FRANCIS PAXTON OLD
Sixth Captain of the Indiana BB-58, 01 May 1945 to 05 December 1945
Frances Paxton Old was born in Norfolk, Virginia on December 19, 1897. He was the son of Jonathan W. and Claudia Paxton Old. He attended the Severn School, Severn Park, Maryland prior to his appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland.
As a midshipman he had World War I service on the battleships USS Nebraska and USS Arizona operating with the Atlantic Fleet during the summers of 1917 and 1918.
Old graduated and was commissioned Ensign in June 1919 with the Class of 1920. He subsequently progressed in rank attaining that of Rear Admiral to date from March 4, 1944. On February 1, 1954 he was transferred to the Retired List of the U. S. Navy and was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of combat awards.
June 1919 to June 1921 Served on the USS Chester, USS Swasey, and USS Mississippi.
June 1921 Assistant Engineering Officer on the USS Philip, a destroyer, in the Pacific Fleet. He put it out of commission in May 1922.
May 1922 to July 1925 Engineering Officer of USS William Jones, USS Reno and, the USS Sirius.
1925 to 1927 During these years he was under instruction in mechanical engineering at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, MD and Columbia University, New York, NY. He received the degree of Master of Science from Columbia in 1927.
Fall of 1927 Joined the USS Cincinnati operating with the Asiatic Fleet.
July 1930 to June 1932 Duty in Industrial Department of the Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
June 1932 Executive Officer aboard USS Waters.
May 1933 Transferred to the USS West Virginia, Flagship of Commander Battleships, Battle Force, U. S. Fleet.
June 1935 to May 1937 Served as Aide to the Commandant Thirteenth Naval District, Seattle, WA. He had additional duty during the Spring 1936 inspecting Naval Stations in the Alaskan Area.
May 1937 to July 1938 First Lieutenant on the USS Tennessee, Flagship of Commander Battleship Division 2, Battle Force.
July 1938 to early 1941 Gunnery Officer and later Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Force, USS Chicago, Flagship.
1941 Returning to the United States, he served in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, DC. First he served in the Administrative Section Naval Reserve Division and later as Head of Naval Reserve Appointments and Records.
November 1942 Commander of USS Prairie
July 1943 Joined staff of Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters.
Early 1945 Duty as Member of the Board to Consider Transfer to Regular Navy of Reserve and Temporary Officers.
01 May 1945 Relieved Captain Thomas Joseph Keliher, Jr. and became the Sixth Captain of the Battleship USS Indiana BB-58
05 December 1945 Releived as Captain of the USS Indiana by Captain Frank Russell Talbot
05 December 1945 Duty as Secretary of the General Board, Navy Department, Washington, DC.
April 1946 Commander Mine Forces, Atlantic Fleet.
December 1947 Deputy Commandant Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA.
June 1948 Chief of the Naval Advisory Division, Joint United States Military Advisory Group, China.
10 March 1949 Commander U.S. Naval Forces, Philippine Islands.
07 July 1951 Commandant, Ninth Naval District, with Headquarters in Chicago, IL.
01 February 1954 Vice Admiral Old was put on the Retired List of the U. S. Navy.
23 September 1963 Vice Admiral Francis Paxton Old died at Naval Hospital, Great Lakes, IL
SOURCES:
Last Updated 25 October 1999
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