Robert Henry English
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Henry English (16 January 1888 - 21 January 1943), born in Warrenton, Georgia, was a member of the United States Naval Academy class of 1911, and early in his naval career became a submariner.
In 1917, while commanding O-4 (SS-65), he won the Navy Cross for his great heroism in rescuing an officer trapped in O-5 (SS-66) after an explosion. After a series of important assignments, he became commanding officer of Helena (CL-50), and during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941 was one of the first to bring his ship into action.
On 14 May 1942, he became Commander, Submarines, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was so serving when killed in an airplane accident near Boonville, California 21 January 1943. In the accident, English and his staff were flying on a US Navy flying boat--a four-engine Martin M-130 flying boat, dubbed the “Philippine Clipper” (NC14715)[1]--before it had been pressed into service for the war. For his exceptionally meritorious service in his last assignment, Rear Admiral English was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
[edit] Namesake
The USS English (DD-696), an Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer, was named in his honor.
[edit] References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
