William O. Gallery
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral
William Onahan Gallery (22 June 1904 – 15 November 1981 ) was a United States Navy
admiral — one of three brothers who became United States Navy admirals. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy
, he was a naval aviator
who served with distinction in combat during World War II
.
in 1921, the second of three brothers who would graduate from the Naval Academy.
He received his commission as a United States Navy ensign in 1925. He served aboard the battleship from 1925 to 1927, followed by duty aboard the from 1927 to 1930.
In 1930, Gallery reported for flight training in Pensacola, Florida
. After nine months of training, he was awarded his wings as a naval aviator
and assigned to Patrol Squadron 6 until 1933. He then transferred as an aviator to the , where he served until 1935.
From 1935 to 1937, he served at the Aeronautical Engineering Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Then from 1937 to 1939, he served in Fighter Squadron 6 on the . His last assignment before World War II at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California
.
In 1941, at the start of World War II
, Gallery served on the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
where he participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz; and then was based at Guadalcanal
where he served in combat with the First Escort Carrier Task Group.
Gallery then joined the PBY night raider ("Black Cats") on the . He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for his method of destroying Japanese night raiders.
On return to the States, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and took command of the . He followed this command with duty at Eglin Air Force Base
; after which he was commanding officer of the , then the Naval Air Station
Guantanamo, Cuba
. This was followed by an assignment as Deputy Chief of Naval Operation (Air), then command of the in 1950.
Rear Admiral William Gallery retired from the United States Navy in June 1955. He died in 1981 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
with full military honors
.
The is named in honor of the three Gallery admirals — William, Phillip, and Daniel.
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
William Onahan Gallery (22 June 1904 – 15 November 1981 ) was a United States Navy
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...
admiral — one of three brothers who became United States Navy admirals. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, he was a naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
who served with distinction in combat 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
William Onahan Gallery was born on 22 June 1904 in Chicago, Illinois. Gallery entered the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1921, the second of three brothers who would graduate from the Naval Academy.
He received his commission as a United States Navy ensign in 1925. He served aboard the battleship from 1925 to 1927, followed by duty aboard the from 1927 to 1930.
In 1930, Gallery reported for flight training in Pensacola, Florida
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...
. After nine months of training, he was awarded his wings as a naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
and assigned to Patrol Squadron 6 until 1933. He then transferred as an aviator to the , where he served until 1935.
From 1935 to 1937, he served at the Aeronautical Engineering Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Then from 1937 to 1939, he served in Fighter Squadron 6 on the . His last assignment before World War II at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
.
In 1941, at the start of 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...
, Gallery served on the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
Thomas C. Kinkaid
Thomas Cassin Kinkaid was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded the Allied forces in the Aleutian Islands Campaign...
where he participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz; and then was based at Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
where he served in combat with the First Escort Carrier Task Group.
Gallery then joined the PBY night raider ("Black Cats") on the . He was awarded 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 his method of destroying Japanese night raiders.
On return to the States, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and took command of the . He followed this command with duty at Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
; after which he was commanding officer of the , then the Naval Air Station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
Guantanamo, Cuba
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
. This was followed by an assignment as Deputy Chief of Naval Operation (Air), then command of the in 1950.
Rear Admiral William Gallery retired from the United States Navy in June 1955. He died in 1981 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
with full military honors
Military funeral
A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute,...
.
The is named in honor of the three Gallery admirals — William, Phillip, and Daniel.
See also
William O. Gallery's brothers who were also Navy Rear Admirals:- Phillip D. Gallery
- Daniel V. GalleryDaniel V. GalleryRear Admiral Daniel Vincent Gallery was an officer in the United States Navy who saw extensive action during World War II. He fought in the Second Battle of the Atlantic, his most notable achievement was the capture of the German submarine U-505, on June 4, 1944...