George D. Murray
Encyclopedia
George Dominic Murray was a vice admiral of the United States Navy and early naval aviator
.
, graduating in 1910 and became a naval aviator in 1915. During World War II
, he commanded the aircraft carrier , from 21 March 1941 to 30 June 1942, which included the Doolittle Raid
on Tokyo and the Battle of Midway
. At the end of the war, he was the commander of the Mariana Islands
, and accepted the Japanese surrender of the Caroline Islands
aboard his flagship, the cruiser .
He retired as Vice Admiral in 1951, died in San Francisco, California
on 18 June 1956, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
In 1961, Murray was posthumously designated the third recipient of the Gray Eagle Award
, as the most senior active naval aviator from 1947 until his retirement.
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
.
Biography
Murray was born in Boston, Massachusetts, attended the U.S. Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, graduating in 1910 and became a naval aviator in 1915. 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 commanded the aircraft carrier , from 21 March 1941 to 30 June 1942, which included the Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
on Tokyo and the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
. At the end of the war, he was the commander of the Mariana Islands
Mariana Islands
The Mariana Islands are an arc-shaped archipelago made up by the summits of 15 volcanic mountains in the north-western Pacific Ocean between the 12th and 21st parallels north and along the 145th meridian east...
, and accepted the Japanese surrender of the Caroline Islands
Caroline Islands
The Caroline Islands are a widely scattered archipelago of tiny islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea. Politically they are divided between the Federated States of Micronesia in the eastern part of the group, and Palau at the extreme western end...
aboard his flagship, the cruiser .
He retired as Vice Admiral in 1951, died in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on 18 June 1956, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
In 1961, Murray was posthumously designated the third recipient of the Gray Eagle Award
Gray Eagle Award
The Gray Eagle Award is presented to the Naval Aviator on continuous active duty in U.S. Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time....
, as the most senior active naval aviator from 1947 until his retirement.