wanted to bring his wife back to her homeland, Australia. He retired from the Navy in 1960 and as promised the family immigrated to Australia.

 

Mac continued his meteorological career as a public servant undertaking contract work with the RAAF at Amberley air base in Queensland until his retirement. He sadly passed away on the 28th of October, 1999.
Additional Images from AGC McFarland's Career
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"A' School Class 4020 Lakehurst. W.S. 2nd Row 4th from right.
Class 4020. W.S. Row3, 4th from left. Don Cruse Row4 end.
Note: D.A. Cruse signature on left
USS Oriskany (CV-34). W.S. Row 2, 3rd from right.
NAS Daytona Beach FL. Sept 1945
Lakehurst staff? 2nd row 3rd from right.
Party, 1st row kneeling, 2nd from right.
Press release, on right.
On right. Re-enlistment on USS Oriskany (CV-34)