FREDERIC STANTON WITHINGTON
Second Executive Officer of the USS Indiana BB-58, from 01 January 1943 until 13 January 1944.
First Gunnery Officer of the USS Indiana BB-58, from commissioning 30 April 1942 to 01 January 1943.
Frederic Stanton Withington was born in Rutherford, New Jersey on 01 November 1901. He attended West High School, Des Moines, Iowa before his appointment as Midshipman to the U. S. Naval Academy in 1919. As a First Classman he was editor of the "Lucky Bag", Naval Academy Year Book.
June 1923 He graduated and was commissioned Ensign. Duty in Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, DC.
August 1923 Received instruction in torpedoes at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, RI. He assisted in fitting out the USS West Virginia and served on that battleship from her commissioning 01 December 1923 for 6 months.
June 1928 Instruction in Ordnance Engineering at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, MD and the Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
June 1931 Duty on the USS Nevada.
May 1934 Duty at the Naval Gun Factory, Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
June 1936 Aide and Flag Lieutenant on the Staff of Commander, Battleship Division 3, Battle Fleet, USS West Virginia, Flagship.
June 1937 Staff duty on USS Chicago, Flagship of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Force, U.S. Fleet.
1938 Service in the USS Winslow.
June 1939 Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, DC. He served first in the Fire Control Section and later in the Production Division.
March 1942 Assigned duty in connection with fitting out the USS Indiana. He joined that ship at commissioning April 30, 1942. He was her First Gunnery Officer and served in that position for 7 months.
January 1943 Executive Officer of the USS Indiana.
29 Dec 1943 Detached as Executive Officer of the USS Indiana with orders to report to the Commander, Group Two, Fifth Amphibious Force, operating in the Central Pacific Areas as Chief of Staff and Aide. He was promoted to the rank of Captain USN to date from 01 May 1943.
28 November 1944 Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, DC.
October 1945 Officer in Charge of Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Navy Yard, Washington, DC.
January 1947 Command of USS Mississippi and later the USS Manchester.
August 1948 Completed the course at the National War College, Washington, DC.
July 1949 First Assistant Director of the Atomic Energy Division in the Officer of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department.
29 December 1949 Rank of Rear Admiral approved by the President and confirmed by Senate 01 May 1950.
January 1951 Director of Atomic Energy Division, Navy Dept.
November 1952 Commander Amphibious Group Three.
16 November 1954 Nominated Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance for a term of 4 years. Nomination confirmed by the Senate 02 December 1954.
April 1958 Commander of Naval Forces in Japan.
1 April 1961 Rear Admiral Withington was transferred to the Retired List of the U.S. Navy.
22 December 1982 Rear Admiral Frederic Stanton Withington died. He and his wife, Louise F. Gleason Withington, are buried in the Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, MD. At the 1997 Washington Reunion of the USS Indiana, many shipmates visited his burial site during their tour of the Navy Academy.
SOURCES:
Last Updated 27 July 2000
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