Years of service 1912 - 1949 | Name DeWitt Ramsey Rank Admiral | |
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Born October 2, 1888Fort Whipple, Arizona ( 1888-10-02 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars World War IWorld War II Education United States Naval Academy Commands held | ||
Admiral DeWitt Clinton Ramsey (October 2, 1888 – September 7, 1961) was a U.S. Navy officer and pioneer Naval aviator who served as an aircraft-carrier commander during World War II. Post-war assignments including command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and service as Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) in the Navy Department and as Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
Biography
Ramsey was born on October 2, 1888 at Whipple Barracks, near Prescott, Arizona, to Frank DeWitt Ramsey and Lillian Carlotta Zulick. He was the grandson of Arizona Territorial Governor C. Meyer Zulick. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Ramsey was commissioned an Ensign in June 1912. He took Juanita as his wife. In 1917 he qualified as a naval aviator. During World War I, he was Inspection Officer for United States Naval Air Stations in France, and a member of the Inter-Allied Naval Armistice Commission.
During the interwar period, Ramsey served as a naval aviator on various naval staffs and ships. Reporting on board USS Saratoga (CV-3) in 1938, he was her executive officer into 1939. Later that year, he headed BuAer's Plans Division, and in 1941 became Assistant Chief of BuAer.
During World War II, he commanded Saratoga up to and during the landings against Guadalcanal, Solomons, in August.
For his skillful use of airpower against Japanese naval forces in the Solomons, he was awarded the Navy Cross. In Saratoga, he next commanded a task force that included a British carrier, HMS Victorious (R38).
Ramsey received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal as Chief of BuAer from August 6, 1943 to June 1, 1945, and a Gold Star as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from January 15, 1946 to January 3, 1948.
After commanding the Pacific Fleet, he served as Commissioner of U.S. Trust Territory in the Pacific, until retiring May 1, 1949.
Admiral Ramsey died September 7, 1961 at Naval Hospital Philadelphia at age 72.