|
TOMLABEL -> RE: Name This AE...331 (5/29/2009 3:43:03 AM)
|
Wow! I never knew his story...made it to Rear Admiral with a dream life in between. Just past away 4 years ago.
From the website Brady posted:
Admiral Leonard was born on January 12, 1916, in Douglas, Arizona, and was a 1938 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was the son of the late Colonel Charles F. and Mrs. Hannah L. Leonard. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, the former Mary Louise Butt, of Norfolk, Virginia. He is survived by his children, William N. Leonard Jr. and his wife, Victoria, of Midland, Virginia, John W. Leonard of Herndon, Virginia, Elizabeth L. Sufit and her husband, Dr. Carl R. Sufit, of Escalon, California, Richard A. Leonard and his wife, Desiree of Chester, Virginia, and Miss Mary Louise Leonard also of Chester; his brother, Major General Charles F. Leonard Jr., United States Army (retired) of Fairfax, Virginia; his sister-in-law, Miss Virginia Butt of Chester; eight grandchildren, Kathryn Leonard, Colleen Leonard, Elise Dawson, Kaitlin Sufit, Carolyn Sufit, Megan Leonard, Sarah Leonard, and John W. Leonard Jr.; one great-grandchild, Alison Dawson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Admiral Leonard was designated Naval Aviator # 6953 in December 1940. A World War II fighter pilot, he was an early leader and an ace in the Pacific battles of the Coral Sea, Midway and in the Solomons. He played a key role in the wartime development of Navy fighter tactics and was a pioneer in using captured enemy aircraft for training purposes. At war's end, he was an operations officer with Commander Task Force 38 in the drive to victory in the Pacific. After the war, he continued as a leader in Naval Aviation, commanding VF-171, the first Navy jet squadron to operate from an aircraft carrier.
A founding test pilot at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, he later directed the team that developed the requirements for the A-6 Intruder. Other commands included Commander, Air Group 17; Commander, VX-5; Captain, USS Salamonie; Captain, USS Ranger; Commander, Carrier Division 14, bringing his flag aboard USS Wasp; and Commander, Naval Safety Center. His promotion to Rear Admiral came in 1965.
By the end of his career, he had operated from 18 different aircraft carriers. Admiral Leonard was awarded two Navy Crosses for Valor at the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. His other awards included four Legions of Merit, one with Combat 'V', the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star with Combat 'V'; six Air Medals, and other commendation and service ribbons.
Retiring to Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1971, Admiral Leonard and his wife, Mary Lou, enjoyed 25 years of quiet happiness together and in the company of their loving family, until her untimely death in 1996. In retirement, he avidly pursued a wide range of interests, including timepieces, woodworking, and gardening. He frequently was sought out by historians of Naval Aviation and World War II carrier operations, and responded generously to their needs, tirelessly reviewing and commenting on manuscripts and providing source material, insights, and contacts for further research. He moved to his son's home in Chester in 2001.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery, with full honors, on November 16, 2005. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial donations be made to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, 1750 Radford Blvd, Suite B, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida 32501.
|
|
|
|
