National
Archives #80-CF-8008-2
Johnny Hoover was the vice admiral commanding the naval facilities at Puerto Rico when war broke out, and he was experienced with airfield construction and operations. He commanded the land-based naval air force that supported the Central Pacific campaign and was tasked to develop the new air bases on the captured islands.
Hoover presided over the Court of Inquiry that
recommended Halsey face
court-martial for sailing 3 Fleet into a typhoon in 1945. The
recommendation was ignored by King
and Roosevelt, who
likely felt Halsey was too much of a popular hero to be subjected to
public rebuke.
Hoover was known as "Genial John" behind his back
because of his sour attitude. Towers, the senior aviator in the Navy, said of
him (Tuohy 2007):
An enigma. Phsyically fit. A positive character. Not popular. Standoffish. Lack of close relationship between him and his staff....
Neither Nimitz nor his
air deputy, John Towers, warmed to Hoover, though Spruance came to think
highly of him. However, Hoover had a reputation as an aggressive leader.
| 1887-5-15 |
Born in Ohio |
|
| 1906-9-12 |
Midshipman
|
Graduates from Naval Academy,
standing 73rd in a class of 86 |
| 1935 |
Captain |
Chief of staff, Aircraft, Base
Force |
| 1941-12-7 |
Vice
admiral |
Commander, Carribean Sea Frontier |
| 1943-8-12
|
Commander, Land-based Air, Central
Pacific |
|
| 1943-12-1 |
Commander, Aircraft,
Central Pacific |
|
| 1944-2-14
|
Commander, Central
Pacific Forward Area |
|
| 1948-7-1 |
Admiral |
Retires |
| 1970-12-2 |
Dies at Bethesda Naval
Hospital, Maryland |
References
Naval
Historical Center (accessed 2008-3-20)
Pettibone (2006)
Tuohy (2007)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2006, 2008-2009 by Kent G. Budge. Index
