vice admiral june december officer united_states_navy served world war world war graduate participated operations trained submarines executive officer submarine uss november reported new submarine uss fitted served commander june lost december june montgomery qualified naval aviator commanded observation torpedo squadrons executive officer aircraft carrier november june commanding officer june june june chief staff aide commander aircraft atlantic fleet commander flying flag august commander march flag uss bunker hill commanded gilbert campaign philippines campaign war commanded early life born nebraska june son eugene julia smith montgomery educated massachusetts appointed maryland nebraska graduated class june commissioned ensign assignment battleship uss virginia assigned instructor uss serving training ship naval training station newport rhode_island february july served cruiser participating operations cruiser battleship uss connecticut july joined submarine service training course old monitor uss executive officer submarine uss november reported new submarine uss fitted served commander june december collided sister ship uss maneuvers sank seconds loss nineteen crew montgomery assigned submarine uss fitted san_francisco california commander commissioned october returned october fit commission uss occurred sent january superintendent new works january montgomery reported pensacola florida qualified naval aviator june executive officer observation squadron operating aircraft tender commander short period aide captain commanded aircraft squadrons aircraft tender commander torpedo bomber squadron posted assembly repair officer executive officer year returned sea head air department aircraft carrier july commander uss following usual pattern alternating sea shore duty commanded august july aviation officer staff commander cruisers scouting force flagship head washington commanded naval air station july february returned sea february plans operations officer staff commander aircraft rear admiral later rear admiral executive officer aircraft carrier november june july july world war montgomery served head july june assumed command ranger june chief staff aide commander aircraft atlantic fleet subsequently redesignated commander carriers atlantic fleet rear admiral serving post united_states entered world war bombing pearl harbor december role preoccupied hunting sinking german boats atlantic promoted rear admiral montgomery commander june naval air training center november service corpus awarded legion merit citation read assigned task transforming training station auxiliary fields training center seven individual commands achieved distinctive success executing program involving vast expansion facilities personnel august commander flying flag uss essex commander march flag uss bunker hill commanded known task force task force fleet gilbert campaign led carriers essex independence attacked november bombed days november campaign awarded commander action enemy japanese forces november december directed operations repeated aerial attacks preparatory periods support subsequent landings greatly assisting forces successful occupation strategic island carried numerous vital air raids japanese shipping aircraft installations despite persistent hostile night attack lasting hours previous operations contributed large measure ultimate victories raid montgomery award navy cross extraordinary heroism officer tactical command action vicinity february task group subjected repeated attacks enemy torpedo bomber planes successfully directed gunfire combat air patrols destroying seventeen hostile planes delivered damaging attacks enemy shipping aircraft shore installations obtained valuable photographs outstanding leadership excellent tactical ability brought task group undamaged engagement campaign wasp forces won great victory montgomery report battle expressed opinion results battle extremely disappointing hands important units enemy fleet came open time year air attacks superior force able escape coming montgomery awarded second commander screening vessels operations japanese forces march june attacks marcus wake aircraft command inflicted great damage enemy shipping shore installations task group contributed assistance amphibious forces engaged establishing continued support advances land firmly hands finally battle attacks japanese fleet june forces participated decisive destruction japanese air resistance inflicted damaging blows important fleet units awarded philippines campaign commander operating enemy japanese forces october december effectively organizing developing forces command directed group highly successful concentrated operations enemy inflicting severe costly damage aircraft shipping shore installations manila superb professional skill phases aerial warfare capable leadership inspired men command maximum effort critical period contributed sustained prosecution war vital theater montgomery commander west_coast headquarters naval air station san_diego january tried bring experiences combat bear new role involved supplying combat units men equipment services job awarded second legion merit july commander rank vice admiral later life war montgomery commander august flying flag command ship uss commander july flying flag battleship uss iowa reverted permanent rank rear admiral august commander 17th naval district commanded naval base bermuda command february commander jacksonville florida retired july given promotion vice admiral montgomery died naval hospital washington december survived wife daughter anne son lieutenant killed plane crash february
Alfred E. Montgomery