Edwin B. Hooper
|
Admiral Edwin Bickford Hooper |
|
|---|---|
Hooper pictured during World War II as a commander
|
|
| Born |
February 12, 1909 Winthrop, Massachusetts |
| Died | September 26, 1986 (aged 77) Annapolis, Maryland |
| Buried at | United States Naval Academy Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1931-1976 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Edwin Bickford Hooper (Feb 26, 1909 - September 12, 1986) was a vice admiral of the United States Navy—his Naval service spanned 5 decades from 1930 to the 1970. He served in World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars and made important contributions to gunnery, ship operations, ordnance, amphibious operations, military logistics and study of naval history. He directed the gunfire in an important battleship-against-battleship action in 1942; was involved in the early days of United States Atomic Energy Commission; established the Navy's long range study group; lead the Service Force during the Vietnam war; and was the Navy's Historian—writing several Navy histories including the first volume on the Vietnam War.
Hooper was born in Winthrop MA in a house across the street from the Winthrop Yacht Club, where his father owned a Yawl. His parents were Fred A. Hooper and Flora Foster. He attended Huntington High School and the United States Naval Academy from 1927 to 1931. Hooper served on USS Pensacola (CA-24) from 1931 to 1936. In 1934, he married Elizabeth Withers Patrick, daughter of Captain Bower Reynolds Patrick (a Navy Chaplain) and sister of G. S. Patrick.
From 1936 to 1938, Hooper served on the USS Cushing (DD-376).
In 1939, Hooper attended Naval Academy Post-Graduate School and took a newly established fire control ordnance course. In 1940, He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studied servo-mechanisms and received a Masters in Engineering. Students in his class included three important naval officers: Alfred G. Ward, Horacio Rivero, Jr. and Lloyd Mustin.
In 1941, Hooper served on the USS Washington (BB-56) developing and improving fire control techniques to aim the gunfire of the 16 inch and 5 inch guns. During the night action off Guadalcanal (14 November 1942 - 15 November 1942) (Guadalcanal Campaign ), Hooper served as Assistant Gunnery Officer and directed the fire of 16” and 5” guns. The USS Washington sank the Japanese battleship Kirishima, using primarily 16” gunfire, and simultaneously engaged the Japanese cruiser Atago, using 5” gunfire. The Atego was damaged and returned to Japan for repairs. In the months before the battle, Hooper had uncovered and corrected small systematic errors in the fire control of the 16 inch guns and, as a result, very accurate Naval gunfire lead to the rapid sinking of the Kirishima. Hooper was awarded the Bronze Star for the Guadalcanal Battle, was promoted and made Gunnery Officer on the USS Washington – the most junior U. S. officer to hold that position in World War II.
...
Wikipedia