chick november world war naval aviator helped develop atomic bombs dropped japan closing days war later pioneer development nuclear propulsion nuclear weapons guidance systems air launched rockets underwater anti submarine weapons new_york_yankees dropped high school lied age enlist united_states_navy age subsequently admitted graduated 51st class volunteered naval aviation world war served naval aircraft factory philadelphia involved effort improve aircraft instrumentation notably compass attended studied nuclear physics june assumed command new patrol bomber squadron equipped led daring raid campaign returning united_states posted california joined manhattan_project participating development non nuclear components fat man bomb drop testing war ended travelled hiroshima nagasaki team investigating bomb damage operation crossroads led effort photograph nuclear explosion bikini assumed command naval nuclear bomber squadron march took carrier uss coral sea atlantic lockheed neptune bomber carrying dummy bomb flew united_states simulated attack test site california flew landed total hours flying august controls carrier landing takeoff savage heavy attack bomber june head conducted atomic weapons laboratory work june assumed command escort carrier uss point involved rescue baby found abandoned trash depot june naval aviator command involved development mark naval mark nuclear bomb nuclear depth charge assistant chief naval operations research development deputy chief naval operations development assumed command carrier task force included nuclear powered aircraft carrier uss enterprise commanded president early life born new_york_city november children née new_york_yankees dropped high school enlisted united_states navy lying age time believed father signature papers soon acquired nickname chick asked little chick like grown men nickname remain rest naval career initial naval training naval station newport newport rhode_island encouraged chaplain father try admission arranged sent norfolk virginia study entrance exams world war presidential appointments set aside enlisted sailors applied fewer passed entrance exams sailors sat exams passed entered august commissioned ensign graduation june ranking 51st class graduation volunteered naval aviation learned fly seaplane naval air station roads tour sea duty cruiser uss richmond followed posted complete flight training received aviator wings july met local woman married florida october marriage produce children posted scout bombing squadron flying aircraft carrier west_coast soon promoted rank lieutenant junior grade owing government measures paid squadron transferred uss coming landing fuel line aircraft broke fuel damaging left eye recovered flight status restored sent stationed panama canal zone flying patrol aircraft following year tour assigned son detachment aboard newly commissioned cruiser uss philadelphia promoted lieutenant june repeated procedure commissioning aircraft detachment new cruiser ship class uss phoenix world war posted philadelphia june continued graduate studies begun attended studied nuclear physics naval aircraft factory involved effort improve aircraft instrumentation notably compass promoted lieutenant commander january june assumed command new patrol bomber squadron equipped promoted commander august trained hawaii flew combat mission october mission awarded citation read extraordinary achievement participating aerial flight squadron commander attack wake island october led attack squadron personally directed operations enemy objectives time successfully effectively bombed enemy installations obtained valuable photographs island face intense anti aircraft fire aggressive leadership constant devotion duty contributed directly success action enemy keeping highest traditions awarded second distinguished flying cross recommendation captain leading squadron citation read extraordinary achievement participating aerial flight enemy commanding officer operating november february period commander completed combat search missions japanese territory frequently encountering heavy anti aircraft fire missions despite adverse weather conditions november routine search bombed scoring direct hits enemy area december january bombed sank enemy supply barges occasion february efficient spotting enabled destroyers destroy japanese cargo vessels superior outstanding leadership contributed success squadron inflicting severe damage japanese forces area courageous conduct keeping highest traditions march transferred came command served different theaters pacific awarded distinguished flying cross extraordinary achievement participating aerial flight april april captain completed flights combat area enemy anti aircraft fire expected effective enemy aircraft patrols usually occurred awarded legion merit device exceptionally conduct performance outstanding services government united_states commanding officer bombing squadron connection operations enemy japanese forces march june period captain successfully carried long range search operations armed reconnaissance offensive strikes enemy competent leadership professional skill initiative contributing factors success squadron sinking enemy cargo vessels thirteen barges shooting aircraft damaging aerial combat captain devotion duty keeping highest traditions somewhat depleted aircraft handed hours clock relief returned united_states manhattan_project posting california initially involved test firing rockets aircraft including twin engine security clearance complete assigned manhattan_project participated development non nuclear components fat man bomb drop testing involved flying engine boeing war ended travelled hiroshima nagasaki manhattan_project team investigating bomb damage promoted captain december operation crossroads led effort photograph nuclear explosion bikini post war nuclear weapons series clashes superior captain left director august january reduced rank commander air_force offered commission brigadier general offered job working missile elected stay navy participated nuclear tests pacific april world war navy sought acquire nuclear strike capability deputy chief naval operations air rear admiral wanted operate aircraft carriers practical problems nuclear weapons time required large aircraft carry asked navy aircraft suggested modifying lockheed neptune carrier operations jet assisted takeoff rocket interim solution carry fat man smaller bomb operated large midway class aircraft carriers modified task initially unable land carrier mission end landing land base sea april launched carrier uss coral sea time intention midway class carriers nuclear attack squadron composite heavy attack squadron formed california september commander dick nagasaki raid acting commander rear admiral parsons felt sufficient flight time role decided command assumed command january executive officer intended command squadron formed promoted captain february march took atlantic carrying dummy bomb flew united_states simulated attack test site near california flew landed total hours flying fitted pair practice landings carrier deck painted ground maryland touch passes uss franklin roosevelt carrier landing considered dangerous regular crews attempt augmented replaced capable north american savage available land carrier carrying fat man august controls carrier landing takeoff savage heavy attack bomber commander vice admiral seat mid december june head conducted atomic weapons laboratory work worked foundation program close collaboration culmination working ivy mike nuclear test point june took command escort carrier uss point confessed crew know urged felt wrong tell end korean war carrier deployed baby found abandoned trash depot baby brought sent chaplain response request assistance nun running felt blue eyed baby safe remained korea said told chaplain return vessel baby credited putting naval career line bringing baby ship regulations subsequently received orders baby ship having baby board boosted sailors morale later said leader know disregard regulations obtained intervention richard_nixon passport secured winning poker game south korean issued baby adopted navy surgeon port later named daniel transferred civilian ship japan raised seattle began attending crew story television movie baby aired cbs later career assumed command maryland june naval aviator previous commanders having naval ordnance officers guidance developed mark naval air delivered weapon acoustic magnetic pressure sensors encountered resistance project warfare neglected field navy developed mark nuclear bomb nuclear depth charge tested operation naval career point view notable lack time command ship sea admiral chief naval operations arranged given command aircraft carrier february normally climax naval aviator career year selected promotion rear admiral record flight hours highest achieved flag officer january assigned office assistant chief naval operations plans operations october assistant chief naval operations research development public failure resulted called appear chairman senator post upgraded deputy chief naval operations development promoted vice admiral pushed development number new weapons systems including lockheed nuclear powered aircraft carrier uss enterprise defense expenditure research development grew million roughly equivalent billion billion roughly equivalent billion president offered stars job deputy director turned accepting rear admiral march command included nuclear powered enterprise october ships participated cuban missile crisis june restored rank vice admiral april day promoted commanded june january awarded leadership judgment research development associated warfare training tenure command president newport rhode_island transform naval war college navy premier school graduation fit officers mark future flag officers heading captain selection board disapproved officers records mean argued difference opinion remarked kind man awarded second service president retired returned serve duty rear admiral november december commander 14th naval district commander commander naval base pearl harbor responsibilities included planning training execution highly successful apollo spacecraft awarded later life retiring navy worked vice president international programs consultant worked inducted died cancer florida buried arlington national cemetery wife died year survived son daughters papers
John T. Hayward