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Information about William A. Moffett

William Adger Moffett
31 October 1869 – 4 April 1933
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Commander William A. Moffett

Commander William A. Moffett
Place of birthCharleston, South Carolina
Place of deathoff the coast of New Jersey
AllegianceUnited States Navy
Years of servicec. 1886 – 1933
RankRear Admiral
CommandsUSS Chester (CL-1)
Great Lakes Naval Training Center
USS Mississippi (BB-41)
Bureau of Aeronautics
Battles/warsSpanish-American War
* Battle of Manila Bay
U.S. occupation of Veracruz, 1914
World War I
AwardsMedal of Honor
Distinguished Service Medal


William Adger Moffett (31 October 1869 – 4 April 1933) was an American admiral notable as the architect of naval aviation in the United States Navy.

Biography

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1890. He was on the USS Charleston for the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

He received the Medal of Honor for his captaincy of the USS Chester in a daring and dangerous night landing in 1914 at Veracruz, Veracruz, Mexico. (See also United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914).

In World War I, he was commander of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center near Chicago, and there established an aviator training program. While commanding the battleship Mississippi (1918–1921) he supported the creation of a scout plane unit on the ship.

Although not himself a flyer, Moffett became known as the "Air Admiral" for his leadership of the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics from its creation in 1921. In this role, he oversaw the development of tactics for naval aircraft, the introduction of the aircraft carrier, and relations with the civilian aircraft industry. By adroit use of public relations, he maintained support for naval aviation against Billy Mitchell, who favored putting all military aircraft into a separate air force.

Moffett was also an advocate of airships; he lost his life on the Akron when the airship went down off the coast of New Jersey in 1933.

He is buried in Arlington Cemetery, alongside his wife Jeanette Whitton Moffett. Their son William A. Moffett, Jr. was also a Navy admiral.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy. Entered service at: Charleston, S.C. Born: 31 October 1869, Charleston, S.C. G.O. No.: 177, 4 December 1915. Other Navy award: Distinguished Service Medal.

Citation:

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Comdr. Moffett brought his ship into the inner harbor during the nights of the 21st and 22d without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, and was in a position on the morning of the 22d to use his guns at a critical time with telling effect. His skill in mooring his ship at night was especially noticeable. He placed her nearest to the enemy and did most of the firing and received most of the hits.

Namesake

See also

External links

References

  • Edward Arpee, From Frigates to Flat-tops: The story of the life and achievements of Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett, U.S.N. "The Father of Naval Aviation" October 31, 1869-April 4, 1933. (Published and distributed by the author, 1953).
  • William F. Trimble, Admiral William A. Moffett: Architect of Naval Aviation (Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institute Press, 1994)
October 31 is the feast day of the following Roman Catholic Saints:
  • St. Arnulf
  • St. Bega
  • St. Quentin
  • St.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    • 18th century - 19th century - 20th century
    1830s  1840s  1850s  - 1860s -  1870s  1880s  1890s
    1866 1867 1868 - 1869 - 1870 1871 1872

    :
    Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    April 4 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

    Events


    ..... Click the link for more information.
    19th century - 20th century - 21st century
    1900s  1910s  1920s  - 1930s -  1940s  1950s  1960s
    1930 1931 1932 - 1933 - 1934 1935 1936

    Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Charleston, South Carolina

    Flag
    Seal
    Nickname: The Holy City", "The Palmetto City", Chucktown
    Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights)
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    State of New Jersey

    Flag of New Jersey Seal
    Nickname(s): Garden State[1]
    Motto(s): Liberty and prosperity

    Official language(s) English de facto

    Capital Trenton

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    United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. The U.S. Navy currently has over 340,000 personnel on active duty and nearly 128,000 in the Navy Reserve.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    USS Chester (CL-1) of the United States Navy was a light cruiser, the first to be so designated.

    She was launched 26 June 1907 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, sponsored by Miss D. W. Sproul, and commissioned 25 April 1908, Commander H. B. Wilson in command.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Naval Station Great Lakes is the United States Navy's Headquarters Command for training issues, located in North Chicago, Illinois. Important tenant commands include the Recruit Training Center (Basic Training), Training Support Center and Naval Recruiting District Chicago.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    USS Mississippi (BB-41/AG-128), a New Mexico-class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 20th state.

    Her keel was laid down 5 April 1915 by Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News, Virginia.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" (i.e., responsibility) for the design, procurement, and support of Naval aircraft and related systems.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The Spanish-American War (Spanish: Guerra Hispano-Estadounidense, desastre del 98, Guerra Hispano-Cubana-Norteamericana or Guerra de Cuba
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    There have been a number of naval battles that occurred in Manila Bay. Most of these were battles between Spain and other countries. These include:
    • Battle of Manila Bay (1898) in the Spanish-American War.

    See also

    • Battle of Manila - land battles

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    92 total 152–172 killed
    195–250 wounded
    347–422 total

    The United States occupation of the Mexican port of Veracruz lasted for six months in response to the Tampico Affair of April 9, 1914.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Clockwise from top: Trenches on the Western Front; a British Mark IV tank crossing a trench; Royal Navy battleship HMS Irresistible sinking after striking a mine at the Battle of the Dardanelles; a Vickers machine gun crew with gas masks, and German Albatros D.
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    Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is sometimes erroneously referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor because the President presents the award "in the name of the Congress".
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.) is a decoration. Different versions exist for different countries.
    • Distinguished Service Medal (Australia): Awarded for distinguished leadership in action.

    ..... Click the link for more information.
    October 31 is the feast day of the following Roman Catholic Saints:
  • St. Arnulf
  • St. Bega
  • St. Quentin
  • St.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    • 18th century - 19th century - 20th century
    1830s  1840s  1850s  - 1860s -  1870s  1880s  1890s
    1866 1867 1868 - 1869 - 1870 1871 1872

    :
    Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    April 4 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.

    Events


    ..... Click the link for more information.
    19th century - 20th century - 21st century
    1900s  1910s  1920s  - 1930s -  1940s  1950s  1960s
    1930 1931 1932 - 1933 - 1934 1935 1936

    Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Motto
    "In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
    "E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
    Anthem
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral (equivalent to full general) and four-star rank above Vice Admiral and below Admiral of the Fleet/Fleet Admiral.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies. Maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of land based forces such as RAF Coastal Command or United States Coast Guard.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. The U.S. Navy currently has over 340,000 personnel on active duty and nearly 128,000 in the Navy Reserve.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    Charleston, South Carolina

    Flag
    Seal
    Nickname: The Holy City", "The Palmetto City", Chucktown
    Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights)
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution in Annapolis, Maryland for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Academy often is referred to simply as "Annapolis
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    18th century - 19th century - 20th century
    1860s  1870s  1880s  - 1890s -  1900s  1910s  1920s
    1887 1888 1889 - 1890 - 1891 1892 1893

    :
    Subjects:     Archaeology - Architecture -
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    The second USS Charleston (C-2) was a United States Navy protected cruiser and the first US protected cruiser to be built. Having a lack of experience in building steel cruisers, the design was commissioned from the British company W.
    ..... Click the link for more information.
    There have been a number of naval battles that occurred in Manila Bay. Most of these were battles between Spain and other countries. These include:
    • Battle of Manila Bay (1898) in the Spanish-American War.

    See also

    • Battle of Manila - land battles

    ..... Click the link for more information.


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