Des Moines (CA 134) - Naval Cruise Book

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r.. ,1 .sg . 1 ... .L.'-. . ,,,,.-,, W f . -,,.-v f,--1.7:-,, ,.,-',- 4. -,,, , , ,,.,,.,, f.,., -,f.,,f,f,,-- .V-,, ,.,,..,,, ,f,k ,H .,,.,. ,.,,,,,,.,L,.,,,.,,.,.,A ,Vk.,, SH,VV.,,.,,,.,,,-,.,.-,,1-,,,,,-,,-f,,,,,.,, -v,, .,,.-.17-51,5-,,f,5 5:,g,,-f.,--L,-.6-.,,,.,1-If,,,-,-51.,-1.,,-11,-M,-'..,,,:Z.,1-:,,1,,., , , , , , .,,L.,.. . . VICE ADMIRAL MATTHIAS BENNET GARDNER was named Commander of the Sixth Fleet, United States Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean on March 19, 1951, succeeding Vice Admiral John J. Ballantine. Born in Washington, D. C., November 28, 1897, Admiral Gardner was graduated from the United States Naval Acad- emy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1913. Since 1922 he has served in Naval aviation. A At the outbreak of World War ll, he was serving as Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander, Aircraft, Scouting Forces and in May 1942, he was transferred to the staff of Com- mander, Aircraft, South Pacific in the same capacity. Returning to the United States in December 1942, Ad- miral Gardner served as Aviation Oflicer of the Plans Divi- sion at Headquarters, Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet until October 1943. The following month he assumed command of the USS ENTERPRISE which under his command served as flagship of Commander, Carrier Division ELEVEN and participated in the invasions of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, the capture of Saipan, and the first battle of the Philippine Sea. ' ' Relieved of command of the ENTERPRISE in July 1944, he reported as Commander, Carrier Division ELEVEN and in December 1944 transferred to Commander, Carrier Divi- sion SEVEN. Returning to the United States in 1945, he reported in May as Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans to the Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet. ln October of that year he was designated Chief of the Strategic Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department and remained in that assignment until August 1946 when he assumed duty as Commander, Naval Air Bases, Four- teenth Naval District, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. Having served a two year tour of duty there, Admiral Gardner returned to the United States and was again as- signed to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, this time as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations. Ordered de- tached in May 1950, he reported as Commander, Carrier Division FOUR on August 16, 1950. In September 1950, after serving less than one month as Commander, Carrier Division FOUR, he was ordered to command the Second Fleet and served in that capacity be- fore taking command of the Sixth Fleet. I