DeWitt Clinton Ramsey

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Admiral DeWitt Clinton Ramsey (2 October 1888 - 7 September 1961) was a U.S. Navy officer and pioneer Naval aviator who served as an aircraft-carrier commander during World War II, notably at the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. Post-war assignments including command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and service as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) in the Navy Department and as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

[edit] Early life and career, to World War II

Ramsey was born on 2 October 1888 at Whipple Barracks, near Prescott, Arizona, to Frank DeWitt and Lillian Carlotta (Zulick) Ramsey. He was the grandson of Arizona Territorial Governor C. Meyer Zulick. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Ramsey was commissioned an Ensign in June 1912. In 1917 he qualified as a naval aviator. During World War I, he was Inspection Officer for United States Naval Air Stations in France, and a member of the Inter-Allied Armistice Commission.

During the interwar period, Ramsey served as a naval aviator on various naval staffs and ships. Reporting on board USS Saratoga (CV-3) in 1938, he was her executive officer into 1939. Later that year, he headed BuAer's Plans Division, and in 1941 became Assistant Chief of BuAer.

[edit] World War II and the postwar period

During World War II, he commanded Saratoga up to and during the landings against Guadalcanal, Solomons, in August. For his skillful use of airpower against Japanese naval forces in the Solomons, he won the Navy Cross. In Saratoga, he next commanded a task force that included a British carrier, HMS Victorious (R38).

Ramsey received the Distinguished Service Medal as Chief of BuAer from 6 August 1943 to 1 June 1945, and a Gold Star as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 15 January 1946 to 3 January 1948.

After commanding the Pacific Fleet, he served as Commissioner of U.S. Trust Territory in the Pacific, until retiring 1 May 1949.

Admiral Ramsey died 7 September 1961 in Philadelphia.