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346:, Virginia, to establish the Aircraft Armament Unit, and served as officer in /charge of that unit until July 1943. He was promoted to captain in May 1943 and in August he was transferred to duty with the Air Force, Pacific Fleet and in October 1943 was appointed Chief of Staff of Commander Aircraft, Central Pacific Force. From May until December 1944, he served as deputy chief of staff for operations to Commander Shore-Based Air Force, Forward Area, Central Pacific; and as Chief of Staff, Headquarters Strategic Air Force, Pacific Ocean Areas from December 1944 until January 1945. For outstanding service in those assignments, he was awarded the
353:"For exceptionally meritorious conduct...during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area from May 1, 1944 to January 19, 1945... (He) successfully organized the section of his command and performed operations of vital importance and as Chief of Staff, was in large measure responsible for the efficiency of the strategic air force. In addition he carried out his duties as Air Liaison Officer of Saipan, directing and coordinating all shore-based aircraft of his command throughout the Saipan-Tinian Campaign... (and) contributed to the success of our operations..."
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Weapons
Project, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and from February 1955 until February 1956, he commanded Carrier Division Five in both eastern and western Pacific waters. He served as Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Readiness) Navy Department, until July 1956, when he was ordered to duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) and promoted to vice admiral August 1, 1956. In May 1958, he was appointed Deputy Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, where he served until his retirement from active duty on April 1, 1960.
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436:"For extraordinary achievement in aerial flight and in recognition of his courage, skill and resourcefulness as navigator of the airplane WOOLAROC which won the Dole Air Race from San Francisco to Honolulu on August 16, 1927. He took part in this hazardous undertaking voluntarily in the interest of the development of aerial navigation and by his signal achievement became the first Naval Officer to reach the Hawaiian Islands from the mainland by air."
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425:, pilot, and Davis, navigator. The two airmen won the contest, completing the trip in 26 hours and 17 minutes. Of the eight aircraft starting the race, only four proceeded to cross the Pacific Ocean, and two ever made it to Hawaii. With such a result, the event garnered worldwide frontpage headlines. The Navy recognized Davis for this effort, and he was awarded the
386:
Returning to the Naval Air
Station Patuxent River in August 1951, he commanded that activity until January 1952, when he was ordered to report for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. In April 1952, he became Navy Deputy Commander, Field Command, Armed Forces Special
446:
The aerial stunt team consisted of Lt. Tomlinson, Ltjg. William V. Davis and Ltjg. A. P. Storrs III. The stunt team performed its first demonstration in
January 1928, flying three Boeing F2B-1 and F2B-2 fighters in San Francisco. They soon received an official name of the "Three Sea Hawks". Under
235:
William V. Davis Jr. was one of four children of the marriage of
William V. Davis, Sr. and Winifred Bonney, of Savannah, Georgia. He had an older brother Thomas, and two younger brothers Fredrick and Walton. Thomas was a chemical engineer, Frederick was a lawyer with a practice in Savannah, and
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flight earlier that year was an easier navigational task; drifting north crosses
England, drifting south crosses Spain. On this flight, any errors in navigation would result in open ocean. Making the trip in a single engine aircraft named the "WOOLAROC", the two man crew was
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When detached from that command, he was ordered in
January 1946 to duty as Project Coordinator Operational Development Force, Atlantic Fleet, commanded by Admiral R.P. Briscoe, based at Norfolk, Virginia. In April 1947 Capt. Davis was named Director of Flight Tests at the
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Davis is an honorary member of the
Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, and an honorary Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots He received the National Air Council award for his work in high altitude jet flight, and development work in helicopters.
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Walton was a priest in the
Episcopal church. Winifred Bonney was Davis Sr.'s second wife, his first wife having died, leaving a daughter, Wyche. As a child, William V. Davis Jr. attended public school in Savannah.
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from the First
Congressional District of Georgia on August 5, 1920. He graduated and was commissioned ensign on June 5, 1924. As a midshipman he participated in swimming and lacrosse.
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In August 1949, while
Director of Flight Test at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Capt. Davis became the second naval aviator to fly faster than the speed of sound aboard the
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this name, their first public performances were from 8–16 September 1928, during the National Air Races week at Mines Field (now Los Angeles International Airport).
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682:. He held that position until September 1972. He became Naval and Military Consultant on October 1, 1972. He retired from this assignment on September 30, 1974.
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Following his retirement from active duty in June 1960, he was employed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation as Military Advisor (Navy) in Burbank, Ca.
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in January 1927. He was then assigned to duty with Aircraft Squadrons Battle Fleet - Fighter Squadron 6 and Bombing Squadron 2 attached to the
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In November 1964 he was appointed Executive Director of the newly formed USS Alabama Battleship Commission, to oversee operations of the
652:, Group Captain Lek Mahanond presented the medal, accompanied by Group Captain Maharagkaga and Wing Commander Phallop Prompraky of the
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Captain William V. Davis Jr. in his quarters on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Naval Aviator insignia is above campaign ribbons.
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as Flight Test Officer, he served at sea from June 1932 until June 1941 with aircraft squadrons of the Pacific Fleet aboard the USS
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which was supporting operations at Okinawa. The carrier was frequently the target of air attacks by Japanese forces.
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for flyers to compete to make the best time across the Pacific to Honolulu, Hawaii from Oakland, California.
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Formed by Lt. Daniel W. 'Tommy' Tomlinson, the Navy's first aerobatic stunt team came together in late 1927.
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After leaving the USS Saratoga in July 1929, Lt. Davis was assigned to duty as flight instructor at the
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855:"Death Dogged the Dolebirds: Pioneer Pacific Fliers Wrote Tragic Chapter in Air History"
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Davis married Margaret Cary of Pensacola, Florida, and they had four children.
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Lacouture, Capt. John E. (Fall 1993) "The Gallant Sea Hawk, VADM Bill Davis",
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990:. 219 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. pp. 150–151.
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for flight training. Upon completion he was awarded the designation of
885:. Sydney, NSW: National Library of Australia. 18 August 1927. p. 1
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Tomlinson, Lt. Daniel W. (April 1979). "The Three Seahawks Creation",
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635:, Knight Grand Cross (First Class) by the government of Thailand.
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In July 1929 he was assigned to duty as flight instructor at the
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William Davis navigator, Dole Air Race, from Aero Digest, 1927
223:(January 28, 1902 – July 25, 1981) was a vice admiral in the
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Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
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The Great 1927 Trans-Pacific Dole Race - Winners' Viewpoints
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Frederick M. Trapnell, Jr.; Dana Trapnell Tibbitts (2015).
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by Adm. Chester Nimitz. The citation following in part:
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631:In October 1967 Vice Admiral Davis was awarded The
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826:G.W. Hyatt, Ph.D.; William V. Davis, III (2009).
300:. Except for two years when stationed at the
292:until June 1932. He then returned to the USS
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175:Deputy Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Fleet
784:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
383:as its commanding officer until July 1951.
356:In May 1945, Davis assumed command of the
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408:In August 1927, Davis participated in the
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1104:Military personnel from Savannah, Georgia
877:""WOOLAROC" VICTOR IN FLIGHT TO HONOLULU"
802:Glory Gamblers:The Story of the Dole Race
633:Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
853:Jane Eshleman Conant (10 October 1955).
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1030:The Society of Experimental Test Pilots
700:"Valor Awards for William V. Davis, Jr"
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256:His first assignment as ensign was the
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648:in Mobile, Alabama. On behalf of the
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882:Evening News (Sydney, NSW:1896-1931)
676:USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
342:In June 1941, he was ordered to the
725:Thoralf Doehring; Michael Jenning.
620:- Knight Grand Cross (First Class)
1124:United States Naval Academy alumni
1079:USS Franklin D. Roosevelt Homepage
637:The award took place on board the
412:, a contest set up by businessman
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1114:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
757:"1950-52 Welcome Aboard Booklets"
433:. The citation read as follows:
249:William V. Davis Jr. entered the
1109:United States Navy vice admirals
913:. New York, NY. 2 September 1929
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755:; Charles Comer YN3, Fox Divn.
618:Order of the Crown of Thailand
604:National Defense Service Medal
561:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
532:American Defense Service Medal
1:
936:"The Three Seahawks Creation"
857:. San Francisco Call-Bulletin
589:Navy Occupation Service Medal
173:Carrier Division 5, 7th Fleet
1084:Military Times Hall of Valor
704:Military Times Hall of Valor
591:with Europe and Asia Clasps
766:. USS Franklin D. Roosevelt
457:Naval Air Station Pensacola
302:Naval Air Station Anacostia
290:Naval Air Station Pensacola
269:United States Naval Aviator
265:Naval Air Station Pensacola
251:United States Naval Academy
221:William Virginius Davis Jr.
41:William Virginius Davis Jr.
16:US Navy admiral (1902-1981)
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1026:"Honorary Fellows of SETP"
764:www.franklindroosevelt.com
575:World War II Victory Medal
518:Distinguished Flying Cross
427:Distinguished Flying Cross
960:Tomlinson, Lt. Daniel W.
469:Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket
344:Naval Air Station Norfolk
28:
1074:Aerobatic Teams Homepage
1010:: CS1 maint: location (
933:Tomlinson, Lt. Daniel W.
646:Battleship Memorial Park
966:Aerobatic Teams Website
940:Aerobatic Teams Website
905:"NAVY FLIERS DECORATED"
731:Unofficial US Navy Site
547:American Campaign Medal
799:Lesley Forden (1986).
475:Decorations and awards
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298:Landing Signal Officer
727:"USS Tualgi (CVE 72)"
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380:Franklin D. Roosevelt
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165:Franklin D. Roosevelt
129:Years of service
962:"The Three Seahawks"
805:. Nottingham Press.
654:Royal Thai Air Force
1055:Naval Aviation News
418:Charles Lindbergh's
278:, and later to the
988:Harnessing The Sky
733:. Thoralf Doehring
440:The Three SeaHawks
406:
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225:United States Navy
132:1924–60 (36 years)
123:United States Navy
997:978-1-61251-848-0
839:978-0-9843074-3-2
832:. cafepress.com.
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534:with Fleet Clasp
451:Flight instructor
285:until June 1929.
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146:Vice admiral
1134:1981 deaths
1119:1902 births
861:5 September
737:7 September
46:Nickname(s)
1098:Categories
1061:Foundation
917:August 25,
889:August 25,
706:. Tegna Co
686:References
414:James Dole
231:Early life
92:Allegiance
81:1981-07-26
60:1902-01-28
38:Birth name
1035:25 August
1006:cite book
770:10 August
639:USS
378:USS
358:USS
321:USS
310:USS
280:USS
273:USS
258:USS
211:Spouse(s)
205:see below
780:cite web
391:Aviation
367:Post war
323:Yorktown
306:Saratoga
294:Saratoga
282:Saratoga
192:Cold War
152:Commands
109:Service/
971:17 July
945:17 July
710:10 June
680:Alabama
641:Alabama
312:Concord
275:Langley
245:Pre War
79: (
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836:
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627:Honors
360:Tulagi
315:, USS
201:Awards
158:Tulagi
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111:branch
69:, U.S.
1063:14:56
760:(JPG)
317:Idaho
260:Idaho
1037:2015
1012:link
992:ISBN
973:2015
947:2015
919:2015
891:2015
863:2015
834:ISBN
807:ISBN
786:link
772:2015
739:2015
712:2015
163:USS
156:USS
137:Rank
74:Died
54:Born
49:Bill
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