George Dominic Murray (July 6, 1889 – June 18, 1956) was an admiral in the United States Navy and an early

naval aviator Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases. Naval aviation is typically projected to a position nearer the target by way of an aircraft carrier. Carrier-based a ...

Biography

Murray was born in Boston, Massachusetts, attended the

U.S. Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of ...

, graduating in 1911 and becoming naval aviator number 22 in 1915. At the beginning of 1924, he was the commander of Torpedo and Bombing Squadron 20 (VT-20). In January, his squadron of seaplanes was transferred from San Diego to the Philippines aboard to provide air support for the

Asiatic Fleet The United States Asiatic Fleet was a fleet of the United States Navy during much of the first half of the 20th century. Before World War II, the fleet patrolled the Philippine Islands. Much of the fleet was destroyed by the Japanese by Februar ...

. During World War II, Murray commanded the aircraft carrier , from 21 March 1941 to 30 June 1942, which included the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and the Battle of Midway. From 17 August 1944 to 20 July 1945, he commanded U.S. Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet. At the end of the war, Murray was the commander of the

Mariana Islands The Mariana Islands (; also the Marianas; in Chamorro: ''Manislan Mariånas'') are a crescent-shaped archipelago comprising the summits of fifteen longitudinally oriented, mostly dormant volcanic mountains in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, betw ...

, and accepted the Japanese surrender of the Caroline Islands aboard his flagship, the cruiser . He commanded the

First Fleet The First Fleet was a fleet of 11 ships that brought the first European and African settlers to Australia. It was made up of two Royal Navy vessels, three store ships and six convict transports. On 13 May 1787 the fleet under the command ...

from August 1947 to August 1948. He retired as a full admiral in 1951, died in San Francisco, California, on 18 June 1956, and was 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.

Personal life

Murray is the stepfather of Vice Admiral

Lloyd M. Mustin Lloyd Montague Mustin (July 30, 1911 – January 21, 1999) was a vice admiral in the United States Navy and among the namesakes of USS ''Mustin'' (DDG-89). He took part in developing the Navy's first lead-computing anti-aircraft gun sight, which ...

, the step grandfather of Vice Admiral Henry C. Mustin, and the step great grandfather of Vice Admiral John B. Mustin.

References

External links

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Murray, George D.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, George D. 1889 births 1956 deaths United States Naval Academy alumni United States Naval Aviators United States Navy admirals United States Navy World War II admirals United States Navy personnel of World War I Members of the Early Birds of Aviation Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Burials at Arlington National Cemetery