Walden "Pug" Ainsworth graduated from the Naval Academy in 1910 and participated in the Vera Cruz Expedition in 1914. He became an expert in ordnance and commanded destroyers before becoming a instructor at the Naval Academy and a naval ROTC professor at Tulane University. He was commanding Destroyer Squadron 2 when war broke out.
Ainsworth took command of battleship Mississippi on 19 December 1941. He was subsequently promoted to rear admiral and took administrative command of all Pacific Fleet destroyers on 4 July 1942. He was given command of Task Force 67 on 10 December 1942 and operated aggressively in the Solomons, on one occasion conducting a daring bombardment of Munda on New Georgia. He was later given command of Cruiser Division 9 and of Task Force 18 build around it and participated in the battles of Kula Gulf and Kolombangara.
Ainsworth later commanded the fire support group for the Guam operation.
Boatner describes Ainsworth
as "tall, beefy, and genial but a strict disciplinarian". Morison
described him as "Tall, hearty ... with a sailor's light blue eyes,
florid complexion, and engaging smile..."
| 1886-11-10
|
Born in Minneapolis |
|
| 1910-6-3 |
Ensign
|
Graduates from Naval Academy,
standing 73rd in a class of 131. Assigned to BB Iowa. |
| 1912 |
AP Prairie |
|
| 1914 |
BB Florida |
|
| 1917-5 |
AP DeKalb |
|
| 1918 |
America |
|
| 1918 |
Frederick |
|
| 1919-2 |
Inspector of ordnance, Navy
Armor and Projectile Plant |
|
| 1921 |
Executive officer, AP Hancock |
|
| 1923 |
Executive officer, CL Birmingham |
|
| 1923 |
Commander, Marcus |
|
| 1924-8 |
Inspector of ordnance, New York
Navy Yard |
|
| 1925 |
Staff, Destroyers Squadrons,
Asiatic Fleet |
|
| 1927-7 |
Commander, Paul
Jones |
|
| 1928 |
Instructor, Naval Academy |
|
| 1931 |
BB Idaho |
|
| 1933 |
CA Pensacola |
|
| 1934 |
14 Naval District |
|
| 1935 |
Naval War College |
|
| 1936-6 |
Commander
|
Executive officer, Mississippi |
| 1938 |
Professor of Naval Science and
Tactics, Tulane University |
|
| 1940-7-22 |
Captain
|
Commander, Destroyer Squadron 2 |
| 1941-12-19 |
Commander, BB Mississippi |
|
| 1942-7-4 |
Rear
admiral |
Commander, Destroyers, Pacific
Fleet |
| 1942-12-10 |
Commander, Task Force 67 |
|
| 1943 |
Commander, Task Force 18 /
Commander, Cruiser Division 9 |
|
| 1945 |
Vice admiral | Commander, 5 Naval District |
| 1948-12-1 |
Retires |
|
| 1960-8-7 |
Dies at Bethesda Naval Hospital |
References
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia (c) 2007-2008 by Kent G. Budge. Index