Mexican Campaign Medal of Honor Recipient. He was serving as Commander of the USS Chester, part of Admiral Henry T. Mayo's Division, at Vera Cruz, Mexico. His citation reads: For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Comdr. Moffett brought his ship into the inner harbor during the nights of the 21st and 22d without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, and was in a position on the morning of the 22d to use his guns at a critical time with telling effect. His skill in mooring his ship at night was especially noticeable. He placed her nearest to the enemy and did most of the firing and received most of the hits. He was awarded the Medal on December 4, 1915. He is also known as the "Father of U.S. Naval Aviation". He became in 1921 the first chief of the Bureau of Aviation and remained in that post until his death in 1933. He organized the Navy's aviation program, exerted influence for the expansion and experimentation, oversaw the selection of sites and building of Naval air stations and accomplished the installation of aircraft landing catapults on all battleships and cruisers of the Fleet. He was particularly enthusiastic about the use of dirigibles, both in Naval operations and more generally, secured for the Navy the airships Los Angeles, Akron and Macon. Sadly he would die in the crash of the USS Akron in a storm off the New Jersey coast, near the Barnegat Lighthouse. In U.S. naval history, perhaps only Admiral Hyman G. Rickover played as decisive a role as Moffett did in the development of new weaponry.
In May 1933, Moffett Field was named in honor of Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics when the Naval Affairs Committee voted in favor of Sunnyvale as their new Northern California site.
Source: Loomis, Patricia. Signposts II. San Jose Historical Museum Association, 1985, 64-65.
In May 1933, Moffett Field was named in honor of Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics when the Naval Affairs Committee voted in favor of Sunnyvale as their new Northern California site.
Source: Loomis, Patricia. Signposts II. San Jose Historical Museum Association, 1985, 64-65.
Mexican Campaign Medal of Honor Recipient. He was serving as Commander of the USS Chester, part of Admiral Henry T. Mayo's Division, at Vera Cruz, Mexico. His citation reads: For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Comdr. Moffett brought his ship into the inner harbor during the nights of the 21st and 22d without the assistance of a pilot or navigational lights, and was in a position on the morning of the 22d to use his guns at a critical time with telling effect. His skill in mooring his ship at night was especially noticeable. He placed her nearest to the enemy and did most of the firing and received most of the hits. He was awarded the Medal on December 4, 1915. He is also known as the "Father of U.S. Naval Aviation". He became in 1921 the first chief of the Bureau of Aviation and remained in that post until his death in 1933. He organized the Navy's aviation program, exerted influence for the expansion and experimentation, oversaw the selection of sites and building of Naval air stations and accomplished the installation of aircraft landing catapults on all battleships and cruisers of the Fleet. He was particularly enthusiastic about the use of dirigibles, both in Naval operations and more generally, secured for the Navy the airships Los Angeles, Akron and Macon. Sadly he would die in the crash of the USS Akron in a storm off the New Jersey coast, near the Barnegat Lighthouse. In U.S. naval history, perhaps only Admiral Hyman G. Rickover played as decisive a role as Moffett did in the development of new weaponry.
In May 1933, Moffett Field was named in honor of Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics when the Naval Affairs Committee voted in favor of Sunnyvale as their new Northern California site.
Source: Loomis, Patricia. Signposts II. San Jose Historical Museum Association, 1985, 64-65.
In May 1933, Moffett Field was named in honor of Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics when the Naval Affairs Committee voted in favor of Sunnyvale as their new Northern California site.
Source: Loomis, Patricia. Signposts II. San Jose Historical Museum Association, 1985, 64-65.
Bio by: Ugaalltheway
Inscription
RADM US NAVY
Gravesite Details
RADM should be added to the title/name line as is proper.
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
See more Moffett memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
