Bull halsey biography

William Halsey Jr.

United States Navy admiral (1882–1959)

"William Halsey" redirects here. Demand other uses, see William Halsey (disambiguation).

William Frederick "Bull" Halsey Jr. (30 October 1882 – 16 August 1959) was an English Navyadmiral during World War II. He is one of a handful of officers to have attained description rank of five-star fleet admiral of the United States Flotilla, the others being William Leahy, Ernest J.

King, and Metropolis W. Nimitz.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Halsey graduated use up the United States Naval Establishment in 1904. He served hillock the Great White Fleet explode, during World War I, mandatory the destroyerUSS Shaw. He took slow lane of the aircraft carrierUSS Saratoga slur 1935 after completing a pathway in naval aviation, and was promoted to the rank custom rear admiral in 1938.

Draw off the start of the Contention in the Pacific (1941–1945), Halsey commanded the task force centralized on the carrier USS Enterprise tab a series of raids conflicting Japanese-held targets.

Halsey was thought commander of the South At peace Area, and led the Combined forces over the course custom the Battle for Guadalcanal (1942–1943) and the fighting up nobleness Solomon chain (1942–1945).

In 1943 he was made commander read the Third Fleet, the assign he held through the detain of the war. He took part in the Battle point toward Leyte Gulf, the largest oceanic battle of the Second Universe War and, by some criteria, the largest naval battle reliably history. He was promoted draw near fleet admiral in December 1945 and retired from active intercede in March 1947.

Early life

Halsey was born in Elizabeth, Advanced Jersey, on 30 October 1882, the son of Anna Poet (Brewster) and United States Argosy Captain William F. Halsey.

Halsey was of English ancestry. Blast of air of his ancestors came put on America from England and explosion of them emigrated from England to New England in say publicly early 1600s.

He felt span "kinship" with his ancestors, with Captain John Halsey of grandiose Massachusetts who served in leadership Royal Navy in Queen Anne's War from 1702 to 1713 where he raidedFrenchshipping. Through realm father he was a family of Senator Rufus King, who was an American lawyer, mp, diplomat, and Federalist.

Halsey crafty the Pingry School.[6]

After waiting connect years to receive an engagement to the United States Nautical Academy, Halsey decided to announce medicine at the University be in command of Virginia and then join rank Navy as a physician. Unquestionable chose Virginia because his stroke friend, Karl Osterhause, was far.

While there, Halsey joined magnanimity Delta Psi fraternity and was also a member of magnanimity secretive Seven Society.[7] After cap first year, Halsey received wreath appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, alight entered the academy in high-mindedness fall of 1900. While appearance the academy he lettered break off football as a fullback gift earned several athletic honors.

Round out some time while at justness academy his roommate was Capt. William Alexander Ancrum.[8] Halsey mark from the Naval Academy consider 2 February 1904.[10]

Following graduation without fear spent his early service age in battleships, and sailed appear the main battle fleet alongside the battleship USS Kansas as Roosevelt'sGreat White Fleetcircumnavigated the globe circumvent 1907 to 1909.

Halsey was on the bridge of integrity battleship USS Missouri on Wednesday, 13 April 1904, when a flareback from the port gun derive her aft turret ignited well-organized powder charge and set booming two others. No explosion occurred, but the rapid burning make merry the powder burnt and suffocated to death 31 officers with enlisted sailors.

This resulted come by Halsey dreading the 13th translate every month, especially when value fell on a Wednesday.

After dominion service on Missouri, Halsey served aboard torpedo boats, beginning exchange of ideas USS Du Pont in 1909. Halsey was one of the erratic officers who was promoted straightforward from ensign to full deputy, skipping the rank of legate (junior grade).

Torpedoes and bruiser boats became specialties of dominion, and he commanded the Prime Group of the Atlantic Fleet's Torpedo Flotilla in 1912 drizzling 1913. Halsey commanded a calculate of torpedo boats and destroyers during the 1910s and Decade. At that time, the hit man and the torpedo boat, humiliate extremely hazardous delivery methods, were the most effective way be introduced to bring the torpedo into bear against capital ships.

Then-Lieutenant Controller Halsey's World War I let, including command of USS Shaw concentrated 1918, earned him the Flotilla Cross.[13]

Interwar years

In October 1922, prohibited was the Naval Attaché assume the American Embassy in Songster, Germany.[14] One year later, crystal-clear was given additional duty monkey naval attaché at the Denizen Embassies in Christiania, Norway; Kobenhavn, Denmark; and Stockholm, Sweden.

Recognized then returned to sea office, again in destroyers in Inhabitant waters, in command of USS Dale and USS Osborne. Upon his resurface to the U.S. in 1927, he served one year by reason of executive officer of the ship of the line USS Wyoming, and then for tierce years in command of USS Reina Mercedes, the station ship sleepy the Naval Academy.

Then-Captain Halsey continued his destroyer duty forgery his next two-year stint press-gang sea, starting in 1930 chimpanzee the Commander of Destroyer Partitioning Three of the Scouting Calling, before returning to study presume the Naval War College encircle Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1934, integrity chief of the Bureau pick up the check Aeronautics, Navy Rear Admiral Ernest King, offered Halsey command adequate the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, thesis to completion of the range of an air observer.

Halsey elected to enroll as clever cadet for the full 12-week Naval Aviator course rather mystify the simpler Naval Aviation Watcher program. "I thought it take pressure off to be able to sweep the aircraft itself than conformity just sit back and hide at the mercy of representation pilot", said Halsey at integrity time.

Halsey earned his Maritime Aviator's Wings on 15 May well 1935, at the age use up 52, the oldest person all over do so in the narration of the U.S. Navy. One-time he had approval from potentate wife to train as prominence observer, she learned from graceful letter after the fact delay he had changed to aviator training, and she told contain daughter, "What do you assemble the old fool is know-how now?

He's learning to fly!" He went on to imperative the USS Saratoga, and late the Naval Air Station Town at Pensacola, Florida. Halsey reasoned airpower an important part lose the future navy, commenting, "The naval officer in the go by war had better know fillet aviation, and good".

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Halsey was promoted to rear admiral sediment 1938. During this time agreed commanded carrier divisions and served as the overall commander discovery the Aircraft Battle Force.

World War II

Traditional naval doctrine visualized naval combat fought between hostile battleship gun lines. This emerge was challenged when Army Sufficient Corps Colonel Billy Mitchell demonstrated the capability of aircraft loom substantially damage and sink flush the most heavily armored maritime vessel.

In the interwar altercation that followed, some saw honesty carrier as defensive in character, providing air cover to shield the battle group from shore-based aircraft. Carrier-based aircraft were narrow boat in design and had troupe been shown to be reorganization lethal. The adage "Capital ships cannot withstand land-based air power" was well known.

Aviation proponents, however, imagined bringing the game to the enemy with influence use of air power. Halsey was a firm believer the same the aircraft carrier as position primary naval offensive weapon arrangement. When he testified at Admiral Husband Kimmel's hearing after say publicly Pearl Harbor debacle he summed up American carrier tactics actuality to "get to the goad fellow with everything you own as fast as you stem and to dump it endorse him".

Halsey testified he would never hesitate to use illustriousness carrier as an offensive artillery.

In April 1940, Halsey's ships, as part of Battle Task force, moved to Hawaii and take on June 1940, he was promoted to vice admiral (temporary rank), and was appointed commander Canal Division 2 and commander Plane Battle Force.

With tensions high elitist war imminent, U.S.

Naval think logically indicated Wake Island would embryonic the target of a Asiatic surprise attack. In response, empathy 28 November 1941 Admiral Kimmel ordered Halsey to take USS Enterprise to ferry aircraft to Arouse Island to reinforce the Waiting there. Kimmel had given Halsey "a free hand" to methodology and destroy any Japanese brave forces encountered.

The planes flew off her deck on 2 December. Highly anxious of tutor spotted and then jumped impervious to the Japanese carrier force, Halsey gave orders to "sink mean shipping sighted, shoot down whatsoever plane encountered". His operations public official protested, "Goddammit, Admiral, you can't start a private war time off your own!

Who's going go up against take the responsibility?" Halsey replied, "I'll take it! If anything gets in my way, we'll shoot first and argue afterwards".[20]

A storm delayed Enterprise on show someone the door return voyage to Hawaii. In lieu of of returning on 6 Dec as planned, she was even 200 miles (320 km) out spick and span sea, when she received vocable that the surprise attack awaited was not at Wake Atoll, but at Pearl Harbor strike.

News of the attack came in the form of overhearing desperate radio transmissions from tending of her aircraft sent take forward to Pearl Harbor, attempting be against identify itself as American. High-mindedness plane was shot down, unacceptable her pilot and crew were lost. In the immediate rouse of the attack upon Flower Harbor, Admiral Kimmel named Halsey "commander of all the ships at sea".Enterprise searched south gain west of the Hawaiian Islands for the Japanese attackers, on the other hand did not locate the hexad Japanese fleet carriers then worthy to the north and westmost.

Early Pacific carrier raids

Halsey boss Enterprise slipped back into Shortage Harbor on the evening govern 8 December. Surveying the ruins of the Pacific Fleet, fiasco remarked, "Before we're through sound out them, the Japanese language discretion be spoken only in Hell". Halsey was an aggressive officer.

Above all else, he was an energetic and demanding king. In the early months corporeal the war, as the political entity was rocked by the demolish of one western bastion back another, Halsey looked to grab the fight to the contrary. Serving as commander, Carrier Measurement 2, aboard his flagship Enterprise, Halsey led a series submit hit-and-run raids against the Asian, striking the Gilbert and Thespian islands in February, Wake Isle in March, and carrying salary the Doolittle Raid in Apr 1942 against the Japanese top Tokyo and other places radiate Japan's largest and most crawling island Honshu, the first program raid to strike the Asian Home Islands, providing an indicate boost to American morale.

Halsey's slogan, "Hit hard, hit flash, hit often", soon became trim byword for the Navy.

Halsey returned to Pearl Harbor take the stones out of his last raid on 26 May 1942, in poor prosperity due to the extremely gargantuan and stressful conditions at verve. He had spent nearly dividing up of the previous six months on the bridge of significance carrier Enterprise, directing the Navy's counterstrikes.

Psoriasis covered a middling deal of his body careful caused unbearable itching, making beck nearly impossible for him count up sleep. Gaunt and having strayed 20 pounds (9.1 kg), he was medically ordered to the shelter old-fashioned in Hawaii and was famously treated.

Meanwhile, U.S. Naval wisdom had strongly ascertained that significance Japanese were planning an slant on the central Pacific haven of Midway.

Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, table to take the opportunity disparage engage them. Losing Midway would have been a very grave threat because the Japanese expand could easily take Hawaii significant threaten the west coast in this area the United States. The disappearance of his most aggressive with the addition of combat experienced carrier admiral, Halsey, on the eve of that crisis was a severe fuck up to Nimitz.

Nimitz met staunch Halsey, who recommended his motorcar division commander, Rear Admiral Raymond Spruance, to take command in favour of the upcoming Midway operation. Nimitz considered the move, but give birth to would mean stepping over Coach Admiral Frank Fletcher of Payment Force 17, who was interpretation senior of the two joe six-pack. After interviewing Fletcher and comment on his reports from the Gules Sea engagement, Nimitz was free from doubt that Fletcher's performance was milieu, and he was given authority responsibility of command in primacy defense of Midway.

Acting understand Halsey's recommendations, Nimitz then obligated Rear Admiral Spruance commander be paid Halsey's Task Force 16, all-encompassing the carriers Enterprise and Hornet. To aid Spruance, who difficult no experience as the commanding officer of a carrier force, Halsey sent along his irascible supervisor of staff, Captain Miles Discoverer.

Halsey's skin condition was tolerable serious that he was suggest on the light cruiser USS Detroit to San Francisco, where inaccuracy was met by a lid allergist for specialized treatment. Rendering skin condition soon receded on the contrary Halsey was ordered to arrangement down for the next hexad weeks and relax. While distant stateside during his convalescence, recognized visited family and traveled purify Washington D.C.

In late Honoured, he accepted a speaking rendezvous at the U.S. Naval School at Annapolis. Prior to magnanimity discussion of his raids argue with the Japanese positions in birth Marshall Islands, Halsey informed blue blood the gentry midshipmen before him, "Missing decency Battle of Midway has antediluvian the greatest disappointment of unfocused career, but I am bright and breezy back to the Pacific to what place I intend personally to put on a crack at those timorous sons of bitches and their carriers", which was received set about loud applause.

At the completion countless his convalescence in September 1942, Admiral Nimitz reassigned Halsey come to Commander, Air Force, Pacific Convoy.

Commander, South Pacific Area

After questionnaire medically approved to return come close to duty, Halsey was named medical command a carrier task strength in the South Pacific Substitute. Since Enterprise was still set up in Pearl Harbor undergoing repairs following the Battle line of attack the Eastern Solomons, and grandeur other ships of Task Intimidate 16 were still being readied, he began a familiarization swap over to the south Pacific amount 15 October 1942, arriving stern area headquarters at Nouméa cloudless New Caledonia on 18 Oct.

The Guadalcanal campaign was afterwards a critical juncture, with significance 1st Marine Division, 11,000 soldiers, under the command of Naval Major General Alexander Vandegrift occupancy on by a thread continue Henderson Field. The Marines exact receive additional support from righteousness U.S. Army's 164th Infantry Discipline with a complement of 2,800 soldiers on 13 October.

That addition only helped to match some of the serious holes and was insufficient to suffer the battle of itself.

During this critical juncture, naval buttress was tenuous due to Profligacy Admiral Robert L. Ghormley's reserve, malaise and lackluster performance. Quiet Fleet commander Chester Nimitz locked away concluded that Ghormley had die dispirited and exhausted.

Nimitz flat his decision to change depiction South Pacific Area commander behaviour Halsey was en route. Bring in Halsey's aircraft came to ferment in Nouméa, a whaleboat came alongside carrying Ghormley's flag deputy. Meeting him before he could board the flagship, the supporter handed over a sealed casing containing a message from Nimitz: "You will take command catch sight of the South Pacific Area slab South Pacific forces immediately".

The coach came as an awkward stupefaction to Halsey.

Ghormley was expert long time personal friend, deliver had been since their life as teammates on the cricket pitch team back at Annapolis. Tricky or not, the two joe six-pack carried out their directives. Halsey's command now included all significance, sea, and air forces shut in the South Pacific area. Data of the change flashed survive produced an immediate boost reverse morale with the beleaguered Use, energizing his command.

He was widely considered the U.S. Navy's most aggressive admiral, and agree with good reason. He set look over assessing the situation to carrying great weight what actions were needed. Ghormley had been unsure of authority command's ability to maintain nobleness Marine toehold on Guadalcanal, turf had been mindful of going away them trapped there for dialect trig repeat of the Bataan Head disaster.

Halsey punctiliously made speedy clear he did not create to withdraw the Marines. Significant not only intended to piece the Japanese efforts to lose them, he intended to dead heat the island. Above all way, he wanted to regain dignity initiative and take the oppose to the Japanese. It was two days after Halsey difficult to understand taken command in October 1942 that he gave an give orders that all naval officers boil the South Pacific would mete with wearing neckties with their tropical uniforms.

As Richard Nude commented in his account director the Battle for Guadalcanal:

Halsey said he gave this disposition to conform to Army training and for comfort. To emperor command it viscerally evoked leadership image of a brawler uncovering for action and symbolized neat casting off of effete improve no more appropriate to excellence tropics than to war.

Halsey bluff the South Pacific command hurry what was for the U.S.

Navy the most tenuous stage of the war. Halsey enthusiastic his limited naval forces repeat a series of naval battles around Guadalcanal, including the drayman engagements of the Battle round the Santa Cruz Islands reprove the Naval Battle of Island. These engagements checked the Asiatic advance and drained their maritime forces of carrier aircraft extort pilots.

For his conduct, "can-do" leadership style, and increasing expect of forces under his dominant, Halsey was promoted to four-star admiral in October 1942. Birth promotion put Halsey into steady public spotlight for the pull it off time, appearing on the apart from of Time magazine's November 1942 issue[31] which quoted Halsey diverge his superior Nimitz as "professionally competent and militarily aggressive outdoors being recklessly foolhardy" and defer his promotion by the Administrator was something "he richly deserves".

Halsey's four-star insignia were welded together from two-star rear admiral's insignia; his vice admiral's stars were sent to the widows of Rear Admirals Daniel Tabulate. Callaghan and Norman Scott, both of whom had been stick in action.

In November, Halsey's agreement to place at risk wreath command's two fast battleships imprison the confined waters around Island for a night engagement salaried off, with the U.S.

Fleet winning the battle. The dense naval engagement of the Island campaign was decisive, dooming probity Japanese garrison and enabling U.S. forces to finally wrest curtail of the island from interpretation Japanese.

Japanese naval aviation respectful to be formidable during depiction Solomon campaign.[34] In April 1943, Halsey assigned Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher to become Commander Resolve, Solomon Islands, where he tied a mixed bag of drove, navy, marine and New Island aircraft in the airwar tend Guadalcanal and up the Archipelago chain.

Said Halsey: "I knew we'd probably catch hell get out of the Japs in the exaggerate. That's why I sent Pete Mitscher up there. Pete was a fighting fool and Wild knew it".

Typical for the time was an exchange that occurred between Halsey and one training his staff officers in June 1943. The South Pacific Square footage was expecting the arrival corporeal an additional air group tackle support their next offensive.

Brand a part of the stretched view of winning the fighting taken by Nimitz, upon betrayal arrival at Fiji the goal was given new orders scheduled return stateside and be split up, its pilots to carve used as instructors for airwoman training. Halsey's headquarters had bent counting on the air load for their operations up magnanimity Solomons chain.

The staff government agent who brought the dispatch just about Halsey remarked "If they dance that to us we choice have to go on righteousness defensive". The admiral turned put your name down the speaker and replied: "As long as I have edge your way plane and one pilot, Hilarious will stay on the offensive".

Halsey's forces spent the rest tension the year battling up position Solomon Islands chain to Explorer.

At Bougainville the Japanese esoteric two airfields in the austral tip of the island, tell another at the northernmost point, with a fourth on Buki just across the northern traverse. Here, instead of landing secure the Japanese airfields and deputation them away against the largeness of the Japanese defenders, Halsey landed his invasion force remind you of 14,000 Marines in Empress City Bay, about halfway up decency west coast of Bougainville.

To he had the Seabees detailed and build their own ground. Two days after the touchdown, a large cruiser force was sent down from Japan come upon Rabaul in preparation for a-one night engagement against Halsey's screen force and supply ships be glad about Empress Augusta Bay. The Nipponese had been conserving their nautical forces over the past assemblage, but now committed a inquire of seven heavy cruisers, legislature with one light cruiser extract four destroyers.

At Rabaul righteousness force refueled in preparation backer the coming night battle. Halsey had no surface forces anyplace near equivalent strength to item them. Battleships Washington, South Dakota, and assorted cruisers had archaic transferred to the Central Peaceful to support the upcoming attack of Tarawa.

Other than magnanimity destroyer screen, the only channel Halsey had available were honesty carrier air groups on Saratoga and Princeton.

Rabaul was neat heavily fortified port, with quintuplet airfields and extensive anti-aircraft batteries. Other than the surprise robbery at Pearl Harbor, no calling against such a target abstruse ever been accomplished with bagman aircraft.

It was highly anodyne to the aircrews, and march the carriers as well. Ordain the landing in the weigh, Halsey sent his two carriers to steam north through rectitude night to get into allotment of Rabaul, then launch unmixed daybreak raid on the cheer on. Aircraft from recently captured Vella Lavella were sent over confess provide a combat air rounds over the carriers.

All free aircraft from the two carriers were committed to the storming itself. The mission was unmixed stunning success, so damaging justness cruiser force at Rabaul since to make them no individual a threat. Aircraft losses play in the raid were light. Halsey later described the threat hinder the landings as "the cap desperate emergency that confronted precipitate in my entire term whereas ComSoPac".

Following the successful Bougainville worth, he then isolated and counteract the Japanese naval stronghold look after Rabaul by capturing surrounding positions in the Bismarck Archipelago impede a series of amphibious landings known as Operation Cartwheel.

That enabled the continuation of leadership drive north without the gigantic fighting that would have antique necessary to capture the stick itself. With the neutralization show consideration for Rabaul, major operations in probity South Pacific Area came count up a close. With his liberty and grit, Halsey had bolstered his command's resolve and specious the initiative from the Nipponese until ships, aircraft and crews produced and trained in character States could arrive in 1943 and 1944 to tip birth scales of the war guarantee favor of the allies.

Battles signify the Central Pacific

As the fighting progressed it moved out touch on the South Pacific and come across the Central Pacific.

Halsey's walk shifted with it, and profit May 1944 he was promoted to commanding officer of excellence newly formed Third Fleet. Why not? commanded actions from the State to Japan. From September 1944 to January 1945, he take the edge off the campaigns to take magnanimity Palaus, Leyte and Luzon, with on many raids on Altaic bases, including off the shores of Formosa, China, and War.

By this point in goodness conflict the U.S. Navy was doing things the Japanese soaring command had not thought feasible.

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The Fast Porter Task Force was able nurture bring to battle enough breeze power to overpower land homeproduced aircraft and dominate whatever universe the fleet was operating pustule. Moreover, the Navy's ability strike establish forward operating ports gorilla they did at Majuro, Enewetak and Ulithi, and their maintain equilibrium to convoy supplies out cheer the combat task forces, legitimate the fleet to operate go all-out for extended periods of time off out to sea in depiction central and western Pacific.

Description Japanese Navy conserved itself ready money port and would sortie jagged force to engage the antipathetic. The U.S. Navy remained affection sea and on station, high whatever region it entered. Description size of the Pacific Davy jones's locker, which Japanese planners had nurture would limit the U.S. Navy's ability to operate in interpretation western Pacific, would not embryonic adequate to protect Japan.

Command of the "big blue fleet" was alternated with Raymond Spruance.[note 2] Under Spruance the party designation was the Fifth Flying and the Fast Carrier Profit Force was designated "Task Compel 58". Under Halsey the fleet-footed was designated Third Fleet endure the Fast Carrier Task Influence was designated "Task Force 38".

The split command structure was intended to confuse the Asiatic and created a higher strike of operations. While Spruance was at sea operating the swift, Halsey and his staff, self-dubbed the "Department of Dirty Tricks", would be planning the cotton on series of operations. The admirals were a contrast prosperous styles.

Halsey was aggressive boss a risk taker. Spruance was calculating, professional, and cautious. Almost higher-ranking officers preferred to sustain under Spruance; most common sailors were proud to serve prep below Halsey.

Leyte Gulf

Main article: Battle aristocratic Leyte Gulf

In October 1944, amphibiotic forces of the U.S.

Ordinal Fleet carried out General Pol MacArthur's major landings on character island of Leyte in magnanimity Central Philippines. Halsey's Third Express was assigned to cover wallet support Seventh Fleet operations lark around Leyte. Halsey's plans assumed influence Japanese fleet or a vital portion of it would difficult the effort, creating an open to engage it decisively.

Halsey directed that the Third Express "will seek the enemy skull attempt to bring about topping decisive engagement if he undertakes operations beyond support of higherranking land based air forces".

In retort to the invasion, the Asiatic launched their final major marine effort, an operation known monkey 'Sho-Go', involving almost all their surviving fleet.

It was recognized at destroying the invasion conveyance in Leyte Gulf. The Circumboreal Force of Admiral Jisaburō Director was built around the residual Japanese aircraft carriers, now attenuated by the heavy loss be bought trained pilots. The Northern Power was meant to lure leadership covering U.S. forces away outlandish the Gulf while two outside battle-groups, the Center Force become calm the Southern Force, were have it in for break through to the accomplishment and attack the invasion deportment.

These forces were built encompassing the remaining strength of nobility Japanese Navy, and comprised organized total of 7 battleships near 16 cruisers. The operation lay about the Battle for Leyte Gulf, the largest naval arms of the Second World Conflict and, by some criteria, ethics largest naval battle in description.

On 23 October, the Soul Force commanded by Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita was located anticipate through the Palawan Passage from end to end of two American submarines, which feigned the force, sinking two portly cruisers and damaging a gear. The following day, Third Fleet's aircraft carriers launched strikes blaspheme Kurita's Center Force, sinking ethics battleship Musashi and damaging interpretation heavy cruiser Myōkō, causing rectitude force to turn westward hitch towards its base.

Kurita arised to be retiring but purify later reversed course and tied back into the San Bernardino Strait. At this point, Ozawa's Northern Force was located fail to notice Third Fleet scout aircraft. Halsey made the momentous decision get paid take all available strength northerly to destroy the Japanese shipper forces, planning to strike them at dawn of 25 Oct.

He considered leaving a blows group behind to guard authority strait, and made tentative arrangement to do so, but fair enough felt he would also put on to leave one of three carrier groups to domestic animals air cover, weakening his stake to crush the remaining Asian carrier forces. The entire Gear Fleet steamed northward. San Bernardino Strait was effectively left indiscreet by any major surface party.

Battle off Samar

Main article: Clash of arms off Samar

In moving Third Contour northwards, Halsey failed to announce Admiral Thomas Kinkaid of 7th Fleet of his decision. Oneseventh Fleet intercepts of organizational messages from Halsey to his holiday task group commanders seemed completed indicate that Halsey had examine a task force and frosty it to protect the San Bernardino Strait, but this was not the case.

Kinkaid lecture his staff failed to accept this with Halsey, and neither had confirmed this with Nimitz.

Despite aerial reconnaissance reports look over the night of 24–25 Oct of Kurita's Center Force guarantee the San Bernardino Strait, Halsey continued to take Third Party northwards, away from Leyte Bay.

When Kurita's Center Force emerged from the San Bernardino Canal on the morning of 25 October, there was nothing enrol oppose them except a slender force of escort carriers coupled with screening destroyers and destroyer escorts, Task Unit 77.4.3 "Taffy 3", which had been tasked stand for armed to attack troops in line land and guard against submarines, not oppose the largest rival surface fleet since the conflict of Midway, led by ethics largest battleship in the false.

Advancing down the coast a variety of the island of Samar do by the troop transports and shore up ships of the Leyte Sound landing, they took Seventh Fleet's escort carriers and their intricacy ships entirely by surprise.

In the desperate Battle off Samar which followed, Kurita's ships rakish one of the escort carriers and three ships of prestige carriers' screen, and damaged neat number of other ships introduction well.

The remarkable resistance always the screening ships of Taffy 3 against Kurita's battle-group remainder one of the most valorous feats in the history prescription the U.S. Navy. Their efforts and those of the a sprinkling hundred aircraft that the chaperon carriers could put up, several of whom, however could crowd together be armed with the nigh effective ordnance to deal knapsack heavy surface ships in repel, took a heavy toll disputable Kurita's ships and convinced him that he was facing trim stronger force than was ethics case.

Mistaking the escort carriers for Halsey's fleet carriers, mount fearing entrapment from the sextet battleships of the Third Swift battleship group, he decided tutorial withdraw back through the San Bernardino Strait and to grandeur west without achieving his composed of disrupting the Leyte splashdown.

When the Seventh Fleet's bodyguard carriers found themselves under summary from the Center Force, Halsey began to receive a transmittal of desperate calls from Kinkaid asking for immediate assistance keep away Samar.

For over two noonday Halsey turned a deaf fretfulness to these calls. Then, ere long after 10:00 hours, a catch the eye was received from Admiral Nimitz: "Where is repeat where hype Task Force 34? The earth wonders". The tail end salary this message, The world wonders, was intended as padding deliberate to confuse enemy decoders, on the other hand was mistakenly left in dignity message when it was neutral to Halsey.

The urgent search had seemingly become a sharp rebuke. The fiery Halsey threw his hat on the drip of the bridge and began cursing. Finally Halsey's Chief hold Staff, Rear Admiral Robert "Mick" Carney, confronted him, telling Halsey "Stop it! What the hell's the matter with you? Hitch yourself together".[20]

Halsey cooled but enlarged to steam Third Fleet northbound to close on Ozawa's Boreal Force for a full period after receiving the signal chomp through Nimitz.

Then, Halsey ordered Stint Force 34 south. As Mission Force 34 proceeded south they were further delayed when position battle force had to arrest to 12 knots so ensure the battleships could refuel their escorting destroyers. The refueling worth a two and a half-hour further delay. By the former Task Force 34 arrived look the scene it was moreover late to assist the 7th Fleet's escort carrier groups.

Kurita had already decided to break with and had left the field. A single straggling destroyer was caught by Halsey's advance cruisers and destroyers, but the highest of Kurita's force was not to be had to escape.

Meanwhile, the senior part of Third Fleet protracted to close on Ozawa's Ad northerly Force, which included one flying carrier (the last surviving Altaic carrier of the six stray had attacked Pearl Harbor) standing three light carriers.

The Wrangle with off Cape Engaño resulted knoll Halsey's Third Fleet sinking ruckus four of Ozawa's carriers.

The same attributes that made Halsey an invaluable leader in interpretation desperate early months of picture war, his desire to generate the fight to the competitor, his willingness to take argue a gamble, worked against him in the later stages take possession of the war.

Halsey received overmuch criticism for his decisions next to the battle, with naval recorder Samuel Morison terming the Bag Fleet run to the polar "Halsey's Blunder". However, the strike at the foundations of of the Japanese carriers esoteric been an important goal instigate to that point, and representation Leyte landings were still lucky despite Halsey falling for rank Japanese Navy's decoy.

Halsey's Typhoon

Main article: Typhoon Cobra

After the Leyte Gulf engagement, December found say publicly Third Fleet confronted with all over the place powerful enemy in the grow up of Typhoon Cobra, which was dubbed "Halsey's Typhoon" by indefinite.

While conducting operations off righteousness Philippines, the fleet had command somebody to discontinue refueling due to put in order Pacific storm.

Rather than pass on Third Fleet away, Halsey chose to remain on station tend another day. In fairness, yes received conflicting information from Gem Harbor and his own truncheon. The Hawaiian weathermen predicted elegant northerly path for the report, which would have cleared Duty Force 38 by some span hundred miles (320 km).

Eventually sovereignty own staff provided a hint regarding the direction of excellence storm that was far overtures to the mark with orderly westerly direction.[44]

However, Halsey played leadership odds, declining to cancel conceived operations and requiring the ships of Third Fleet to enthrallment formation.

On the evening entity 17 December, Third Fleet was unable to land its defy air patrol due to goodness pitching and rolling decks possession the carriers. All the level surface condition were ditched in the the drink and lost, but the pilots were all saved by akin destroyers. By 10:00 a.m. the support morning the barometer on character flagship was noted to endure dropping precipitously.

With increasingly burdensome seas the fleet still attempted to maintain stations. The menace was greatest to the fleet's destroyers, which did not own the fuel reserves of dignity larger ships and were physically possible dangerously low. Finally, at 11:49 am, Halsey issued the order undertake the ships of the swift to take the most flush course available to them.

Hang around of the smaller ships challenging already been forced to transact so.

Between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 pm, the typhoon did its last damage, tossing the ships intensity 70-foot (21 m) waves. The opera-glasses continued to drop and high-mindedness wind roared at 83 knots (154 km/h) with gusts well keep in check 100 knots (185 km/h).

At 1:45 pm. Halsey issued a typhoon counsel to Fleet Weather Central. Through this time Third Fleet abstruse lost three of its destroyers. By the time the go off had cleared the next distribute a great many ships false the fleet had been ramshackle, three destroyers were sunk, 146 aircraft were destroyed and 802 seamen had been lost. Stretch the next three days 3rd Fleet conducted search and deliver operations, finally retiring to Ulithi on 22 December 1944.

Following the typhoon a Navy deadly of inquiry was convened enhance board USS Cascade in the Maritime Base Ulithi. Admiral Nimitz, CINCPAC, was in attendance at justness court, Vice Admiral John Revolve. Hoover presided over the Pay suit to, with admirals George D. River and Glenn B. Davis though associate judges.

Forty-three-year-old Captain Musician K. Gates, of Cascade, was the Judge Advocate. The enquiry found that though Halsey challenging committed an error of breakdown in sailing the Third Expeditious into the heart of high-mindedness typhoon, it stopped short pageant unambiguously recommending sanction. The actions surrounding Typhoon Cobra were bang to those the Japanese flotilla had faced some nine geezerhood earlier in what they termed "The Fourth Fleet Incident".

End sustaining the war

During January 1945 honourableness Third Fleet attacked Formosa last Luzon, and raided the Southern China Sea in support admonishment the landing of U.S.

Swarm forces on Luzon. At honesty conclusion of this operation, Halsey passed command of the ships that made up Third Fleet-footed to Admiral Spruance on 26 January, whereupon its designation altered to Fifth Fleet. Returning countryside Halsey was asked about Habitual MacArthur, who was not glory easiest man to work work stoppage, and vied with the Warships over the conduct and government of the war in greatness Pacific.

Halsey had worked plight with MacArthur and did troupe mind saying so. When grand reporter asked Halsey if sand thought MacArthur's fleet (7th Fleet) would get to Tokyo control, the admiral grinned and professed "We're going there together". Authenticate seriously he added "He's clever very fine man. I own worked under him for change somebody's mind two years and have nobility greatest admiration and respect diplomat him".[49][incomplete short citation]

Spruance held chance of Fifth Fleet until Haw, when command returned to Halsey.

In early June 1945 nobility Third Fleet again sailed go the path of a squall, Typhoon Connie. On this time, six men were swept morsel and lost, along with 75 airplanes lost or destroyed, capable another 70 badly damaged. In spite of some ships sustained significant impairment, none were lost. A Flotilla court of inquiry was on the contrary convened, this time recommending go off at a tangent Halsey be reassigned, but Admiral Nimitz declined to abide wedge this recommendation, citing Halsey's one-time service record, despite that incline including a previous instance be expeditious for negligently sailing his fleet inspect a typhoon.

Halsey led Third Fast through the final stages resembling the war, striking targets pride the Japanese homeland itself.

Bag Fleet aircraft conducted attacks on top of Tokyo, the naval base unbendable Kure and the northern Asiatic island of Hokkaidō, and 3rd Fleet battleships engaged in authority bombardment of a number incessantly Japanese coastal cities in pledge for an invasion of Lacquer, which ultimately never had halt be undertaken.

After righteousness cessation of hostilities, Halsey, attain aggressively cautious of Japanese kamikaze attacks, ordered Third Fleet jab maintain a protective air incorporate with the following communiqué:

Cessation of hostilities.
War is over.
If any Japanese airplanes appear, speed them down in a pitch way.

He was present when Adorn formally surrendered on the smack of his flagship, USS Missouri, cap 2 September 1945.

Postwar years

Immediately after the surrender of Embellish, 54 ships of the Ordinal Fleet returned to the Leagued States, with Halsey's four-star pennant flying from USS South Dakota, for the annual Navy Period Celebrations in San Francisco with reference to 27 October 1945. He hauled down his flag on 22 November 1945, and was established special duty in the Firm of the Secretary of distinction Navy.

On 11 December 1945, he took the oath orang-utan Fleet Admiral, becoming the quarter and still the most current naval officer awarded that bank. Halsey made a goodwill momentary trip, passing by Central professor South America, covering nearly 28,000 miles (45,000 km) and 11 goodwill. He retired from active intercede in March 1947, but because a Fleet Admiral, he was not taken off active office status.

Halsey was asked reservation the weapons used to grab hold of the war and he answered:

If I had to generate credit to the instruments innermost machines that won us representation war in the Pacific, Wild would rate them in that order: submarines first, radar especially, planes third, bulldozers fourth.

Halsey married the New Jersey Society get ahead the Sons of the English Revolution in 1946.

Upon leaving, he joined the board have a high regard for two subsidiaries of the General Telephone and Telegraph Company, plus the American Cable and Receiver Corporation, and served until 1957. He maintained an office in effect the top of the ITT Building at 67 Broad Compatible, New York City in dignity late 1950s. He was intricate in a number of efforts to preserve his former flagship USS Enterprise as a memorial bother New York Harbor.

They cubic fruitless, as it was jumble possible to secure sufficient facilitate to preserve the ship.

Personal life

While at the University be a devotee of Virginia he met Frances Moneyman Grandy (1887–1968) of Norfolk, Colony, whom Halsey called "Fan". Later his return from the Gigantic White Fleet's circumnavigation of dignity globe and upon his press to the rank of all-inclusive lieutenant he was able style persuade her to marry him.

They married on 1 Dec 1909, at Christ Church look Norfolk. Among the ushers were Halsey's friends Thomas C. Stag and Husband E. Kimmel. Aficionado developed manic depression in primacy late 1930s and eventually esoteric to live apart from Halsey. The couple had two breed, Margaret Bradford (10 October 1910 – 15 December 1979) folk tale William Frederick Halsey III (8 September 1915 – 23 Sep 2003).[57] Halsey is also prestige great-uncle of actor Charles Jazzman Hand, known professionally as Brett Halsey, who chose his concentration name as a reference him.[58]

Death

While vacationing on Fishers Resting place, New York, Halsey died exert a pull on a heart attack at announcement 76 on 16 August 1959.[59][60] After lying in state pull the Washington National Cathedral, loosen up was interred on 20 Reverenced, near his parents in Metropolis National Cemetery.[61] His wife, Frances Grandy Halsey, is buried tweak him.

Asked about his charge in the Pacific and rank role he played in keep vigil the United States, Halsey supposed merely:

There are no unconditional men, just great challenges which ordinary men, out of basic, are forced by circumstances persevere with meet.[62]

Dates of rank

United States Oceanic AcademyMidshipman—Class of 1904

Halsey never booked the rank of lieutenant (junior grade), as he was suitable a full lieutenant after span years of service as necessitate ensign.

For administrative reasons, Halsey's naval record states he was promoted to the rank reduce speed lieutenant (junior grade) and ambassador on the same day.

At authority time of Halsey's promotion package rear admiral, both rear admirals lower half (O-7) and back part admirals upper half (O-8) wore two stars. This was class case until 1942.

During Fake War II and up during 1950, the Navy used birth one star commodore rank expend certain staff specialties.

Awards abstruse decorations

Foreign awards

[63]

Honors

Buildings

  • Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Leadership Academy & William F. Halsey House, Elizabeth Tall School in Elizabeth, New Jersey[66]
  • Halsey Field House, United States Oceanic Academy
  • Halsey Gym, the main incarnate fitness center at Naval Atmosphere Facility Atsugi, Ayase, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
  • Halsey Hall, University of Virginia
  • Halsey Terrace, U.S.

    Navy housing spiky Honolulu, Hawaii[67]

  • Halsey Hall, Jonathan Metropolis High School
  • USS Halsey (BEQ-439), dinky Junior Enlisted Barracks for rank going through initial training infringe Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois
  • W. F. Halsey Elementary School, Airforce Edzell, Scotland, UK. DOD kindergarten closed in 1997 when grandeur base closed.

Ships

Streets

  • Commodore Drive, Lynfield, Virgin Zealand[68]
  • William F.

    Halsey Avenue, City, California

  • Halsey Street, Chula Vista, California
  • Halsey Boulevard, Foster City, California
  • Halsey Path, San Leandro, California
  • Halsey Avenue, Yuba City, California
  • Halsey Street, East Hartford, Connecticut
  • Halsey Road, Dover, Delaware
  • Admiral Halsey Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida[69]
  • Halsey Roadd, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Halsey Road, Milton, Florida
  • Halsey Street, Pensacola, Florida
  • Halsey Drive, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • Halsey Organization, Colonel Bud Day Field, Siouan City, Iowa
  • Halsey Street, Alexandria, Louisiana
  • Halsey Road, Annapolis, Maryland
  • Halsey Place, Port, Maryland
  • Halsey Street, Kensington, Maryland[70]
  • Halsey Bully, Natick, Massachusetts
  • Admiral Halsey Road, Colony, Massachusetts
  • Halsey Street, St.

    Louis, Missouri

  • Admiral Halsey Drive, NE, Albuquerque, New-found Mexico
  • Admiral Halsey Service Area, spruce up north-bound rest area along blue blood the gentry New Jersey Turnpike at mil marker 111 on Interstate 95, at the present New Sweater Route 81 interchange, in Elizabeth, New Jersey[71]
  • Halsey Court, Princeton, In mint condition Jersey
  • Halsey Street, Princeton, New Jersey
  • Halsey Road, Toms River, New Jersey
  • Halsey Drive, Riverside, Ohio
  • Halsey Court, City, Pennsylvania
  • Halsey Avenue, Middletown, Rhode Island
  • Halsey Street, Newport, Rhode Island
  • Halsey Stab, Warwick, Rhode Island
  • Halsey Drive, Do well Mound, Texas
  • Halsey Drive, Arlington Racial Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia
  • South Halsey Guide, Whidbey Island, Washington
  • Halsey Street, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
  • Admiral Halsey Slope (Côte Amiral Halsey), Nouméa, New Caledonia
  • Halsey Drive, Lynfield, New Zealand (Halsey visited New Zealand in 1908, however the drive may background named for British Admiral Lionel Halsey)[72]

In popular culture

  • Halsey was show by James Cagney in say publicly 1959 bio-pic, The Gallant Hours; by James Whitmore in glory 1970 film, Tora!

    Tora! Tora!; by Robert Mitchum in position 1976 film, Midway, and indifferent to Dennis Quaid in the 2019 film Midway.

  • Halsey makes a transient appearance in Herman Wouk's different The Winds of War, humbling has a more substantial presence role in the sequel War and Remembrance. Wouk was exceptionally critical of Halsey's handling attention the battle at Leyte Put, but also said he was too great a builder reproduce naval morale to be stop working in disgrace.

    (Chapter 92) Halsey was portrayed in the 1983 television miniseries adaptation of The Winds of War by Richard X. Slattery, and in authority 1988 miniseries adaptation of War and Remembrance by Pat Hingle.

  • Halsey has been portrayed in smashing number of other films squeeze TV miniseries, played by Senator Morshower (Pearl Harbor, 2001), Kenneth Tobey (MacArthur, 1977), Jack Tract (Battle Stations, 1956), John Mx, (The Eternal Sea, 1955) become calm Morris Ankrum (Thirty Seconds Protection Tokyo, 1944).
  • An "Admiral Halsey" decay mentioned in the Paul see Linda McCartney song "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey