Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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DMIRAL AUBREY WR Y FITCH Admiral Aubrey Wray Fitch, United States Navy, 11883-19785, was an aviation hero of World War II, former Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air, and Superin- tendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. During World War II, at the Battle of Coral Sea, Admiral Fitch, then a Rear Admiral, commanded the American planes in the first naval battle in history entirely fought by aircraft, in which no ship on either side sighted the other. As air Task Force Commander under Vice-Admiral Frank lack Fletcher, Task Force Commander, his aircraft from the carriers USS. Lexington and U.5.S. Yorktown checked the japanese advance during the May 7-9, 1942 battle. His aircraft sunk one carrier, damaged two others, and destroyed or severely damaged 195 aircraft. On the U.S. side, Lexing- ton along with two other support ships, were lost and Yorktown was damaged. Since this battle checked the japanese southern conquests, it was a strategic American victory. One that came only one day after the surrender of Corregidor in the Philippines. From that viewpoint, Coral Sea represented the turn of the tide. Aubrey Fitch was born of British parents in St. lgnance, Michigan on lune 11, 1883. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from which he graduated in 1906. Fol- lowing duty aboard various ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets, Aubrey Fitch became the Aide to the Com- mander-in-Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1914. Later he served as Gunnery Officer on U.5.S. Wyoming, oper- ating with the sixth Battle Squadron of the British Grand Fleet during World War I. After serving the 1922 to 1927 as a member of the U.S. Mission to Brazil and later Executive Officer of U.S.S. Nevada, he took naval aviation training, at Pensacola, Florida and was designated a Naval Aviator. He assumed command of U.S.S. Langley, the first American aircraft carrier, and later took command of U.S.S. Lexington. After promotion to Rear Admiral in 1940, he reported as Co- mander Carrier Division One with his flag on U.S.S.Saratoga. When the japanese struck Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Admiral Fitch took Carrier Division One from the West Coast of the U.S. and penetrated deep into enemy waters beyond Midway and Wake Islands in search of the enemy. After various operations in the Pacific in the early stages of the war, he was appointed Commander Air Task Force Pacific and transferred his flag to USS. Lexington where he remained until Lexington was sunk in the battle of Coral Sea. After promotion to Vice Admiral, Fitch was selected as Commander Aircraft, South Pacific Fleet, under Admiral William E. Halsey, where he was in command of all shore based Army, Navy, Marine, and New Zealand aircraft during the Guadalcanal campaign and the recapture of the Solomon Islands, the first offensive campaigns of the Pacific War. In the latter part of the war he was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air. In 1945, he became the Super- intendent of the Naval Academy, and the first aviator to ever assume that post. During his administration he was instrumental in the establishment of the Department of Aeronautics. On Iuly 1, 1947 he transferred to the retired list of the U.S. Navy, and was advanced to the rank of Admiral on the basis of combat awards. In addition to being awarded the Distinguished Service Medal with Gold Star, the Legion of Merit, and the Army Distinguished Flying Cross, Admiral Fitch was appointed as Honorary Knight in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. In August, 1945 General Charles deGaulle presented him with the French Croix de Guerre with Palms. Admiral Fitch also had the National Order of the Southern Cross, De- gree of Grand Officer, awarded by the Brazilian Govern- ment, the Commander of the French Legion of Honor, awarded by the French Government, the Mexican Service Medal! the Navy Expeditionary Medal, World War I Vic- tory Medal, Grand Fleet Clasp, American Defense Medal, Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with opera- tional stars, American Campaign Medal and World War ll Victory Medal. NNNN I I I R l I l