Julius A. Raven
Encyclopedia
Julius A. Raven was a United States Navy
officer who received the Distinguished Flying Cross
and the Air Medal
for his actions during World War II
.
on 6 January 1918. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as seaman
second class on 5 June 1939 at New York City. He was discharged and accepted an appointment as Aviation Cadet on 5 September 1939. After preliminary flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Floyd Bennett Field
, Brooklyn, New York
, he was assigned advanced training at Naval Air Station Pensacola
at Pensacola
, Florida
. After flight school, Raven was assigned to a patrol squadron in the Pacific, where he served during World War II.
On 25 June 1942, while returning from a combat mission in the Aleutian Islands and flying over Japan
ese-controlled waters, Raven sighted the U.S. Navy submarine
USS S-27 (SS-132)
, which had run aground on Amchitka Island. Disregarding the danger to his life, Raven skillfully and coolly landed in a rough sea, embarked 13 of the submarines crew, and took off, all without damage to his plane. He safely returned them to Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island
. All of the men of S-27 were later rescued due to the information on their whereabouts provided by Raven.
During the Aleutian Islands campaign, Raven conducted dangerous reconnaissance and bombing runs against Japanese-occupied Kiska Island until he was lost at sea while on a mission on 9 August 1942.
for meritorious achievement and extreme courage while effecting a rescue at sea. Posthumously, he also received the Distinguished Flying Cross
for action against enemy forces during the Aleutian Islands campaign.
USS Julius A. Raven (DE-600) was named for Lieutenant, junior grade, Raven. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport USS Julius A. Raven (APD-110)
, and was in commission
as such from 1945 to 1946.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer who received the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
and the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
for his actions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Julius Arthur Raven was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on 6 January 1918. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
second class on 5 June 1939 at New York City. He was discharged and accepted an appointment as Aviation Cadet on 5 September 1939. After preliminary flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field
Floyd Bennett Field is New York City's first municipal airport. While no longer used as an operational commercial, military or general aviation airfield, the New York Police Department still flies its helicopters from its heliport base there...
, Brooklyn, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he was assigned advanced training at Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
at Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. After flight school, Raven was assigned to a patrol squadron in the Pacific, where he served during World War II.
On 25 June 1942, while returning from a combat mission in the Aleutian Islands and flying over Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-controlled waters, Raven sighted the U.S. Navy submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
USS S-27 (SS-132)
USS S-27 (SS-132)
USS S-27 was a S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her construction was authorized in March 1917, and her keel was laid down on 11 April 1919 by the Fore River Plant, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 18 October 1922 sponsored by Mrs...
, which had run aground on Amchitka Island. Disregarding the danger to his life, Raven skillfully and coolly landed in a rough sea, embarked 13 of the submarines crew, and took off, all without damage to his plane. He safely returned them to Dutch Harbor on Unalaska Island
Unalaska Island
Unalaska is an island in the Fox Islands group of the Aleutian Islands in the U.S. state of Alaska, at . The island has a land area of . The city of Unalaska, Alaska, covers part of the island and all of neighboring Amaknak Island where the Port of Dutch Harbor is located...
. All of the men of S-27 were later rescued due to the information on their whereabouts provided by Raven.
During the Aleutian Islands campaign, Raven conducted dangerous reconnaissance and bombing runs against Japanese-occupied Kiska Island until he was lost at sea while on a mission on 9 August 1942.
Awards
For the S-27 incident, Raven was awarded the Air MedalAir Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
for meritorious achievement and extreme courage while effecting a rescue at sea. Posthumously, he also received the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
for action against enemy forces during the Aleutian Islands campaign.
Namesake
The U.S. Navy destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Julius A. Raven (DE-600) was named for Lieutenant, junior grade, Raven. She was converted during construction into the high-speed transport USS Julius A. Raven (APD-110)
USS Julius A. Raven (APD-110)
USS Julius A. Raven , ex-DE-600, was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1945 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:Julius A. Raven was laid down as the Rudderow-class destroyer escort USS Julius A...
, and was in commission
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
as such from 1945 to 1946.