Frederick A. Fenger Navy Victory

WORLD WAR I NAVY VICTORY MEDAL

Lt. Commander

United States Navy Lieutenant Commander "Skully" Frederick Abildgaard Fenger (service #10390) was born May 1st 1882 in Chicago Illinois. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University from 1904 - 1907 in Ithaca New York, where he received a Master of Engineering degree when he graduated. A quote from Fenger's College Senior yearbook: "Skully is a hard worker, though, has played 4 years in the University, designed 100 Canoes, and from present indication will graduate with the class of Ninteen Hundred Six and a Half".

Frederick was fluent in English, Danish, French, & German. From 1908-1909 Frederick worked in Naval Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Working in a Chicago Machine shop, & later specializing in Hull Design, & a member of Swazey, Raymond & Page Inc. in Boston until 1910. He was self employed & devoted his entire time to travel & study contributing to newspapers & magazines. In 1911 Frederick Cruised alone length of Lesser Antilles in the "Yakaboo" a 17 foot sailing Canoe. Frederick married Kathrine Lindsay Smith Sept. 16th 1912. He then embarked on a 18 month expedition to the Bahamas, & throughout the West Indies, navigating the 52 foot Schooner "Diablesse" for history study & magazine material from 1913-1914.

1st edition with Fenger's Signature.

In 1917 Fredrick wrote his first book considered to be culturally important titled "Alone in the Caribbean" published by the George H. Doran Company, New York. Alone in the Caribbean is a classic in boating history, telling the story of Fenger's 800-mile cruise through the Caribbean aboard the Yakaboo (translated from the Ellice islanders' word for "goodbye," uttered when something is dropped overboard a sailing vessel). In 1911, Fenger built the world's only sailing canoe, and sailed it from Grenada throughout the Caribbean islands, finishing his trip in the Virgin Islands. Along the way he spent time in St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Statia, and Saba, where the narrative ends. Fenger's Yakaboo was a covered canoe with a drop keel that can be slid fore and aft to help maintain a straight course, necessary because the boat does not have a rudder and instead steering relies entirely on the set of the sails and the position of the keel. Fenger was also the author of the “Golden Parrot” and the “Cruise of the Diablesse.”

March 9th 1917

Frederick A. Fenger was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Coast Defense Reserve Force at 35 years old on March 9th 1917, a month before the U.S. officially entered World War I. Ensign Fenger was transferred to the U.S.S. Chester, the very first U.S. Navy Scout Cruiser on April 30th 1917, where he spent the next 14 months as she patrolled the kriegsmarine submarine zone. He remained stationed on the U.S.S. Chester until October 23rd 1918.

F.B.I. Case file Records indicate Ensign Fenger was investigated while serving aboard the U.S.S. Chester for buying a red cross sweater from some individual or store while overseas, the investigation was closed because the whereabouts of the U.S.S. Chester & Fenger were unknown while at Sea.

January 6th 1919

Ensign Fenger was transferred to the Repair Ship U.S.S. Prometheus on October 29th 1918, serving as the Construction Officer while at Brest, France. Fenger remained on the U.S.S. Prometheus until December 19th 1918. He sailed for the United States December 20th 1918 aboard the Navy Transport ship U.S.S. Henderson. Fenger was promoted to Lieutenant Junior grade January 6th 1919.

Lt. J.G. Fenger remained in the Naval Reserves until March 8th 1921 when he was Honorably Discharged. For Lt. Fenger's service in the Great War he was issued this Victory Medal with Escort Clasp, which he also had engraved with his name, rank, & ship.

1920 The Art Metal Works Inc. Victory Medal Escort Bar

"FREDERICK A. FENGER LT. JG. U.S.S. CHESTER"

March 31st 1942

During World War II Lt. JG Fenger was called to Active Duty & Appointed Lieutenant Commander April 13th 1942, at the request of the Bureau of Ships for a special Billet under the supervision of shipbuilding. In view of his special qualifications, it was requested at that time that his over-age for rank be waived. On May 14th 1942 he reported to Fisher Boat Works, Detroit Michigan, where he served until December 24th 1942 when he was detached & ordered to Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Company for Duty in the branch office of the Everette Marine Ways, Inc., Everette, Washington. In March of 1944 he was ordered to report to the Assistant Industrial Manager, Seattle under the Commandant, Navy Yard, Puget Sound where he served until December 7th 1944 when he was returned to inactive status. Lt. Commander was transferred to the Honorary Retired List on June 1st 1948.

Frederick A. Fenger was a yacht designer, sailor, and author. His main contribution to yacht design are his use of the dhow-form hull, the wishbone rig, and the main trysail rig. Fenger was an inventive designer, and while some of his innovations never became popular, they did enjoy a following, and the wishbone rig has recently had a revival of interest in commercially produce yachts. Fenger was particularly interested in rigs which would be manageable when sailing short handed.

Yakaboo's Rigging

United States Navy Lieutenant Commander Frederick A. Fenger passed away June 12th 1970 at his home, the "Rum Gagger Farm", in Norwell, Massachusetts, he was 88 years old. His funeral was held at 2:00 pm Monday June 25th 1970 at the First Parish Unitarian Church. Fenger was cremated at Forest Hills Crematory, Boston Massachusetts.

Chicago Tribune Sun. June 14, 1970

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