Elliott Buckmaster

Elliott Buckmaster

Elliott Buckmaster, photographed as a Captain on September 6, 1940.
Nickname(s) Buck
Born October 19, 1889
Brooklyn, New York
Died October 10, 1976 (aged 86)
Coronado, California
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1908-1946
Rank Vice Admiral
Commands held USS Farragut
USS Yorktown
Western Carolines Operating Area
Battles/wars Veracruz (1914)
World War I
World War II
–Battle of the Coral Sea
–Battle of Midway
Awards Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Navy and Marine Corps Medal

Vice Admiral Elliott Buckmaster (October 19, 1889 - October 10, 1976) was a United States Navy officer, later promoted to flag rank, and naval aviator during World War I and World War II.

Born in Brooklyn, New York to Dr. Augustus Harper Buckmaster (1859–1941) and the former Helen Gardner Elliott Masters (1858–1910) Buckmaster was raised in Charlottesville, Virginia from the age of twelve. Appointed from Virginia to the United States Naval Academy in 1908, Buckmaster graduated with the Class of 1912. Assigned to the USS New Jersey at the occupation of Vera Cruz in 1914, Buckmaster was credited with rescuing a wounded sailor and bringing him to safety. Buckmaster was promoted through the ranks until 1934 when, with the rank of Commander, he would commission USS Farragut as her first Commanding Officer. Following command of Farragut, Commander Buckmaster applied for flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Upon graduation in 1936 at age 47, Buckmaster performed duties in aviation until ordered in 1938 to USS Lexington as her Executive Officer. Serving in this capacity until 1939, he was then promoted to Captain and ordered to Naval Air Station Ford Island as Commanding Officer, serving in this capacity until January 1941.

On February 5, 1941 Captain Buckmaster assumed command of USS Yorktown at Naval Air Station Ford Island. He was Commanding Officer of Yorktown at the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. Later he served as Commander, Western Carolines Operating Area, where he spearheaded shore based operations in the rescue of 317 survivors of USS Indianapolis after her loss to enemy action.

Buckmaster was criticised by some historians for what was deemed the premature abandonment of Yorktown after she was struck by two torpedoes at the Battle of Midway. Buckmaster, consulting with his Executive Officer, Dixie Kiefer and the Ship's Chief Engineer Officer John F. Delaney, Jr., all concluded that without power, the undoing of the very superficial repairs made at Pearl Harbor following the Coral Sea Battle there was no hope of correcting a list that varied between 26 and 28 degrees. Indeed, it was feared "that the vessel might capsize at any moment and take many crewman below decks with her". According to Yorktown crewmen, Buckmaster was thinking only of his ships company's welfare. While Yorktown was later re-boarded, she was sunk by I-168 following a torpedo attack that also sank USS Hammann.

After the Yorktown was lost, Buckmaster was promoted to Rear Admiral and named the first Chief of Naval Air primary Training (NAPTC). NAPTC headquarters were located at the naval Air Training Station, Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Kansas. Dixie Kiefer, his Executive Officer on Yorktown was promoted to Captain and became Buckmaster's Chief of Staff. Under Buckmaster's direction the Navy's first formal Flight Training Manuals were printed in two versions: "No.1 C.A.A.-W.T.S. ELEMENTARY" and "No. 2 PRIMARY". Both versions were printed by LA RUE in Kansas City (20,000 Sept 1943). The period from early 1942 through 1944 saw a rapid expansion of the navy's flight training operations ending in 1944 with the formation of the Naval Air Training Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola under the command of Rear Admiral George D. Murray, USN.

Vice Admiral Buckmaster died in Coronado, California on October 10, 1976.

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