Gerald Francis Bogan (July 27, 1894June 8, 1973) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

aviator and vice admiral who served in World War I and II.

Biography

Gerald Francis Bogan was born July 27, 1894, in

Mackinac Island, Michigan Mackinac Island ( ) is a city in Mackinac County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a permanent population of 583. The population numbers in the tens of thousands from May 1st to October 31st due to an influx o ...

to Dr. James H. Bogan (1867–1936) and Katharine Nash-Bogan (1868–1958). He graduated from the

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

in 1916. He served in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in convoy escort duty between the

English Channel The English Channel, "The Sleeve"; nrf, la Maunche, "The Sleeve" (Cotentinais) or ( Jèrriais), (Guernésiais), "The Channel"; br, Mor Breizh, "Sea of Brittany"; cy, Môr Udd, "Lord's Sea"; kw, Mor Bretannek, "British Sea"; nl, Het Kana ...

and

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

. After the war he served on destroyers. In 1925 he trained to be a Naval Aviator. He was among the first aviators to land on an aircraft carrier. Bogan served in the Pacific during World War II and was awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

, two Navy Distinguished Service Medals, and the Legion of Merit with combat V device for actions during World War II.

Post–war

Bogan was promoted to vice admiral on February 2, 1946. Bogan later authored a confidential memorandum that was leaked by Captain John G. Crommelin during the

Revolt of the Admirals The "Revolt of the Admirals" was a policy and funding dispute within the United States government during the Cold War in 1949, involving a number of retired and active-duty United States Navy admirals. These included serving officers Admiral ...

in September 1949. His memo described the situation in the Navy as follows: "The morale of the Navy is lower today than at any time since I entered the commissioned ranks in 1916 ... The situation deteriorates with each press release." The memorandum was endorsed in writing by Admiral Arthur W. Radford and Chief of Naval Operations Louis E. Denfeld. Bogan retired as a vice admiral in 1950 at age 55 rather than transfer from command of First Task Fleet in the Pacific to commander of Fleet Air at Jacksonville, a command normally filled by a Rear admiral (United States), Rear Admiral.

Post-Navy

In August 1963, Bogan was the captain of a 104-foot, $250,000, luxury yacht ''Freedom II'' when it sank in the Pacific Ocean 600 miles from California. The yacht was en route from Honolulu to San Diego. Bogan and six crew members were rescued by the submarine . According to the crew, the yacht lost a wooden plank in its hull, causing it to flood and sink, though it was unclear what caused the loss of the plank. Bogan died at Scripps Mercy Hospital, Scripps Hospital in San Diego on June 8, 1973. He was survived by his wife Katherine, stepson Harold, his two sisters Eleanore and Dorothy and his brother, James. Bogan was inducted into the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor, 1992.

Commands

(incomplete) *, 27 September 1942 – 7 April 1943 *TG 38.2 – CV – ; CVLs – ; ; 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 18 destroyers. *Commander, Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, February 1946 – December 1948. *Commander First Fleet, 8 January 1949 – 1 February 1950.

References

External links

The Revolt of the Admirals
Andrew L. Lewis (admiral), Andrew L. Lewis, LCDR, USN. April 1998.
Bogan, Gerald Francis (1894–1973)Admiral Bogan photo collection
at San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives {{DEFAULTSORT:Bogan, Gerald F. 1894 births 1973 deaths People from Mackinac Island, Michigan United States Naval Aviators United States Navy vice admirals United States Navy World War II admirals United States Naval Academy alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Military personnel from Michigan