Obituary:
The Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) -
Friday, April 3, 1987
Retired Navy Rear Adm. William B. Whaley of La Jolla died Wednesday in a convalescent hospital. Cremation was planned by El Camino Mortuary, with ashes to be scattered at sea. No services are scheduled.
Admiral Whaley, a native of Charleston, S.C., was a resident of the county for 34 years. He served in the Navy 31 years and had been a naval aviator. He commanded a patrol squadron at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked in 1941. He commanded the aircraft carrier Makin Island in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in World War II.
He also worked for General Dynamics in management of the F-102 and Atlas programs.
Survivors include his wife, Emily; two sons, Bill, of Coronado, and Thomas, of Virginia Beach. Va.; a sister, Elizabeth Middleton of Charleston; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Provided by Arnold Corkins (FAG #47177958)
*********************************************************
Biography:
William Baynard Whaley was born in Charleston, SC. to Dr. Thomas Prioleau Whaley (known as The Good Physician) and Heniretta R. Robertson Whaley, both also of Charleston.
After completing his education, he was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, June 21st, 1918, in the First Class of Midship-men.
He married Emily Campbell Semmes, April 14, 1925, in Escambia County, Florida. After starting their family in Pensacola, they later transferred and settled in Coronado, California at the North Island Naval Complex. There, they raised their family and William's naval career advanced.
The Confidential Notices detailing the organization of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets as of October 1, 1941 included a listing of commanding officers along with their signal
numbers, showed Lt. Commander W. B. Whaley, Jr.,#2257, as C.O. of VJ-2(Pacific Fleet). Most Navy Aviation Squadrons have designations taken from the planes that equipped them; i.e., VF is a Fighter squadron, VSB a Scout Bomber squadron, etc.; but some squadron designations are not so obvious. The letters VJ stand for a Utility Squadron.
VJ-2 was a Utility Squadron flying PBY-1 Catalinas and Grumman J2F Ducks for anti-submarine and reconnaissance
He received command of the Escort Carrier USS Makin Island (CVE 93) May 9, 1944. He is later listed as Rear Admiral, in the US Naval Order of the U.S., as USNO Companion #03292.
His two sons also pursued US Navy careers and held commands, Capt William Semmes(Fish)Whaley,[USS Deluth LPD-6] and Ltcdr Thomas Prioleau Whaley,[USS Ozbourn,DD-846].
Biography by SticksandStones
************************************************
Further information and history about his ship:
USS Makin Island (CVE-93) was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Named for the 1942 Makin raid,[1] she was laid down on 12 January 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington; launched 5 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. B. B. Nichol; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 9 May 1944, Commander W. B. Whaley in command.
Following a brief west coast shakedown cruise, on the eighth of June, Makin Island left for San Diego, California, stopping at Alameda, California, to load bombs and aviation gasoline. Makin Island departed San Diego on 19 June 1944, to ferry aircraft and men to Pearl Harbor, Majuro, and Kwajalein, returning to San Diego 24 July. The escort carrier then trained out of San Diego, preparing for combat until 16 October, when she sailed for Ulithi via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arriving 5 November.
On 10 November, the ship got underway for Leyte, protecting convoys in transit to the invasion beachhead. Extensive air operations were conducted, but no enemy resistance was encountered. On 22 November, she sailed to Manus for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon.
Flying the pennant of Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin, Commander TG 77.4, Makin Island left Manus 27 December to rendezvous with the invasion force in Surigao Strait, Leyte. Sailing for Lingayen Gulf, 3 January 1945, the carrier was subjected to fierce, almost continuous enemy air attack during the passage to the assault beaches. Though sister carrier Ommaney Bay was sunk and a number of other ships damaged, Makin Island arrived unscathed 6 January. For the next 11 days, she remained off the beachhead flying air support for the amphibious operation, then sailed for Ulithi.
Admiral Durgin flew his flag on Makin Island once more, during the invasion of Iwo Jima, off which she arrived 16 February. Her planes made pre-invasion strikes and after the landings provided aerial fire support, essential to success in the hot action ashore, until 8 March. The carrier group again came under heavy Japanese kamikaze attacks, but Makin Island once more was not hit. After replenishing at Ulithi, she sailed for Okinawa, again as flagship.
From her arrival off Japan's last great island bastion, Okinawa, 25 March, Makin Island remained on station for 67 days, flying constant fire support, supply, and reconnaissance missions for the ground forces. The ship's aircraft, from Composite Squadrons 84 and 91 (VC-84 and -91), flew 2,258 combat sorties, recording over 8,000 hours of flying time. Relieved 1 June, the carrier sailed for Guam, arriving 5 June.
She sailed again 11 July, to provide air cover for ships conducting minesweeping and raiding operations in the East China Sea and to launch airstrikes against Japanese targets on the Chinese coast. On 13 August she anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and on 9 September proceeded to Wakanoura Wan, in southern Honshū, for occupation duty. Among her missions was providing air cover for the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war. She sailed for San Francisco 18 October, arrived 5 November, then voyaged to Shanghai to return troops to the United States at Seattle 30 December.
Makin Island was decommissioned on 19 April 1946 at Puget Sound, was stricken from the Navy list on 11 July, and sold on 1 January 1947.
[from Wikipedia]
The Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) -
Friday, April 3, 1987
Retired Navy Rear Adm. William B. Whaley of La Jolla died Wednesday in a convalescent hospital. Cremation was planned by El Camino Mortuary, with ashes to be scattered at sea. No services are scheduled.
Admiral Whaley, a native of Charleston, S.C., was a resident of the county for 34 years. He served in the Navy 31 years and had been a naval aviator. He commanded a patrol squadron at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked in 1941. He commanded the aircraft carrier Makin Island in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in World War II.
He also worked for General Dynamics in management of the F-102 and Atlas programs.
Survivors include his wife, Emily; two sons, Bill, of Coronado, and Thomas, of Virginia Beach. Va.; a sister, Elizabeth Middleton of Charleston; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Provided by Arnold Corkins (FAG #47177958)
*********************************************************
Biography:
William Baynard Whaley was born in Charleston, SC. to Dr. Thomas Prioleau Whaley (known as The Good Physician) and Heniretta R. Robertson Whaley, both also of Charleston.
After completing his education, he was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, June 21st, 1918, in the First Class of Midship-men.
He married Emily Campbell Semmes, April 14, 1925, in Escambia County, Florida. After starting their family in Pensacola, they later transferred and settled in Coronado, California at the North Island Naval Complex. There, they raised their family and William's naval career advanced.
The Confidential Notices detailing the organization of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets as of October 1, 1941 included a listing of commanding officers along with their signal
numbers, showed Lt. Commander W. B. Whaley, Jr.,#2257, as C.O. of VJ-2(Pacific Fleet). Most Navy Aviation Squadrons have designations taken from the planes that equipped them; i.e., VF is a Fighter squadron, VSB a Scout Bomber squadron, etc.; but some squadron designations are not so obvious. The letters VJ stand for a Utility Squadron.
VJ-2 was a Utility Squadron flying PBY-1 Catalinas and Grumman J2F Ducks for anti-submarine and reconnaissance
He received command of the Escort Carrier USS Makin Island (CVE 93) May 9, 1944. He is later listed as Rear Admiral, in the US Naval Order of the U.S., as USNO Companion #03292.
His two sons also pursued US Navy careers and held commands, Capt William Semmes(Fish)Whaley,[USS Deluth LPD-6] and Ltcdr Thomas Prioleau Whaley,[USS Ozbourn,DD-846].
Biography by SticksandStones
************************************************
Further information and history about his ship:
USS Makin Island (CVE-93) was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Named for the 1942 Makin raid,[1] she was laid down on 12 January 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington; launched 5 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. B. B. Nichol; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 9 May 1944, Commander W. B. Whaley in command.
Following a brief west coast shakedown cruise, on the eighth of June, Makin Island left for San Diego, California, stopping at Alameda, California, to load bombs and aviation gasoline. Makin Island departed San Diego on 19 June 1944, to ferry aircraft and men to Pearl Harbor, Majuro, and Kwajalein, returning to San Diego 24 July. The escort carrier then trained out of San Diego, preparing for combat until 16 October, when she sailed for Ulithi via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arriving 5 November.
On 10 November, the ship got underway for Leyte, protecting convoys in transit to the invasion beachhead. Extensive air operations were conducted, but no enemy resistance was encountered. On 22 November, she sailed to Manus for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon.
Flying the pennant of Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin, Commander TG 77.4, Makin Island left Manus 27 December to rendezvous with the invasion force in Surigao Strait, Leyte. Sailing for Lingayen Gulf, 3 January 1945, the carrier was subjected to fierce, almost continuous enemy air attack during the passage to the assault beaches. Though sister carrier Ommaney Bay was sunk and a number of other ships damaged, Makin Island arrived unscathed 6 January. For the next 11 days, she remained off the beachhead flying air support for the amphibious operation, then sailed for Ulithi.
Admiral Durgin flew his flag on Makin Island once more, during the invasion of Iwo Jima, off which she arrived 16 February. Her planes made pre-invasion strikes and after the landings provided aerial fire support, essential to success in the hot action ashore, until 8 March. The carrier group again came under heavy Japanese kamikaze attacks, but Makin Island once more was not hit. After replenishing at Ulithi, she sailed for Okinawa, again as flagship.
From her arrival off Japan's last great island bastion, Okinawa, 25 March, Makin Island remained on station for 67 days, flying constant fire support, supply, and reconnaissance missions for the ground forces. The ship's aircraft, from Composite Squadrons 84 and 91 (VC-84 and -91), flew 2,258 combat sorties, recording over 8,000 hours of flying time. Relieved 1 June, the carrier sailed for Guam, arriving 5 June.
She sailed again 11 July, to provide air cover for ships conducting minesweeping and raiding operations in the East China Sea and to launch airstrikes against Japanese targets on the Chinese coast. On 13 August she anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and on 9 September proceeded to Wakanoura Wan, in southern Honshū, for occupation duty. Among her missions was providing air cover for the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war. She sailed for San Francisco 18 October, arrived 5 November, then voyaged to Shanghai to return troops to the United States at Seattle 30 December.
Makin Island was decommissioned on 19 April 1946 at Puget Sound, was stricken from the Navy list on 11 July, and sold on 1 January 1947.
[from Wikipedia]
Obituary:
The Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) -
Friday, April 3, 1987
Retired Navy Rear Adm. William B. Whaley of La Jolla died Wednesday in a convalescent hospital. Cremation was planned by El Camino Mortuary, with ashes to be scattered at sea. No services are scheduled.
Admiral Whaley, a native of Charleston, S.C., was a resident of the county for 34 years. He served in the Navy 31 years and had been a naval aviator. He commanded a patrol squadron at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked in 1941. He commanded the aircraft carrier Makin Island in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in World War II.
He also worked for General Dynamics in management of the F-102 and Atlas programs.
Survivors include his wife, Emily; two sons, Bill, of Coronado, and Thomas, of Virginia Beach. Va.; a sister, Elizabeth Middleton of Charleston; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Provided by Arnold Corkins (FAG #47177958)
*********************************************************
Biography:
William Baynard Whaley was born in Charleston, SC. to Dr. Thomas Prioleau Whaley (known as The Good Physician) and Heniretta R. Robertson Whaley, both also of Charleston.
After completing his education, he was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, June 21st, 1918, in the First Class of Midship-men.
He married Emily Campbell Semmes, April 14, 1925, in Escambia County, Florida. After starting their family in Pensacola, they later transferred and settled in Coronado, California at the North Island Naval Complex. There, they raised their family and William's naval career advanced.
The Confidential Notices detailing the organization of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets as of October 1, 1941 included a listing of commanding officers along with their signal
numbers, showed Lt. Commander W. B. Whaley, Jr.,#2257, as C.O. of VJ-2(Pacific Fleet). Most Navy Aviation Squadrons have designations taken from the planes that equipped them; i.e., VF is a Fighter squadron, VSB a Scout Bomber squadron, etc.; but some squadron designations are not so obvious. The letters VJ stand for a Utility Squadron.
VJ-2 was a Utility Squadron flying PBY-1 Catalinas and Grumman J2F Ducks for anti-submarine and reconnaissance
He received command of the Escort Carrier USS Makin Island (CVE 93) May 9, 1944. He is later listed as Rear Admiral, in the US Naval Order of the U.S., as USNO Companion #03292.
His two sons also pursued US Navy careers and held commands, Capt William Semmes(Fish)Whaley,[USS Deluth LPD-6] and Ltcdr Thomas Prioleau Whaley,[USS Ozbourn,DD-846].
Biography by SticksandStones
************************************************
Further information and history about his ship:
USS Makin Island (CVE-93) was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Named for the 1942 Makin raid,[1] she was laid down on 12 January 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington; launched 5 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. B. B. Nichol; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 9 May 1944, Commander W. B. Whaley in command.
Following a brief west coast shakedown cruise, on the eighth of June, Makin Island left for San Diego, California, stopping at Alameda, California, to load bombs and aviation gasoline. Makin Island departed San Diego on 19 June 1944, to ferry aircraft and men to Pearl Harbor, Majuro, and Kwajalein, returning to San Diego 24 July. The escort carrier then trained out of San Diego, preparing for combat until 16 October, when she sailed for Ulithi via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arriving 5 November.
On 10 November, the ship got underway for Leyte, protecting convoys in transit to the invasion beachhead. Extensive air operations were conducted, but no enemy resistance was encountered. On 22 November, she sailed to Manus for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon.
Flying the pennant of Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin, Commander TG 77.4, Makin Island left Manus 27 December to rendezvous with the invasion force in Surigao Strait, Leyte. Sailing for Lingayen Gulf, 3 January 1945, the carrier was subjected to fierce, almost continuous enemy air attack during the passage to the assault beaches. Though sister carrier Ommaney Bay was sunk and a number of other ships damaged, Makin Island arrived unscathed 6 January. For the next 11 days, she remained off the beachhead flying air support for the amphibious operation, then sailed for Ulithi.
Admiral Durgin flew his flag on Makin Island once more, during the invasion of Iwo Jima, off which she arrived 16 February. Her planes made pre-invasion strikes and after the landings provided aerial fire support, essential to success in the hot action ashore, until 8 March. The carrier group again came under heavy Japanese kamikaze attacks, but Makin Island once more was not hit. After replenishing at Ulithi, she sailed for Okinawa, again as flagship.
From her arrival off Japan's last great island bastion, Okinawa, 25 March, Makin Island remained on station for 67 days, flying constant fire support, supply, and reconnaissance missions for the ground forces. The ship's aircraft, from Composite Squadrons 84 and 91 (VC-84 and -91), flew 2,258 combat sorties, recording over 8,000 hours of flying time. Relieved 1 June, the carrier sailed for Guam, arriving 5 June.
She sailed again 11 July, to provide air cover for ships conducting minesweeping and raiding operations in the East China Sea and to launch airstrikes against Japanese targets on the Chinese coast. On 13 August she anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and on 9 September proceeded to Wakanoura Wan, in southern Honshū, for occupation duty. Among her missions was providing air cover for the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war. She sailed for San Francisco 18 October, arrived 5 November, then voyaged to Shanghai to return troops to the United States at Seattle 30 December.
Makin Island was decommissioned on 19 April 1946 at Puget Sound, was stricken from the Navy list on 11 July, and sold on 1 January 1947.
[from Wikipedia]
The Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) -
Friday, April 3, 1987
Retired Navy Rear Adm. William B. Whaley of La Jolla died Wednesday in a convalescent hospital. Cremation was planned by El Camino Mortuary, with ashes to be scattered at sea. No services are scheduled.
Admiral Whaley, a native of Charleston, S.C., was a resident of the county for 34 years. He served in the Navy 31 years and had been a naval aviator. He commanded a patrol squadron at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese attacked in 1941. He commanded the aircraft carrier Makin Island in the battles of Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in World War II.
He also worked for General Dynamics in management of the F-102 and Atlas programs.
Survivors include his wife, Emily; two sons, Bill, of Coronado, and Thomas, of Virginia Beach. Va.; a sister, Elizabeth Middleton of Charleston; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Provided by Arnold Corkins (FAG #47177958)
*********************************************************
Biography:
William Baynard Whaley was born in Charleston, SC. to Dr. Thomas Prioleau Whaley (known as The Good Physician) and Heniretta R. Robertson Whaley, both also of Charleston.
After completing his education, he was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, June 21st, 1918, in the First Class of Midship-men.
He married Emily Campbell Semmes, April 14, 1925, in Escambia County, Florida. After starting their family in Pensacola, they later transferred and settled in Coronado, California at the North Island Naval Complex. There, they raised their family and William's naval career advanced.
The Confidential Notices detailing the organization of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets as of October 1, 1941 included a listing of commanding officers along with their signal
numbers, showed Lt. Commander W. B. Whaley, Jr.,#2257, as C.O. of VJ-2(Pacific Fleet). Most Navy Aviation Squadrons have designations taken from the planes that equipped them; i.e., VF is a Fighter squadron, VSB a Scout Bomber squadron, etc.; but some squadron designations are not so obvious. The letters VJ stand for a Utility Squadron.
VJ-2 was a Utility Squadron flying PBY-1 Catalinas and Grumman J2F Ducks for anti-submarine and reconnaissance
He received command of the Escort Carrier USS Makin Island (CVE 93) May 9, 1944. He is later listed as Rear Admiral, in the US Naval Order of the U.S., as USNO Companion #03292.
His two sons also pursued US Navy careers and held commands, Capt William Semmes(Fish)Whaley,[USS Deluth LPD-6] and Ltcdr Thomas Prioleau Whaley,[USS Ozbourn,DD-846].
Biography by SticksandStones
************************************************
Further information and history about his ship:
USS Makin Island (CVE-93) was a Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy. Named for the 1942 Makin raid,[1] she was laid down on 12 January 1944 by Kaiser Shipbuilding Company, Vancouver, Washington; launched 5 April 1944; sponsored by Mrs. B. B. Nichol; and commissioned at Astoria, Oregon, 9 May 1944, Commander W. B. Whaley in command.
Following a brief west coast shakedown cruise, on the eighth of June, Makin Island left for San Diego, California, stopping at Alameda, California, to load bombs and aviation gasoline. Makin Island departed San Diego on 19 June 1944, to ferry aircraft and men to Pearl Harbor, Majuro, and Kwajalein, returning to San Diego 24 July. The escort carrier then trained out of San Diego, preparing for combat until 16 October, when she sailed for Ulithi via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, arriving 5 November.
On 10 November, the ship got underway for Leyte, protecting convoys in transit to the invasion beachhead. Extensive air operations were conducted, but no enemy resistance was encountered. On 22 November, she sailed to Manus for the forthcoming invasion of Luzon.
Flying the pennant of Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin, Commander TG 77.4, Makin Island left Manus 27 December to rendezvous with the invasion force in Surigao Strait, Leyte. Sailing for Lingayen Gulf, 3 January 1945, the carrier was subjected to fierce, almost continuous enemy air attack during the passage to the assault beaches. Though sister carrier Ommaney Bay was sunk and a number of other ships damaged, Makin Island arrived unscathed 6 January. For the next 11 days, she remained off the beachhead flying air support for the amphibious operation, then sailed for Ulithi.
Admiral Durgin flew his flag on Makin Island once more, during the invasion of Iwo Jima, off which she arrived 16 February. Her planes made pre-invasion strikes and after the landings provided aerial fire support, essential to success in the hot action ashore, until 8 March. The carrier group again came under heavy Japanese kamikaze attacks, but Makin Island once more was not hit. After replenishing at Ulithi, she sailed for Okinawa, again as flagship.
From her arrival off Japan's last great island bastion, Okinawa, 25 March, Makin Island remained on station for 67 days, flying constant fire support, supply, and reconnaissance missions for the ground forces. The ship's aircraft, from Composite Squadrons 84 and 91 (VC-84 and -91), flew 2,258 combat sorties, recording over 8,000 hours of flying time. Relieved 1 June, the carrier sailed for Guam, arriving 5 June.
She sailed again 11 July, to provide air cover for ships conducting minesweeping and raiding operations in the East China Sea and to launch airstrikes against Japanese targets on the Chinese coast. On 13 August she anchored in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, and on 9 September proceeded to Wakanoura Wan, in southern Honshū, for occupation duty. Among her missions was providing air cover for the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war. She sailed for San Francisco 18 October, arrived 5 November, then voyaged to Shanghai to return troops to the United States at Seattle 30 December.
Makin Island was decommissioned on 19 April 1946 at Puget Sound, was stricken from the Navy list on 11 July, and sold on 1 January 1947.
[from Wikipedia]
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