David W. Bagley
Encyclopedia
David Worth Bagley was an admiral
in the United States Navy
during World War II
. He was also the brother of Ensign
Worth Bagley
, who was the only United States Navy officer killed in action during the Spanish-American War
.
, he attended North Carolina State College
in 1898 and 1899 before entering the United States Naval Academy
in 1900. After graduating on February 4, 1904, he went to sea in Missouri (BB-11)
attached to the North Atlantic Fleet. In December 1905, Passed Midshipman Bagley was reassigned to the Asiatic Fleet and served successively in Concord (Gunboat No. 3) and West Virginia (ACR-5)
. While in Concord, he was commissioned ensign on February 2, 1906. He was detached from West Virginia in March 1907 and, the following year, reported on board Rhode Island (BB-17)
of the Atlantic Fleet and made the voyage around the world in her with the Great White Fleet
. In April 1909, he left Rhode Island and went to the General Electric Co. in Schenectady, New York, for a year of instruction. He then became aide and flag lieutenant to the Commander, 2nd Division, Atlantic Fleet, in April 1910.
After a similar tour of duty on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet, and a two month furlough, he reported for duty at the Naval Academy in September 1912. Two years later, Bagley returned to sea as first lieutenant in Michigan (BB-27)
serving with the Atlantic Fleet. He got his first command in September 1915 when he took over Drayton (DD-23)
.
. By May 1917, he and his ship were conducting antisubmarine patrols and convoy
escort missions in the western approaches to the British Isles
. Later, his area of operations widened to include the Irish Sea
and the English Channel
.
On December 6, 1917, Bagley conned his ship out of Brest harbor. At about 1621 that afternoon, the watch spied a torpedo wake. The destroyer maneuvered to avoid the torpedo, but in vain. It struck her starboard side and pierced her fuel oil tank. Though Bagley and his crew worked frantically to save the ship, she went down within eight minutes carrying 64 crewmen with her. Bagley and 37 others made it into the icy water in boats and on rafts, and, thanks to the humanitarian gesture by Kapitänleutnant Hans Rose
, the U-boat
commander who radioed their location to Queenstown, they were all picked up by the 8th. Bagley earned the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
for his part in handling the situation.
He returned to the United States after the sinking of Jacob Jones and became the prospective commanding officer of Lea (DD-118)
then under construction at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He put her into commission on October 2, 1918, but commanded her only until January 1919 when he became the American port officer at Rotterdam in the Netherlands with additional duty as the assistant naval attaché in the American legation at The Hague
.
. In March 1922, Bagley returned to sea in command of Reno (DD-303)
and as Commander, Destroyer Division 32, Pacific Fleet. He transferred to command of Division 35, Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet, in August 1923. Bagley went ashore again in May 1924 for another two‑year tour of duty at the Naval Academy. At the end of the academic year in 1926, he left the Academy to become chief of staff to the Commander, Naval Forces, Europe, embarked in Memphis (CL-13)
. In April 1927, Bagley moved to the 9th Naval District as the assistant (later changed to chief of staff) to the commandant with temporary additional duty as acting commanding officer of the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes.
He returned to sea in December 1931 as the commanding officer of heavy cruiser Pensacola (CA-24)
, then serving in the Atlantic with Cruiser Division (CruDiv) 4, Scouting Fleet. That assignment lasted until May 1933 when Bagley was called to Washington, D.C.
, for duty in the Bureau of Navigation
. He later became assistant bureau chief.
In May 1935, orders sent him to Newport, Rhode Island
, to attend the Naval War College
. Upon completing the senior course, he remained there as a member of the staff. Next came a year of duty as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 20, Destroyers, Scouting Fleet. From July 1937 to May 1938, he served as Commander Minecraft, Battle Force. While in that position, he was promoted to flag rank to date from April 1, 1938. In May of that year, Rear Admiral
Bagley began a 32‑month tour of duty as Commandant, Mare Island Navy Yard.
as Commander, Battleship Division 2. He was serving in that command billet when his flagship was slightly damaged on December 7, 1941 during the Japanese air raid
on Pearl Harbor
.
On April 4, 1942, Bagley relieved Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch
as Commandant, 14th Naval District, and Commander, Hawaiian Sea Frontier, and he served in that capacity until January 1943. On February 1, 1943, he assumed command of the Western Sea Frontier and, on March 30, 1943, added the duties of Commandant, 11th Naval District. He held the latter office only until January 1944, but continued to head the Western Sea Frontier until the following fall. Promoted to vice admiral
to date from February 1, 1944, he was relieved of duty as Commander, Western Sea Frontier, on November 17, 1944. Eleven days later, Vice Admiral Bagley returned to Oahu
and resumed duty as Commandant, 14th Naval District, and served in that position until ordered to Washington on July 25, 1945. On August 20, Bagley reported for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and served on the International Defense Board, the United States-Mexican Defense Commission, and the Permanent Joint Board on Defense.
, on May 24, 1960.
-- Torpedo Boat No. 24, Destroyer No. 185, and DD-386—were named for Ensign Worth Bagley
. The fourth, DE-1069, honors both Worth Bagley and his brother, Admiral David W. Bagley.
The Bagley Amphitheater at Barbers Point, TH was completed 1 Apr 1945 and commissioned 6 Apr 1945 with seating capacity 7,200. Barbers Point Station commemorated its 3rd anniversary. Guest included Admiral Bagley, Gov Stainback of the Territory of Hawaii, Brig General L W T Waller, Jr, USMC, and Commodore J L Austen. Ref: History of Naval Air Station No. 14 NA70/A2-11/P16-3(1) Serial 0306 13 Jun 1945
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was also the brother of Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
Worth Bagley
Worth Bagley
Ensign Worth Bagley was a United States Navy officer during the Spanish-American War, distinguished as the only U.S. naval officer killed in action during that war.-Biography:...
, who was the only United States Navy officer killed in action during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
.
Early life and career
Born in Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, he attended North Carolina State College
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
in 1898 and 1899 before entering the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1900. After graduating on February 4, 1904, he went to sea in Missouri (BB-11)
USS Missouri (BB-11)
USS Missouri , a Maine-class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 24th state....
attached to the North Atlantic Fleet. In December 1905, Passed Midshipman Bagley was reassigned to the Asiatic Fleet and served successively in Concord (Gunboat No. 3) and West Virginia (ACR-5)
USS West Virginia (ACR-5)
The first USS West Virginia , also referred to as "Armored Cruiser No. 5", and later renamed Huntington , was a United States Navy armored cruiser....
. While in Concord, he was commissioned ensign on February 2, 1906. He was detached from West Virginia in March 1907 and, the following year, reported on board Rhode Island (BB-17)
USS Rhode Island (BB-17)
USS Rhode Island was a Virginia-class battleship of the United States Navy. She was the second ship to carry her name.Rhode Island was launched on 17 May 1904 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, sponsored by Mrs. F. O...
of the Atlantic Fleet and made the voyage around the world in her with the Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
. In April 1909, he left Rhode Island and went to the General Electric Co. in Schenectady, New York, for a year of instruction. He then became aide and flag lieutenant to the Commander, 2nd Division, Atlantic Fleet, in April 1910.
After a similar tour of duty on the staff of the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet, and a two month furlough, he reported for duty at the Naval Academy in September 1912. Two years later, Bagley returned to sea as first lieutenant in Michigan (BB-27)
USS Michigan (BB-27)
USS Michigan , a South Carolina-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 26th state. She was the first battleship in the world to be commissioned with superimposed, or Superfire type turrets....
serving with the Atlantic Fleet. He got his first command in September 1915 when he took over Drayton (DD-23)
USS Drayton (DD-23)
USS Drayton was a Paulding-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was the first ship named for Captain Percival Drayton....
.
World War I
During the first month of 1917, Bagley moved from Drayton to Jacob Jones (DD-61)USS Jacob Jones (DD-61)
USS Jacob Jones The United States Navy's hull classification system—in which Jacob Jones would have been designated DD-61—was not implemented until July 1920...
. By May 1917, he and his ship were conducting antisubmarine patrols and convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
escort missions in the western approaches to the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. Later, his area of operations widened to include the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
and the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
On December 6, 1917, Bagley conned his ship out of Brest harbor. At about 1621 that afternoon, the watch spied a torpedo wake. The destroyer maneuvered to avoid the torpedo, but in vain. It struck her starboard side and pierced her fuel oil tank. Though Bagley and his crew worked frantically to save the ship, she went down within eight minutes carrying 64 crewmen with her. Bagley and 37 others made it into the icy water in boats and on rafts, and, thanks to the humanitarian gesture by Kapitänleutnant Hans Rose
Hans Rose
Lieutenant Commander Hans Rose was one of the most successful and highly decorated German U-boat commander in the Kaiserliche Marine during .Rose was one of the most respected and brave U-boat commanders and famous for his humanity and fairness in battle...
, the U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
commander who radioed their location to Queenstown, they were all picked up by the 8th. Bagley earned the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
for his part in handling the situation.
He returned to the United States after the sinking of Jacob Jones and became the prospective commanding officer of Lea (DD-118)
USS Lea (DD-118)
USS Lea was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. She was named in honor of Edward Lea, a US Navy officer killed during the Civil War....
then under construction at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He put her into commission on October 2, 1918, but commanded her only until January 1919 when he became the American port officer at Rotterdam in the Netherlands with additional duty as the assistant naval attaché in the American legation at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
Interwar years
Bagley later served as naval attaché before returning to the United States in December 1921 for a tour of duty ashore in the Office of Naval IntelligenceOffice of Naval Intelligence
The Office of Naval Intelligence was established in the United States Navy in 1882. ONI was established to "seek out and report" on the advancements in other nations' navies. Its headquarters are at the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, Maryland...
. In March 1922, Bagley returned to sea in command of Reno (DD-303)
USS Reno (DD-303)
The first USS Reno was a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy following World War I. She was named for Walter E...
and as Commander, Destroyer Division 32, Pacific Fleet. He transferred to command of Division 35, Destroyer Squadrons, Battle Fleet, in August 1923. Bagley went ashore again in May 1924 for another two‑year tour of duty at the Naval Academy. At the end of the academic year in 1926, he left the Academy to become chief of staff to the Commander, Naval Forces, Europe, embarked in Memphis (CL-13)
USS Memphis (CL-13)
USS Memphis was an Omaha-class light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the fourth Navy ship named for the city of Memphis, Tennessee....
. In April 1927, Bagley moved to the 9th Naval District as the assistant (later changed to chief of staff) to the commandant with temporary additional duty as acting commanding officer of the Naval Training Station, Great Lakes.
He returned to sea in December 1931 as the commanding officer of heavy cruiser Pensacola (CA-24)
USS Pensacola (CA-24)
USS Pensacola of the United States Navy was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruiser. The third Navy ship to be named after the city of Pensacola, Florida, she was nicknamed the "Grey Ghost" by Tokyo Rose. She received 13 battle stars for her service.She was laid down by the New York Navy Yard...
, then serving in the Atlantic with Cruiser Division (CruDiv) 4, Scouting Fleet. That assignment lasted until May 1933 when Bagley was called to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, for duty in the Bureau of Navigation
Bureau of Navigation (United States Navy)
The U.S. Navy's Bureau of Navigation was established in 1862 as part of the reorganization of the Navy Department. Principal responsibilities were to provide nautical charts and instruments and to oversee several activities involved navigation research, including the Naval Observatory...
. He later became assistant bureau chief.
In May 1935, orders sent him to Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, to attend the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
. Upon completing the senior course, he remained there as a member of the staff. Next came a year of duty as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 20, Destroyers, Scouting Fleet. From July 1937 to May 1938, he served as Commander Minecraft, Battle Force. While in that position, he was promoted to flag rank to date from April 1, 1938. In May of that year, Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
Bagley began a 32‑month tour of duty as Commandant, Mare Island Navy Yard.
World War II
At the beginning of 1941, he broke his flag in Tennessee (BB-43)USS Tennessee (BB-43)
USS Tennessee , the lead ship of her class of battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 16th US state. During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she was damaged during the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 but was repaired and modernized...
as Commander, Battleship Division 2. He was serving in that command billet when his flagship was slightly damaged on December 7, 1941 during the Japanese air raid
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
on Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
.
On April 4, 1942, Bagley relieved Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch
Claude C. Bloch
Admiral Claude Charles Bloch was a United States Navy admiral who served as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet from 1937–1938; and Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet from 1938-1940.-Biography:...
as Commandant, 14th Naval District, and Commander, Hawaiian Sea Frontier, and he served in that capacity until January 1943. On February 1, 1943, he assumed command of the Western Sea Frontier and, on March 30, 1943, added the duties of Commandant, 11th Naval District. He held the latter office only until January 1944, but continued to head the Western Sea Frontier until the following fall. Promoted to vice admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
to date from February 1, 1944, he was relieved of duty as Commander, Western Sea Frontier, on November 17, 1944. Eleven days later, Vice Admiral Bagley returned to Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
and resumed duty as Commandant, 14th Naval District, and served in that position until ordered to Washington on July 25, 1945. On August 20, Bagley reported for duty in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and served on the International Defense Board, the United States-Mexican Defense Commission, and the Permanent Joint Board on Defense.
Retirement and death
Vice Admiral Bagley was relieved of all active duty on March 22, 1946 and was placed on the retired list with the rank of admiral on April 1, 1947. Admiral Bagley died at the Naval Hospital, San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, on May 24, 1960.
Namesakes
The first three vessels named USS BagleyUSS Bagley
Four ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Bagley. The first three were named after Ensign Worth Bagley. The fourth, FF‑1069, honors both Worth Bagley and his brother, Admiral David W. Bagley....
-- Torpedo Boat No. 24, Destroyer No. 185, and DD-386—were named for Ensign Worth Bagley
Worth Bagley
Ensign Worth Bagley was a United States Navy officer during the Spanish-American War, distinguished as the only U.S. naval officer killed in action during that war.-Biography:...
. The fourth, DE-1069, honors both Worth Bagley and his brother, Admiral David W. Bagley.
The Bagley Amphitheater at Barbers Point, TH was completed 1 Apr 1945 and commissioned 6 Apr 1945 with seating capacity 7,200. Barbers Point Station commemorated its 3rd anniversary. Guest included Admiral Bagley, Gov Stainback of the Territory of Hawaii, Brig General L W T Waller, Jr, USMC, and Commodore J L Austen. Ref: History of Naval Air Station No. 14 NA70/A2-11/P16-3(1) Serial 0306 13 Jun 1945