Midway (CVA 41) - Naval Cruise Book

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Ralph Sperry Clarke was born on July 10, 1903 in Watertown, New York. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy as an Ensign on June 3, 1926, he subsequently attained the rank of Rear Admiral on June 1, 1954. His first duty station was the battleship U.S.S. PF:NNSYLANIA. On June 10, 1929, after completing flight training at Pensacola, Florida, he was designated a Naval Aviator. He then served with flight squadrons aboard the cruiser U.S.S. SALT LAKE CITY and the carrier U.S.S. LEXINGTON. After serving as Officer-in-Charge of Ship ' s Experimental Unit, Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia, he reported to Patrol Squadron 51, and then took command of Patrol Squadron 83. His next assignment was as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. HANCOCK in the Pacific. The Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal were awarded him for personal action as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. PETROF BAY. Under his command the escort carrier also was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. Since World War II hostilities subsided, he has served as Chief of Staff for Commander Carrier Division FIVE ; Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Los Alamitos, Calif ; Admin- strative Aid to the Chief of Naval Operations ; Commanding Officer, Fleet Air Hawaii ; Com- manding Officer, the carrier U.S.S. WASP ; Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station, Kwajalein, M.I. ; Commander Carrier Division EIGHTEEN ; and Commander Carrier Division FIVE. He assumed command of Task Force SEVENTY- SEVEN on August 29, 1958, aboard his flag- ship the carrier U.S.S. LEXINGTON in the Western Pacific. On September 7, 1958 he boarded his present flagship, U.S.S. MIDWAY. Rear Admiral Ralph Sperry Clarke Commander Carrier Division Five Captain William M. Ryon, Chief of Staff for Rear Admiral Ralph S. Clarke, Commander Carrier Division FIVE, was born April 5, 1908, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace H. Ryon, in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania. After attending R.L. Werntz ' s Naval Academy Prep School, Annapolis, Maryland, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, being graduated and commissioned an Ensign with the class of 1931. He won his wings at Pensacola in 1934, and had varied sea and shore billets in both Atlantic and Pacific waters until he reported to the U.S.S. SAIPAN as Executive Officer in 1943. From July 1947 to January 1950, he was head of Aviation Complements and Allowances Branch at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. He attended Armed Forces Staff College in February 1950, and then in July, reported to the U.S.S. LEYTE as Executive Officer. In September 1951, he received orders to the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C, as Assistant Director General Planning Group for Aviation. He took command of the U.S.S. ORCA in October 1953, and after a year there, he went to the U.S. Naval Air Station at Floyd Bennett Field in New York, a; CO. In June 1957, he took over command of the carrier U.S.S. BENNINGTON and held that post until becoming Chief of Staff for Com- mander Carrii r Division FIVE in July 1958. Among the wards Captain Ryon has received during his career are the Legion of Merit, Navy Commend Hon Ribbon, and Navy Unit Citation as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. LEYTE for action during the Korean War. Captain William M. Ryon Chief of Staff

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prelude 11 history 12 recommissioning 18 first landing 28 change of command 32 san francisco 37 people 45 administration 47 operations 53 gunnery 69 refueling 95 supply 99 replenishing 116 medical-dental 119 navigation 125 hangar bay one 129 engineering 139 air department 155 sports 173 cvg II 177 flag 231 places 235 the cruise 236 hawaii 238 7th fleet change of command 245 Philippines 247 around the town 256 okinawa 265 japan 273 chiang kai shek 285 hong kong 291

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CAPTAIN JOHN THOMAS BLACKBURN COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER JOHN STARR HILL EXECUTIVE OFFICER For extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron Seventeen during action against enemy forces in the vicinity of New Britain, Solomon Islands, from 26 January to 26 February 1944. Engaging in continuous operations through- out this period, he led his squadron in numerous successful escort missions and Fighter sweeps over the enemy-held stronghold of Rabaul. Intercepted by an out-numbering force of hostile aircraft on 26 and 30 January, he courageously closed with the enemy planes .... and personally blasted three from the sky and probably destroyed three others.. . So began the citation awarding Captain John Thomas Blackburn the Navy Cross — only a glimpse at a long illustrious record. He also holds the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with two gold stars, and numerous other ribbons, awards, and commendations from his govern- ment. Captain Blackburn was destined for the Navy, so to speak, being born at Annapolis, the son of Captain Paul P. Blackburn, in 1912. He spent his early school days in Washington, D.C., and Severna Park, Maryland, and then entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1929. Besides his father, two other members of the Blackburn family had trained at Annapolis. His uncle, LCDR C. K. Blackburn (now deceased) was a graduate of 1916, and his brother, now RADM Paul P. Blackburn, Jr. graduated in 1930. Since Captain Blackburn was commissioned Ensign in 1933, his entire career has been marked with the dark shadows or actual eruptions of war. Time and again he has proven himself a courageous fighter and an inspiring leader. Thus, it seems only fitting that in these troubled times, he should command MIDWAY, the mightest ship yet to sail Pacific waters. During late 1943 and early 1944, while Captain Blackburn was commanding Fighter Squadron 17 in the Soloman area, John Starr Hill was flying with Night Fighter Squadron 75, also in the Solomon area. He too was cited for heroisom and extraordinary achieve- ment in this theatre. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, John Starr Hill ' s citation reads in part : Participating in sixty-four combat missions while serving as a member of the First Navy night Fighting squadron to operate in the Soulh PaciFic area, (he) rendered invaluable service in the night air defense of Munda, Vella Lavella, Empress Augusta Bay, Nissan Island and our supply and task groups, and in addition, skillfully executed several daring straFmg attacks against Japanese installations in the face of heavy antiaircraft Fire. On December 13 .... he destroyed a Japanese float plane which was attack- ing our motor torpedo boats and again in night combat on December 15, shot down two enemy Fighters . . . . Futher distinction is due CDR Hill for logging several Navy firsts . In 1953, while Chief Project Officer, Flight Test, at NAS, Patuxent River, Maryland, he was the first Navy pilot to fly the FJ-4, the A3D and the A4D. He was also the first pilot to fly the F3H Demon aboard a carrier at night. Shortly after MIDWAY ' S departure from Hawaii enroute to the Far East, Commander Hill joined the ship to take over the reins of Executive Officer. This distinguished officer is soon to be Captain by virtue of his selection for that rank in August 1958.