The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II

The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II

by
Robert J. Cressman
Contemporary History Branch
http://www.history.navy.mil/ Naval Historical Center

Table of Contents

* Introduction

* Day by day events of the Year 1939

* Day by day events of the Year 1940

* Day by day events of the Year 1941

* Day by day events of the Year 1942

* Day by day events of the Year 1943

* Day by day events of the Year 1944

* Day by day events of the Year 1945

* Appendix I: Principal Civilian Officials And Naval Officers In Command

* Appendix II: Bibliography

* Glossary

• Glossary of U.S. Naval Code Words -- (NAVEXOS P-474)
• Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations -- (OPNAV 29-P1000)

Appendix I: Principal Civilian Officials And Naval Officers In Command

7 December 1941 -- 2 September 1945[1]

Secretary of the Navy
Frank Knox: 7 December 1941--28 April 1944
James V. Forrestal (A): 28 April 1944--19 May 1944
James V. Forrestal: 19 May 1944--2 September 1945

Undersecretary of the Navy
James V. Forrestal: 7 December 1941--19 May 1944
Ralph A. Bard: 24 June 1944--30 June 1945
Artemus L. Gates: 3 July 1945--2 September 1945

Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Ralph A. Bard: 7 December 1941--24 June 1944
H. Struve Hensel: 30 January 1945--2 September 1945

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air
Artemus L. Gates: 7 December 1941--30 June 1945
John L. Sullivan: 1 July 1945--2 September 1945

Chief of Naval Operations
Admiral Harold R. Stark: 7 December 1941--26 March 1942
Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King: 26 March 1942--2 September 1945

Vice Chief of Naval Operations
(Established 12 March 1942.)
Admiral Frederick J. Horne: 26 March 1942--2 September 1945
Joint Chiefs of Staff
(Established 9 February 1942)
Chairman: Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy: 20 July 1942--2 September 1945
Navy: Admiral Harold R. Stark: 9 February 1942--26 March 1942
Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King: 26 March 1942--2 September 1945
Army: General of the Army George C. Marshall: 9 February 1942--2 September 1945.
Army Air Forces: General of the Army Henry H. Arnold: 9 February 1942--2 September 1945

Chief of Staff to the Commander In Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States
(Established 20 July 1942)
Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy: 20 July 1942--2 September 1945

Chairman of the General Board
Rear Admiral Walton R. Sexton: 7 December 1941--10 August 1942
Admiral Arthur J. Hepburn (Ret): 11 August 1942--2 September 1945

Commandant, United States Marine Corps
Lieutenant General Thomas Holcomb: 7 December 1941--31 December 1943
General Alexander A. Vandegrift: 1 January 1944--2 September 1945

Commandant, United States Coast Guard
Admiral Russell R. Waesche: 7 December 1941--2 September 1945

BUREAU CHIEFS

Bureau of Aeronautics
Rear Admiral John H. Towers: 7 December 1941--7 October 1942
Rear Admiral John S. McCain: 9 October 1942--6 August 1943
Rear Admiral DeWitt C. Ramsey: 6 August 1943--1 June 1945
Rear Admiral Harold B. Sallada: 1 June 1945--2 September 1945

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Vice Admiral Ross T. McIntyre: 7 December 1941--2 September 1945

Bureau of Navigation
(Changed to Bureau of Personnel 12 May 1942)
Rear Admiral Chester W. Nimitz: 7 December 1941--19 December 1941
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs: 19 December 1941--13 May 1942

Bureau of Naval Personnel
Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs: 13 May 1942--2 September 1945

Bureau of Ordnance
Rear Admiral William H.P. Blandy: 7 December 1941--9 December 1943
Vice Admiral George F. Hussey: 10 December 1943--2 September 1945

Bureau of Ships
Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson: 7 December 1941--31 January 1942
Rear Admiral Alexander H. Van Keuren: 1 February 1942--2 November 1942
Vice Admiral Edward L. Cochrane: 2 November 1942--2 September 1945

Bureau of Supplies and Accounts
Rear Admiral Ray Spear: 7 December 1941--31 May 1942
Rear Admiral William B. Young: 1 June 1942--8 March 1945
Rear Admiral Wiliam J. Carter: 8 March 1945--2 September 1945

Bureau of Yards and Docks
Vice Admiral Ben Moreell: 7 December 1941--2 September 1945

COMMANDANTS, NAVAL DISTRICTS AND RIVER COMMANDS

First Naval District
Rear Admiral William T. Tarrant: 7 December 1941--15 July 1942
Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.: 15 July 1942--8 February 1943
Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald: 9 February 1943--28 October 1944
Rear Admiral Felix X. Gygax: 28 October 1944--2 September 1945

Third Naval District
Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews: 7 December 1941--16 March 1942
Rear Admiral Edward J. Marquart: 17 March 1942--31 March 1944
Rear Admiral William R. Munroe: 31 March 1944--6 November 1944
Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly: 6 November 1944--2 September 1945

Fourth Naval District
Rear Admiral Adolphus E. Watson: 7 December 1941--30 August 1942
Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel: 30 August 1942--2 September 1945

Fifth Naval District
Rear Admiral Manley H. Simons: 7 December 1941--31 May 1943
Rear Admiral H. Fairfax Leary: 1 June 1943--30 October 1943
Rear Admiral David M. LeBreton: 30 October 1943--20 August 1945
Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth: 20 August 1945--2 September 1945

Sixth Naval District
Rear Admiral William H. Allen: 7 December 1941--2 June 1942
Rear Admiral William A. Glassford: 2 June 1942--14 May 1943
Rear Admiral Jules James: 14 May 1943--2 September 1945

Seventh Naval District
(Combined with Sixth until 1 February 1942)
Captain Russell S. Crenshaw (A): 1 February 1942--3 June 1942
Rear Admiral James L. Kauffman: 3 June 1942--3 February 1943
Captain Howard H.J. Benson (A): 3 February 1943--1 April 1943
Rear Admiral William R. Munroe: 1 April 1943--25 March 1944
Captain Howard H.J. Benson (A): 25 March 1944--17 July 1944
Vice Admiral Walter S. Anderson: 17 July 1944--2 September 1945

Eighth Naval District
Captain Thaddeus A. Thomson (A): 7 December 1941--22 April 1942
Rear Admiral Frank T. Leighton: 22 April 1942--18 March 1943
Captain Eugene T. Oates (A): 18 March 1943--14 June 1943
Rear Admiral Andrew C. Bennett: 14 June 1943--2 September 1945

Ninth Naval District
Rear Admiral John Downes: 7 December 1941--3 January 1944
Vice Admiral Arthur S. Carpender: 3 January 1944--2 September 1945

Tenth Naval District
Vice Admiral John H. Hoover: 7 December 1941--12 August 1943
Vice Admiral Arthur B. Cook: 12 August 1943--14 May 1944
Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen: 14 May 1944--20 August 1945
Vice Admiral William R. Munroe: 20 August 1945--2 September 1945

Eleventh Naval District
Rear Admiral Charles A. Blakely: 7 December--9 December 1941
Rear Admiral John S. McCain (A): 9 December 1941--22 December 1941
Rear Admiral Ralston S. Holmes: 22 December 1941--31 December 1942
Captain George M. Ravenscroft (A): 31 December 1942--30 March 1943
Rear Admiral David W. Bagley: 30 March 1943--31 January 1944
Rear Admiral Wilhelm L. Friedell: 31 January 1944--2 September 1945

Twelfth Naval District
Vice Admiral John W. Greenslade: 7 December 1941--1 February 1944
Rear Admiral Carlton H. Wright: 1 February 1944--2 September 1945

Thirteenth Naval District
Vice Admiral Charles S. Freeman: 7 December 1941--21 November 1942
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 21 November 1942--12 October 1943
Rear Admiral Sherwoode A. Taffinder: 12 October 1943--15 December 1944
Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin: 15 December 1944--2 September 1945

Fourteenth Naval District
Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch: 7 December 1941--4 April 1942
Rear Admiral David W. Bagley: 4 April 1942--17 February 1943
Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley: 17 February 1943--25 October 1944
Rear Admiral William R. Furlong (A): 25 October 1944--28 November 1944
Vice Admiral David W. Bagley: 28 November 1944--25 July 1945
Vice Admiral Sherwoode A. Taffinder: 25 July 1945--2 September 1945

Fifteenth Naval District
Rear Admiral Frank H. Sadler: 7 December 1941--15 April 1942
Rear Admiral Clifford E. Van Hook: 15 April 1942--14 October 1943
Rear Admiral Harold C. Train: 14 October 1943--10 June 1944
Captain Ellis S. Stone (A): 10 June 1944--3 November 1944
Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman: 3 November 1944--9 July 1945
Captain Schuyler Mills (A): 9 July 1945--23 August 1945
Rear Admiral John R. Beardall: 23 August 1945--2 September 1945

Sixteenth Naval District
(Ceased to exist on 6 May 1942)
Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell: 7 December 1941--18 March 1942
Captain Kenneth M. Hoeffel: 18 March 1942--6 May 1942

Seventeenth Naval District
(Created on 15 April 1944)
Rear Admiral Francis E.M. Whiting: 15 April 1944--12 August 1944
Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith (T): 12 August 1944--24 August 1944
Rear Admiral Ralph F. Wood: 24 August 1944--2 September 1945

Potomac River Naval Command
(Established 8 December 1941)
Rear Admiral George T. Pettengill (Ret): 8 December 1941--15 September 1942
Rear Admiral Ferdinand L. Reichmuth: 15 September 1942--2 September 1945.

Severn River Naval Command
(Established 8 December 1941)
Rear Admiral Russell Willson: 8 December 1941--30 December 1941
Captain Thomas S. King (A): 30 December 1941--31 January 1942
Rear Admiral John R. Beardall: 31 January 1942--8 August 1945
Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch: 8 August 1945--2 September 1945

SEA FRONTIER COMMANDERS

Alaskan
(Established 15 April 1944)
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 15 April 1944--2 September 1945

Caribbean
(Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Vice Admiral John H. Hoover 7 December 1941--12 August 1943
Vice Admiral Arthur B. Cook: 12 August 1943--14 May 1944
Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen: 14 May 1944--20 August 1945
Vice Admiral William R. Munroe: 20 August 1945--2 September 1945

Eastern
(North Atlantic Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Vice Admiral Adolphus Andrews: 7 December 1941--1 November 1943
Vice Admiral H. Fairfax Leary: 1 November 1943--2 September 1945

Gulf
(Southern Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Rear Admiral William H. Allen: 7 December 1941--3 February 1942
Captain Russell S. Crenshaw (A): 3 February 1942--3 June 1942
Rear Admiral James L. Kauffman: 3 June 1942--3 February 1943
Captain Howard H.J. Benson (A): 3 February 1943--1 April 1943
Rear Admiral William R. Munroe: 1 April 1943--25 March 1944
Captain Howard H.J. Benson (A): 25 March 1944--17 July 1944
Rear Admiral Walter S. Anderson: 17 July 1944--2 September 1945

Hawaiian
(Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch: 7 December 1941--2 April 1942
Rear Admiral David W. Bagley: 2 April 1942--17 February 1943
Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley: 17 February 1943--25 October 1944
Commodore Marion C. Robertson (A): 25 October 1944--28 November 1944
Vice Admiral David W. Bagley: 28 November 1944--25 July 1945
Vice Admiral Sherwoode A. Taffinder: 25 July 1945--2 September 1945

Moroccan
(Established 19 November 1942 as Sea Frontier Forces, Western Task Force.
Name changed 17 February 1943.
Disestablished 1 August 1945)
Rear Admiral John L. Hall: 19 November 1942--9 February 1943
Captain Chester L. Nichols (T): 9 February 1943--19 February 1943
Rear Admiral Frank J. Lowry: 19 February 1943--20 September 1943
Captain Chester L. Nichols (T): 20 September 1943--13 October 1943
Commodore Benjamin V. McCandlish: 13 October 1943--1 August 1945

Northwest
(Pacific-Northern Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942
Disestablished 15 April 1944)
Vice Admiral Charles S. Freeman: 7 December 1941--21 November 1942
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 21 November 1942--15 April 1944

Panama
(Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Rear Admiral Frank H. Sadler: 7 December 1941--15 April 1942
Rear Admiral Clifford E. Van Hook: 15 April 1942--14 October 1943
Rear Admiral Harold C. Train: 14 October 1943--10 June 1944
Captain Ellis S. Stone (A): 11 June 1944--3 November 1944
Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman: 3 November 1944--9 July 1945
Captain Schuyler Mills (A): 9 July 1945--23 August 1945
Rear Admiral John R. Beardall: 23 August 1945--2 September 1945

Philippine
(Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Inactive from 6 May 1942 to 13 November 1944)
Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell: 7 December 1941--18 March 1942
Captain Kenneth M. Hoeffel: 18 March 1942--6 May 1942
Vice Admiral James L. Kauffman: 13 November 1944--2 September 1945

Western
(Pacific-Southern Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Vice Admiral John W. Greenslade: 7 December 1941--1 February 1944
Vice Admiral David W. Bagley: 1 February 1944--17 November 1944
Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll: 17 November 1944--2 September 1945

FLEET COMMANDERS[2]

United States Fleet
(On 20 December 1941, Admiral Ernest J. King was designated Commander in Chief United States Fleet. He assumed the duties in Washington and established his headquarters in the Navy Department on 30 December 1941)

Admiral Husband E. Kimmel: 7 December 1941--17 December 1941
Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King: 30 December 1941--2 September 1945

Atlantic Fleet
(Additionally designated Second Fleet, 15 March 1943)
Admiral Ernest J. King: 7 December 1941--31 December 1941
Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll: 1 January 1942--15 November 1944
Admiral Jonas H. Ingram: 15 November 1944--2 September 1945

Pacific Fleet
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel: 7 December 1941--17 December 1941
Vice Admiral William S. Pye (T): 17 December 1941--31 December 1941
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz: 31 December 1941--2 September 1945

Asiatic Fleet
(Ceased to exist on 4 February 1942)
Admiral Thomas C. Hart: 7 December 1941--4 February 1942

Third Fleet
(Established 15 March 1943, formerly South Pacific Force)
South Pacific Force
(Established 20 April 1942)
Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley: 19 June 1942--18 October 1942
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.: 18 October 1942--15 March 1943
Third Fleet
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.: 15 March 1943--2 September 1945

Fourth Fleet
(Established 15 March 1943,
formerly South Atlantic Force,
originally Task Force 23 Atlantic Fleet.
Disestablished 15 April 1945)
Task Force 23
Vice Admiral Jonas H. Ingram: 7 December 1941--15 September 1942
South Atlantic Force
(Established 15 September 1942)
Vice Admiral Jonas H. Ingram: 15 September 1942--15 March 1943
Fourth Fleet
Vice Admiral Jonas H. Ingram: 15 March 1943--11 November 1944
Vice Admiral William R. Munroe: 11 November 1944--15 April 1945

Fifth Fleet
(Established 26 April 1944, previously Central Pacific Force which was formed 5 August 1943)
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance: 5 August 1943--2 September 1945

Seventh Fleet
(Established 19 February 1943,
formerly Southwest Pacific Force,
Southwest Pacific Force absorbed U.S. Naval Forces Southwest Pacific, on 20 April 1942,
which in turn had succeeded Asiatic Fleet on 4 February 1942)
United States Naval Forces Southwest Pacific
(Designated 4 February 1942)
Vice Admiral William A. Glassford: 4 February 1942--2 April 1942
Rear Admiral William R. Purnell: 2 April 1942--20 April 1942
Southwest Pacific Force
(Absorbed United States Naval Forces, Southwest Pacific, on 20 April 1942)
Vice Admiral H. Fairfax Leary: 20 April 1942--11 September 1942
Vice Admiral Arthur S. Carpender: 11 September 1942--19 February 1943
Seventh Fleet
Vice Admiral Arthur S. Carpender: 19 February 1943--26 November 1943
Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid: 26 November 1943--2 September 1945

Eighth Fleet
(Established 15 March 1943, and disestablished on 15 April 1945;
forces became part of Twelfth Fleet)
Admiral H. Kent Hewitt: 29 March 1943--11 April 1945
Vice Admiral William A. Glassford: 11 April 1945--15 April 1945

Tenth Fleet
(All United States antisubmarine activities and forces in Atlantic coordinated and controlled by Tenth Fleet)
Established on 20 May 1943, and disestablished on 12 June 1945)
Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King: 20 May 1943--12 June 1945

Twelfth Fleet
(Established 15 March 1943,
previously Naval Forces, Europe, which was formed 30 April 1942)
Admiral Harold R. Stark: 15 March 1943--15 August 1945
Admiral H. Kent Hewitt: 16 August 1945--2 September 1945

AREA COMMANDERS

Pacific Ocean Areas
(Established 3 April 1942)
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz: 8 May 1942--2 September 1945

North Pacific Area
(Established 17 May 1942)
Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald: 17 May 1942--4 January 1943
Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid: 4 January 1943--11 October 1943
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 11 October 1943--2 September 1945

South Pacific Area
(Established 20 April 1942)
Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley: 19 June 1942--18 October 1942
Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.: 18 October 1942--15 June 1944
Vice Admiral John H. Newton: 15 June 1944--13 March 1945
Vice Admiral William L. Calhoun: 13 March 1945--2 September 1945

Southeast Pacific Area
(Established 8 December 1941)
Rear Admiral Abel T. Bidwell: 8 December 1941--6 January 1942
Rear Admiral John F. Shafroth: 6 January 1942--25 December 1942
Rear Admiral Francis E.M. Whiting: 25 December 1942--12 October 1943
Rear Admiral Harold C. Train: 12 October 1943--8 June 1944
Captain Ellis S. Stone (A): 8 June 1944--3 November 1944
Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman: 3 November 1944--9 July 1945
Captain Schuyler Mills (A): 9 July 1945--23 August 1945
Rear Admiral John R. Beardall: 23 August 1945--2 September 1945

Southwest Pacific Area
(Established 18 April 1942)
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur: 18 April 1942--2 September 1945

TYPE COMMANDERS

Air Force Atlantic Fleet
(Established 1 January 1943 by combining Carriers Atlantic Fleet (formerly Aircraft Atlantic Fleet), with Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic Fleet (formerly Patrol Wings Atlantic Fleet))
Aircraft Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Arthur B. Cook: 7 December 1941--6 April 1942
Carriers, Atlantic Fleet
(Established 6 April 1942)
Rear Admiral Ernest D. McWhorter: 6 April 1942--1 January 1943
Patrol Wings Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Ernest D. McWhorter: 7 December 1941--3 April 1942
Rear Admiral Alva D. Bernhard: 10 April 1942--1 November 1942
Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic Fleet
(Established 1 November 1942)
Rear Admiral Alva D. Bernhard: 1 November 1942--1 January 1943
Air Force, Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Alva D. Bernhard: 1 January 1943--8 March 1943
Captain Thomas L. Sprague (A): 8 March 1943--20 March 2943
Vice Admiral Patrick N.L. Bellinger: 20 March 19443--2 September 1945

Amphibious Force Atlantic Fleet
(Established 14 March 1942, deleted from Atlantic Fleet organization 18 October 1943)
Rear Admiral Roland M. Brainard: 14 March 1942--18 April 1942
Captain Robert R.M. Emmett (A): 18 April 1942--28 April 1942
Vice Admiral H. Kent Hewitt: 28 April 1942--28 February 1943
Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk: 28 February 1943--18 October 1943

Battleships Atlantic Fleet
(Functions of type commander transferred on 1 November 1943 to Commander Fleet Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet)
Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox: 7 December 1941--27 March 1942
Rear Admiral Alexander Sharp: 27 March 1942--22 August 1942
Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly: 22 August 1942--8 May 1943
Rear Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt: 8 May 1943--1 November 1943

Cruisers Atlantic Fleet
(No type commander assigned from 28 April 1942 to 1 November 1943 when functions of type commander were assumed by Commander Fleet Operational Training Command, Atlantic Fleet)
Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt: 7 December 1941--28 April 1942

Destroyers Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Ferdinand L. Reichmuth: 7 December 1941--22 December 1941
Rear Admiral Arthur S. Carpender: 22 December 1941--3 June 1942
Rear Admiral Oscar C. Badger: 3 June 1942--14 December 1942
Rear Admiral Morton L. Deyo: 14 December 1942--1 January 1944
Rear Admiral James C. Jones: 1 January 1944--20 September 1944
Rear Admiral Oliver M. Read: 20 September 1944--2 September 1945

Service Force Atlantic Fleet
(Established 1 March 1942, formerly Train, Atlantic Fleet)
Train, Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs: 7 December 1941--17 December 1941
Vice Admiral Ferdinand L. Reichmuth: 17 December 1941--1 March 1942
Service Force Atlantic Fleet
Vice Admiral Ferdinand L. Reichmuth: 1 March 1942--22 August 1942
Vice [Rear?] Admiral Alexander Sharp: 22 August 1942--11 October 1944
Commodore Charlton E. Battle (A): 11 October 1944--23 December 1944
Vice Admiral Sherwoode A. Taffinder: 23 December 1944--15 July 1945
Commodore Charlton E. Battle (A): 15 July 1945--26 August 1945
Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen: 26 August 1945--2 September 1945

Submarines Atlantic Fleet
Rear Admiral Richard S. Edwards: 7 December 1941--3 January 1942
Captain Elwin F. Cutts (A): 3 January 1942--30 March 1942
Rear Admiral Freeland A. Daubin: 30 March 1942--25 November1944
Rear Admiral Charles W. Styer: 25 November 1944--2 September 1945

Air Force Pacific Fleet
(Established 1 September 1942 combining Carriers Pacific Fleet
[formerly Aircraft Battle Force, Pacific Fleet],
and Patrol Wings, Pacific Fleet
[formerly Aircraft Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet])
Aircraft, Battle Force, Pacific Fleet
Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.: 7 December 1941--10 April 1942
Carriers, Pacific Fleet
(Established 10 April 1942)
Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr.: 10 April 1942--11 July 1942
Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch: 11 July 1942--31 August 1942
Aircraft, Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral John S. McCain: 7 December 1941--10 April 1942
Patrol Wings, Pacific Fleet
(Established 10 April 1942)
Rear Admiral John S. McCain: 10 April 1942--1 May 1942
Rear Admiral Patrick N.L. Bellinger: 1 May 1942--9 Augsut 1942
Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch: 9 August 1942--31 August 1942
Air Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch: 1 September 1942--15 September 1942
Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes (A): 15 September 1942--15 October 1942
Vice Admiral John H. Towers: 15 October 1942--28 February 1944
Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall: 28 February 1944--16 August 1944
Vice Admiral George D. Murray: 16 August 1944--20 July 1945
Vice Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery: 20 July 1945--2 September 1945

Amphibious Force Pacific Fleet
(Established 20 February 1942)
Maj. Gen. Clayton B. Vogel: USMC: 20 February 1942--10 April 1942
Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.: 10 April 1942--1 July 1942
Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel: 1 July 1942--10 August 1942
Captain Frank A. Braisted (A): 10 August 1942--23 August 1942
Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell: 23 August 1942--15 August 1943
Admiral Richmond K. Turner: 15 August 1943--2 September 1945

Battleships Pacific Fleet
(Established 10 April 1942, formerly Battleships Battle Force. Type command divided into two Battleship Squadrons on 15 December 1944)
Battleships Battle Force
Rear Admiral Walter S. Anderson: 7 December 1941--10 April 1942
Battleships Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral Walter S. Anderson: 10 April 1942--28 September 1942
Vice Admiral H. Fairfax Leary: 28 September 1942--16 April 1943
Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee: 16 April 1943--15 December 1944
Battleship Squadron ONE
Vice Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf: 15 December 1944--2 September 1945
Battleship Squadron TWO
Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee: 15 December 1944--16 June 1945
Rear Admiral John F. Shafroth: 16 June 1945--2 September 1945

Cruisers Pacific Fleet
(Established 10 April 1942 by combining Cruisers Battle Force, Pacific Fleet, with Cruisers Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet)

Cruisers Battle Force, Pacific Fleet.
Rear Admiral H. Fairfax Leary: 7 December 1941--6 February 1942
Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 6 February 1942--10 April 1942
Cruisers Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral John H. Newton: 7 December 1941--31 December 1941
Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 31 December 1941--10 April 1942
Cruisers Pacific Fleet
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher: 10 April 1942--29 October 1942
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid: 29 October 1942--31 March 1943
Rear Admiral Mahlon S. Tisdale: 1 April 1943--2 January 1944
Rear Admiral John L. Kauffman: 2 January 1944--31 October 1944
Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth: 31 October 1944--13 July 1945
Rear Admiral William H.P. Blandy: 13 July 1945--2 September 1945

Destroyers Pacific Fleet
(Established 10 April 1942 from Destroyers Battle Force, Pacific Fleet)
Destroyers Battle Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral Milo F. Draemel: 7 December 1941--30 December 1941
Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald: 30 December 1941--10 April 1942
Destroyers Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral Robert A. Theobald: 10 April 1942--4 July 1942
Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth: 4 July 1942--8 January 1943
Rear Admiral Mahlon S. Tisdale: 8 January 1943--2 January 1944
Rear Admiral John L. Kauffman: 2 January 1944--31 October 1944
Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth: 31 October 1944--13 July 1945
Rear Admiral William H.P. Blandy: 13 July 1945--2 September 1945

Minecraft Pacific Fleet
(Established 15 October 1944)
Rear Admiral Alexander Sharp: 15 October 1944--30 August 1945
Rear Admiral Arthur D. Struble: 30 August 1945--2 September 1945

Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons Pacific Fleet
(Established 1 February 1944)
Commodore Edward J. Moran: 9 March 1944--3 April 1945
Commodore Richard W. Bates: 20 May 1945--2 September 1945

Service Force Pacific Fleet
Base Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral William L. Calhoun: 7 December 1941--27 February 1942
Service Force, Pacific Fleet
Vice Admiral William L. Calhoun: 27 February 1942--6 March 1945
Vice Admiral William W. Smith: 6 March 1945--2 September 1945

Submarine Force Pacific Fleet
(Established 10 September 1942,
formerly Submarines Pacific Fleet,
originally Submarines, Scouting Force Pacific Fleet)
Submarines Scouting Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral Thomas Withers: 7 December 1941--1 January 1942
Submarines Pacific Fleet
(Established 1 January 1942)
Rear Admiral Thomas Withers: 1 January 1942--14 May 1942
Rear Admiral Robert H. English: 14 May 1942--20 September 1942
Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet
Rear Admiral Robert H. English: 20 September 1942--21 January 1943
Captain John H. Brown Jr. (A): 21 January 1943--14 February 1943
Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood: 14 February 1943--2 September 1945

Commander South China Patrol
(Inactivated 10 December 1941)
Captain Lester J. Hudson: 7 December 1941--10 December 1941

Footnotes

[1] * (A) Acting. = Rank shown for a military officer is highest rank held while in assignment indicated. (T) Temporary.

[2] Only Fleets comprising actual groups of ships are listed. Those with Fleet designations for administrative purposes only (i.e., First Fleet, Ninth Fleet) have been omitted

Appendix II: Bibliography

Abbazia, Patrick, Mr. Roosevelt's Navy: The Private War of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, 1939-1942 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1975)

Adamson, Hans C., and George F. Kosco, Halsey's Typhoons, a Firsthand Account of How Two Typhoons, More Powerful Than the Japanese, Dealt Death and Destruction to Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet (New York: Crown, 1967)

Alden, John D, U.S. Submarine Attacks During World War II (Including Allied Submarine Attacks in the Pacific Theater) (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1989)

Bailey, Thomas A. and Ryan, Paul B, Hitler vs. Roosevelt (New York: The Free Press, 1979)

Ballantine, Duncan S, U.S. Naval Logistics in the Second World War (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1947)

Barbey, Daniel E., MacArthur's Amphibious Navy: Seventh Amphibious Force Operations, 1943-1945 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1969)

Beach, Edward L., Submarine! New York: Henry Holt, 1952)

Belote, James H., and William M. Belote, Titans of the Seas: The Development and Operations of Japanese and American Carrier Task Forces during World War II (New York: Harper and Row, 1975)

Blair, Clay Jr, Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan (Philadelphia and New York: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1975)

Borg, Dorothy, The United States and the Far Eastern Crisis of 1933-1938: From the Manchurian Incident Through the Initial Stage of the Undeclared Sino-Japanese War (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1964)

--------, and Shumpei Okamoto, eds, Pearl Harbor as History: Japanese-American Relations, 1931-1941, Studies of the East Asian Institute (New York: Columbia University Press, 1973)

Boyd, Carl, and Akihiko Yoshida, The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1995)

Bragadin, Marc' Antonio, The Italian Navy in World War II (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1957

Browning, Robert G., Jr., U.S. Merchant Vessel War Causalties of World War II (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1996)

Buell, Thomas B, Master of Sea Power: A Biography of Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1980)

--------, The Quiet Warrior: A Biography of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance (Boston: Little Brown & Co., 1974)

Bulkley, Robert J, At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1962)

Calhoun, C. Raymond, Typhoon, The Other Enemy: The Third Fleet and the Pacific Storm of December 1944 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981)

Carter, Worral Reed, Beans, Bullets, and Black Oil: The Story of Fleet Logistics Afloat in the Pacific During World War II (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1953)

-------- and Elmer E. Duvall, Ships, Salvage, and Sinews of War: The Story of Fleet Logistics Afloat in Atlantic and Mediterranean Waters During World War II (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1954)

Connery, Robert H, The Navy and Industrial Mobilization in World War II (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1951)

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--------, and J. Michael Wenger, Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts: The USS Enterprise (CV-6) Air Group and Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941 (Missoula: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1990)

--------, "A Magnificent Fight": The Battle for Wake Island (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1995)

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--------, Double-Edged Secrets: U.S. Naval Intelligence Operations in the Pacific During World War II (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1979)

Hough, Frank O, The Island War (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1947)

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Isely, Jeter A., and Crowl, Philip A, The U.S. Marines and Amphibious War: Its Theory and Its Practice in the Pacific (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1951)

Jentschura, Hansgeorg, Dieter Jung and Peter Mickel, Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1977)

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--------, (ed.), The Times Atlas of the Second World War (New York: Harper & Row, 1989)

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--------, and Walter M. Whitehill, Fleet Admiral King, a Naval Record (New York: Norton, 1952)

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--------, A Different Kind of Victory: A Biography of Admiral Thomas C. Hart (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981)

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--------, and Hans C. Adamson, Battles of the Philippine Sea (New York: Crowell, 1967)

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--------, Lonely Vigil: Coastwatchers in the Solomons (New York: Viking Press, 1977)

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--------, The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1984)

--------, The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign: Naval Fighter Combat from August to November 1942 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1993)

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--------, Mark Jacobsen, and John Horsfield, Old Friends, New Enemies: The Royal Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1936- 1945, Vol. II, The Pacific War, 1942-1945 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990)

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--------, with Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon, At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1981)

--------, with Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon, December 7, 1941: The Day the Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1987)

--------, with Donald M. Goldstein and Katherine V. Dillon, Pearl Harbor: The Verdict of History (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1986)

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--------, The Critical Convoy Battles of March 1943: The Battle for HX.229/SC.122 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1977)

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--------, United States Submarine Operations in World War II (Annapolis: U.S. Naval Institute, 1949)

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Stephen, John J, Hawaii Under the Rising Sun: Japan's Plans for Conquest After Pearl Harbor (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1984)

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--------, The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945 (New York: Random House, 1970)

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van Oosten, F.C, The Battle of the Java Sea (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1976)

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Warner, Denis A., and Peggy Warner, Disaster in the Pacific: New Light on the Battle for Savo Island (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1992)

Weir, Gary E, Building American Submarines, 1914-1940 (Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1991)

--------, Forged in War: The Naval-Industrial Complex and American Submarine Construction, 1940-1961 (Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1993)

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--------, The Barrier and the Javelin: Japanese and Allied Pacific Strategies, February to June 1942 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1983)

--------, Empires in the Balance: Japanese and Allied Pacific Strategies to April 1942 (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1982)

Y'Blood, William T, The Little Giants: U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1987)

--------, Red Sun Setting: The Battle of the Philippine Sea (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1981.