Soviet Russian Made Watch of USS Vedette and Vice Admiral Charles A Pownall, Last Military Governor of Guam Interest, the manual wind wrist watch with 24 hour dial with subsidiary seconds dial. Chrome casing with thick brown leather aviators style strap. The dial is marked ‘USS Vedette’ and ‘Charles Alan Pownall United Staes Navy’. Watch appears to be in working order, but sold AF. Charles Alan Pownall, Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1910, Pownall served briefly in the USSMississippi(BB-23), USSMissouri(BB-11), USSAmmen(DD-35), and USSReid(DD-21).During World War I he commanded the USSRoe(DD-24) and USSVedette(SP-163), and after the war, the USSJohn D. Ford(DD-228).After flight training, he was designated a naval aviator in 1927.He then served as navigator in the USSSaratoga(CV-3), air officer in the USSLexington(CV-2), and had duty on the staffs of Commander in Chief Battle Fleet and Commander Aircraft Squadrons Battle Fleet.He was executive officer of the USS Ranger (CV-4), and skipper of the USSEnterprise(CV-6) from 1938-41.During World War II he served as Commander Patrol Plane Replacement Squadrons, Patrol Wings, Pacific Fleet; Commander Fleet Air, West Coast; Commander Carrier Division Three; Commander Air Force Pacific Fleet; and Chief of Naval Air Training Command.His final tours, before retirement in 1949, were as Commander Marianas and naval governor of Guam.Whilst serving on board USS Vedette during WW1, Pownall was awarded the Navy Cross for service in the Atlantic on Anti-Submarine patrols, citation for the award as follows, ‘For distinguished service in the line of his profession as commanding officer of the USS Vedette, engaged in the important exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines’USS Vedette (SP-163) was a commercial yacht built in 1899. At the outbreak of World War I, the yacht was leased by the United States Navy, and was used as a section patrol craft in the North Atlantic Ocean. She served honourably during the war, rescuing survivors at sea, and attacking a German U-boat. At war’s end, she was converted to her original configuration and returned to her owner, the railroad executive, financier, and philanthropist Frederick W. Vanderbilt. We can only assume that it was during the ships service, under Pownall, that she helped or distinguished herself to the Imperial Russian forces, later being recognised by the Soviets?