C. Wade McClusky
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Rear Admiral Clarence Wade McClusky, Jr., (1 June 1902–27 June 1976) was a Naval Aviator in the United States Navy during World War II. He is credited with playing a major part in the Battle of Midway. In the words of Admiral Chester Nimitz, McClusky's decision to continue the search for the enemy and his judgment as to where the enemy might be found, "decided the fate of our carrier task force and our forces at Midway...". [1]
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[edit] Naval aviator and instructor
C. Wade McClusky, Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York, on 1 June 1902. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1926 and became a Naval Aviator three years later. Over the next decade, he served in several air units, as well as on command staffs, as an instructor at the Naval Academy and at shore facilities. In 1940 he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), based on USS Enterprise (CV-6), and assumed command of that squadron in April 1941.
[edit] Battle of Midway
Lieutenant Commander McClusky became Enterprise air group commander in April 1942. During the Battle of Midway, while leading his air group's scout bombers on 4 June 1942, he made the critical tactical decision that led to the destruction of the Japanese aircraft carriers Kaga and Akagi. When he could not find the Japanese carriers where he expected them, and with his air group's fuel running dangerously low, he decided to trail a Japanese destroyer that he had spotted, which was steaming north at flank speed, and this led him directly to the enemy carriers. He then directed his dive-bombers into an attack which led to the destruction of both the Kaga and Akagi. A squadron from the Yorktown arrived at the same moment and took out the Soryu. Within minutes, three of the four Japanese carriers had been turned into burning hulks. McClusky, through his intelligence and courage, had thus made a vital contribution to the outcome of this pivotal battle. For his actions McClusky was awarded the Navy Cross. Later in World War II, he commanded the escort carrier Corregidor (CVE-58).
[edit] After the war
Captain McClusky served in a variety of staff and shore positions in the later 1940s. During the Korean War, he was Chief of Staff to the Commanders of the First and Seventh Fleets. He commanded NAS Glenview, Illinois, in 1952–53, and the Boston Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in 1954–56. McClusky retired from active duty in July 1956. At that time, in recognition of his vital contributions to the outcome of World War II, he was advanced to flag rank.
[edit] Namesake
USS McClusky (FFG-41) was named in his honor.
[edit] References
- This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
