Aubrey Wray Fitch Papers

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Register of the Aubrey Wray Fitch 80132 1 papers Title: Aubrey Wray Fitch papers Date (inclusive): 1900-1982 Collection Number: 80132 Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Archives Language of Material: English Physical Description: 4 manuscript boxes, 6 oversize boxes, 2 sound discs(5.2 linear feet) Abstract: Correspondence, speeches, orders, personnel records, clippings, and photographs collected by Aubrey Wray Fitch relating to American naval aviation, especially in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Sound use copies of sound recordings available. Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives Creator: Fitch, Aubrey Wray, 1883-1978. Access Collection is open for research. Use copies of all sound recordings in this collection are available for immediate access. Publication Rights For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Aubrey Wray Fitch papers, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives. Acquisition Information Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 1980. Accruals Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number of boxes listed in this finding aid. 1883 June Born, St. Ignace, Michigan 11 1906 Graduated, United States Naval Academy 1908 Ensign, United States Navy 1930 Received wings, Naval Aviator 1931 Commander, USS Langley, United States Navy's first aircraft carrier 1942 Vice Admiral, United States Navy Awarded Distinguished Service Medal for leadership role during the Battle of the Coral Sea 1942-1944 Commander, Air Forces, South Pacific 1944-1945 Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) 1945-1947 Superintendent, first aviator appointed to the United States Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland 1947 Retired as Admiral, United States Navy 1978 May Died, Newcastle, Maine 22 Scope and Content of Collection The Aubrey Wray Fitch papers consist of the personal and naval records of Admiral Fitch. These papers document the span from his early career as a student at the United States Naval Academy, circa 1902, to the launching of the guided missile frigate USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG-34) in 1981, three years after his death. While the collection primarily emphasizes American naval aviation in the Pacific Theater during World War II, with special focus on the Battle of the Coral Sea, it also documents Admiral Fitch’s time as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 1945 to 1947. As a Vice Admiral in the Pacific Theater during World War II, Fitch commanded U.S. planes in the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first naval battle fought entirely by aircraft. Although his flagship, the USS Lexington, was sunk during the battle, Fitch was praised for his leadership and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. The Naval Records series includes Fitch’s naval awards, orders and promotions, dispatches, war diaries from the Pacific Theater during World War II, and poems and drawings created by fellow sailors. Photographs within the collection depict the early stages of U.S. naval aviation and follow Fitch throughout his changing assignments. The collection also contains personal scrapbooks created by Fitch during his time in the Navy.

Register of the Aubrey Wray Fitch 80132 2 papers In 1945, Fitch became the first naval aviator to be appointed Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. Fitch served as Superintendent until 1947, when he retired with the rank of Admiral. The Speeches and Writings series contains award presentations, written press releases, and speeches made by Fitch at the U.S. Naval Academy, including his retirement speech. Unless otherwise noted, the arrangement scheme was imposed during processing in the absence of an identifiable original order. Subjects and Indexing Terms United States. Navy--Aviation. United States. Navy--Officers. World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations. World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean. Sound recordings.

Box 1 Correspondence, 1941-1971 Scope and Content Original alphabetical order of correspondence was maintained.

Box/Folder 1 : 1 A-B, 1944-1959 Box/Folder 1 : 2 C-D, 1944-1971 Box/Folder 1 : 3 E-F, 1944-1947 Box/Folder 1 : 4 G-I, 1944-1959 Box/Folder 1 : 5 J-M, 1945-1964 Box/Folder 1 : 6 N-Q, 1944-1959 Box/Folder 1 : 7 R-S, 1943-1947 Box/Folder 1 : 8 T-Z, 1941-1967 Box 2 Speeches and Writings, 1919-1947 Scope and Content Includes radio broadcast transcripts, awards presentations, written press releases, and speeches made at the U.S. Naval Academy while Fitch was Superintendent, arranged in chronological order.

Box/Folder 2 : 1 Award presentations, undated Box/Folder 2 : 2 Introduction of Rear Admiral Lewis B. Combs, undated Box/Folder 2 : 3 Naval Academy lecture, 1919 March Box/Folder 2 : 4 Army Air Force awards presentation, 1942 October 9 Box/Folder 2 : 5 Enterprise awards presentation, 1943 January 22 Box/Folder 2 : 6 Task Force Sixty-seven awards presentation, 1943 January 26 Box/Folder 2 : 7 Tangier awards presentation, 1943 February 20 Box/Folder 2 : 8 Presentation of Distinguished Service Medal to Major General Patch, 1943 March 10 Box/Folder 2 : 9 Retention of land-based planes, after 1944 Box/Folder 2 : 10 Visit from Soviet airmen, 1944 May 30 Box/Folder 2 : 11 31st anniversary of naval aviation, 1944 August 29 Box/Folder 2 : 12 Navy Day, 1944 October 27 Box/Folder 2 : 13 Edwin C. Hill broadcast, 1944 October 31 Box/Folder 2 : 14 Introduction to Commodore Burke, 1944 November 16 Box/Folder 2 : 15 By others, 1944-1945, undated Box/Folder 2 : 16 National Plastic Products Company, circa 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 17 The Naval Academy as it begins its second century, circa 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 18 Acceptance of ensign presented by civilian employees, 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 19 Board of Visitors, 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 20 Centennial issue of The Log, 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 21 Commissioning of USS Princeton, 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 22 "I Know the Enemy" radio series, 1945

Register of the Aubrey Wray Fitch 80132 3 papers Box/Folder 2 : 23 Memorial dedication, 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 24 "Unsung Hero" radio program 1945 Box/Folder 2 : 25 "Navy and Marine Pilots Outshoot Japanese," 1945 February 3 Box/Folder 2 : 26 Press conference, 1945 February 7 Box/Folder 2 : 27 To the employees of Grumman, 1945 April 10 Box/Folder 2 : 28 V-E Day, 1945 May 8 Box/Folder 2 : 29 USS Franklin tribute, 1945 May 21 Box/Folder 2 : 30 Proposed statement on universal military training, 1945 June 16 Box/Folder 2 : 31 "Navy Hour" broadcast, 1945 July 24 Box/Folder 2 : 32 Acceptance of Order of the Southern Cross, 1945 July 25 Box/Folder 2 : 33 Reserve battalion review, 1945 August 23 Box/Folder 2 : 34 Captain John Madison Hoskins, 1945 August 23 Box/Folder 2 : 35 Press luncheon, 1945 September 1 Box/Folder 2 : 36 "Saga of USS Maryland," 1945 September 11 Box/Folder 2 : 37 To the brigade of midshipmen, 1945 September 20 Box/Folder 2 : 38 "Meet Your Navy" program, 1945 October 1 Box/Folder 2 : 39 Navy Day, 1945 October 25 Box/Folder 2 : 40 Maryland's victory loan, 1945 October 30 Box/Folder 2 : 41 Last graduating class of midshipmen from Notre Dame, 1945 November 2 Box/Folder 2 : 42 Introduction of Admiral Halsey, 1945 November 27 Box/Folder 2 : 43 Unification at St. John's Military Academy, 1945 December 20 Box/Folder 2 : 44 Visit to Victoria, British Columbia, circa 1946 Box/Folder 2 : 45 141st anniversary of Trafalgar, 1946 Box/Folder 2 : 46 June Week, 1946 Box/Folder 2 : 47 USS Kearsarge, 1946 March 2 Box/Folder 2 : 48 Broadcast to the people of the Philippine Islands, 1946 April 22 Box/Folder 2 : 49 Board of Visitors, 1947 Box/Folder 2 : 50 United Citizens League, 1947 January 1 Box/Folder 2 : 51 Naval academy resignation, 1947 February 15 Boxes 3-4 Naval Records, 1908-1982 Scope and Content Includes flight log books, naval correspondence, orders and promotions, war diaries, and poems and drawings created by fellow sailors. Also includes documentation of the launching of the guided missile frigate USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG-34) in 1981. Records are arranged in alphabetical order.

Box/Folder 3 : 1 Aviators flight log book, 1942-1947 Box/Folder 3 : 2 Correspondence, 1928-1942, 1945 Box/Folder 3 : 3 Correspondence, 1943 Box/Folder 3 : 4 Drawings, undated Box/Folder 3 : 5 Excerpts from personal papers, 1908-1974 Box/Folder 3 : 6 Launching of the USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34), 1981-1982 Box/Folder 3 : 7 Orders and promotions, 1908-1919 Box/Folder 3 : 8 Orders and promotions, 1921-1939 Box/Folder 4 : 1 Orders and promotions, 1940-1944 Box/Folder 4 : 2 Orders and promotions, 1945-1953 Box/Folder 4 : 3 Poems and lyrics, undated Box/Folder 4 : 4 War diaries, 1942 Boxes 4, 9 Printed Matter, 1906-1963 Scope and Content Includes awards presented to Fitch, clippings, U.S. Naval Academy souvenir books and bulletin, and naval yearbooks, arranged in alphabetical order.

Box/Folder 4 : 5 Awards, 1919-1959 Box/Folder 4 : 6 Clippings, 1936-1963 Box/Folder 9 : 1 Lucky Bag, 1906 Box/Folder 4 : 7 Naval Academy Bulletin, No. 9, 1956 June

Register of the Aubrey Wray Fitch 80132 4 papers Box/Folder 4 : 8 Naval Academy Centennial, 1945 Box/Folder 4 : 9 Naval Academy Souvenir Book, 1946 Box/Folder 4 : 10 Trident, 1946 Box/Folder 4 : 11 USS Wyoming: At War in the North Sea, 1917-1918 Boxes 5-6 Photographs, 1902-1978 Scope and Content Includes photographs of Naval bases, naval aviation, President Roosevelt’s visits to Pensacola, the U.S. Naval Academy, the Pacific Theater during World War II, and Fitch’s personal life after retirement, arranged in chronological order. Photocopies of images are also included.

Box/Folder 5 : 1 Undated Box/Folder 5 : 2 1902-1915 Box/Folder 5 : 3 1932 Box/Folder 5 : 4 1933-1935 Box/Folder 5 : 6 1936-1938 Box/Folder 5 : 7 President Roosevelt's visits to Pensacola 1938 June - 1940 April Box/Folder 5 : 8 1940 Box/Folder 6 : 1 1941-1942 Box/Folder 6 : 2 1943 Box/Folder 6 : 3 1944 Box/Folder 6 : 4 1945 Box/Folder 6 : 5 1946 Box/Folder 6 : 6 1947 Box/Folder 6 : 7 1955-1978 Boxes 7-10 Scrapbooks, 1900-1943 Scope and Content Scrapbooks documenting Fitch’s naval career from his time as a student at the U.S. Naval Academy to his station as Vice Admiral in the Pacific Theater during World War II, arranged in chronological order.

Box/Folder 7 : 1 1900-1904 Box/Folder 7 : 2 1906-1908 Box/Folder 8 : 1 1910-1936 Box/Folder 8 : 2 1918 Box/Folder 9 : 2 1922-1926 Box/Folder 8 : 3 1941-1942 Box/Folder 10 : 1 1941-1943 Record cabinet Sound Recording, 1947 January 15 Access Use copy reference number: 80132_a_0002815 Scope and Content Sound recording of ceremony noting the changing of command for the U.S. Naval Academy. Includes speeches by the outgoing head, Admiral Aubrey Wray Fitch, and incoming head, Admiral James L. Holloway, Jr., as well as a gun salute and the thoughts of Captain Long.