Pine Island (AV 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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PATROL FORCE SEVE TH FLEET 0 FICERS The Navy's Patrol Force Seventh Fleet serves as the eyes and ears of the Fleet, maintaining a continuous vigil over the international waters bordering the communist countries in the Western Pacific. Without such patrols, potential enemy threats against U.S. forces or our pro-Western allies inthe Western Pacific could not be detected. The headquarters for this far-flung command is necessarily mobile. The USS PINE ISLAND alternates with her sister seaplane tenders in serving as the flagship gmlr Commander, Patrol Force Seventh Get. -W - 1 'Y L, Row One: LCDR F.A,,, Rodgers, LCDR C.Fi' Murphy, LCDR J.J. Cash, CDR R.C. McEwen, Captain J.T. Straker, Rear Admiral R.L. Fowler, CDR'J.H. Newby, CDR M.R. Boyack, LCDR C.A. Smith,'LCDR J.M. Daniels. Row Two: LCDR G.K. Roland, LT E.R. Dancey, ENS M.L. Morrison, LT C.E. Rush, LTJG A.D. Smith, ENS J.W. Stanfield, LT J.H. Farris, LTJG D,L. Hamilton, .LT J.W. Shaw, LTJG H.R. Carswell LTJG G.M. Ricketts, LT R.G. Goldstone, LTJG P,.R. Sundsrrom, LT F.F. Farnsworth, LT J.M. Phillips.

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1--' REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD L. FO WLER COMMANDER PA TRUL FORCE SEVENTH FLEET Rear Admiral Richard Labbitt Fowler was born on 13 May 1913 in Fargo, North Dakota, He graduated from Fargo High School and attended North Dakota State College for one year prior to entering the U,S, Naval Academy in 1932, Following graduation and commissioning as an Ensign on 4 June 1936, RADM Fowler served aboard the aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON as gunnery officer from June 1936 to June 1938. In mid-1938, he reported to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for flight training and in August 1939 was designated a Naval Aviator, RADM Fowler sailed aboard aircraft carrier USS WASP from 1939 to 1941 where he was engineering and material officer for VS squadron 71. In January 1941, RADM Fowler returned to NAS Pensacola where he worked as assistant flight officer and officer-in-charge of the Gunnery School. He left Pensacola in December 1942 and in February 1943 reported to the light attack carrier USS INDEPENDENCE as executive officer of VC-22. From September 1943 through January 1945. RADM Fowler was commander of VC-5 aboard the escort carrier USS KITKUM BAY. During this time his squadron participated in the battles of Saipan, Palau, Leyte Gulf and Iwo Jima, For the next two years RADM Fowler was officer-in-charge of Tactical Development Unit on the staff of Commander Fleet Air Wing, West Coast. He served as Commander Attack Carrier Group ll from February 1947 to June 1948. The next two years found RADM Fowler in the billet of air officer on the staff of Commander, Operational Development Force. After graduating from Armed Forces Staff College, he was assigned to the staff of Chief, Naval Air Advanced Training-in Corpus Christi, Texas as single engine training officer. 'In 1952, RADM Fowler reported aboard USS LEYTE as Executive Officer and later became Commanding Officer. For the next two years he was assistant Ope r a t i on s officer for air on the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, in London. RADM Fowler graduated from the National War College in 1956 and went directly to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air as Executive Aide. He left Washington D.C. in 1958 to become Commanding Officer of USS SALISBURY SOUND QAV-135. The next year he became Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS ESSEX and stayed in that billet until 1960. On October 1961, RADM Fowler reported once again to Washington D.C. as Executive and Aide to Chief of Naval Operations. In 1962 he served on the Net Evaluation Sub-com- mittee of the National Security Council. From this job he reported to Commander Naval Air Force, U,S, Pacific Fleet in San Diego to become Chief of Staff and Aide. He relieved RADM Rgbert MacPherson on 28 August 1964 as Commander Patrol Force U.S. Seventh Fleet.