Evening star., 1939-08-07
Naval Awards Reveal
Gunfire Accuracy
Al An-Time High
II D. c. Officers Among
More Than 100 Getting
Special Recognition

Gunfire of the United States Navy
has reached a higher level Of ac-
curacy than at any time in its
history, it was indicated today
as the Navy Department published
more than 100 annual gunnery
awards, II of them involving Dis
trict of Columbia naval officers
and 7 to officers from Maryland and
Virginia.
Fifteen warShips qualified for an
sc" award. attaining first place in
their respective divisions. The VIM
ming ships will display the letter
'E" on their smokestacks. Topping
the list was the battleship Colorado,
which took both the Navy "E" and
a first prize rating in its class
for main battery fire. The battle
ship West Virginia also qualified
for first prize and the New Mex
leo for second for main batteries.
For secondary batteries of battle
ships, the Arizona and Maryland
qualified for first prizes and "E"
awards. The Mississippi qualified for
both with its anti-aircratt guns.
The Lexington made the best
score in anti aircraft battery fire
among aircraft carriers, the Min
neapolis led in main battery firing
of heavy cruisers and the Milwaukee
among light cruisers.
Among the District, Maryland
and Virginia officers figuring in the
awards were Capt. Isaac c. Kidd
of Washington, commanding the
Arizona; 1t. William c. France of
Annapolis, Md, in charge of the
winning secondary battery of the
Maryland; 1t. Comdr. Hilyer c.
Gearing of Annapolis, commanding
the destroyer Tucker; 1t. Comdr.
Thomas l.. McCann of Washington,
fire control officer of the destroyer
Alden; 1t. Comdr. Thomas NJ Dell
of Baltimore, commanding the
minecraft Preble; Capt. Henry M.
Jensen of Washington, commanding
the West Virginia; Capt. Alexander
Sharp of Washington, commanding
the Idaho, secondary battery, Sec
ond prize; 1t. John P. B. Barrett,
Washington, air defense officer
Idaho, second prize; Capt Paul H.
Bastedo. Washington. commanding
the cruiser Quincy, main battery,
first prize; Capt. Earl C. Metz
Washington, commanding the
cruiser Richmond. main battery,
second prize, light cruisers.
Capt. William D. Brereton, jr,
Washington, commanding the cruis-
er BROOKLYN; Comdr. Warner P.
Portz, washington, commanding the
destroyer Moffett. with Lt Dewitt
G. E. Hamburger, Washington, as
gunnery officer; 1t. Basil N. Ritten-
house, Washington, gunnery officer
of the first prize destroyer, Gridley,
1,500-ton class: 1t. Comdr. William
H. Wallace of Washington, COM
manding the second prize 1,20O-ton
destroyer Barker; Lit. Comdr. Rob-
ert B. Crichton of Washington. first
prize destroyer Tracy; 1t. George
K. Fraser, Washington. gunnery Of
flcer Scouting Squadron 4; 1t. Ed
ward A. Hannegan, Washington,
gunnery officer, Fighting Squadron
2: 1t. George B. Chafee, Washing
ton, gunnery officer. Observation
Squadron 4; 1t. Harry Hull, WASH
ington, gunnery officer, submarine
Skipjack; 1t. Alan r. Montgomery,
Warrenton, Va, gunnery officer. de-
stroyer Case; 1t. Wilkie H. Brere-
ton, Baltimore, gunnery officer, de-
stroyer Parrott; 1t Comdr. Alvin D.
Chandler, Williamsburg, Va, COM
manding the destroyer Southard,
and 1t. Lowell w. Williams, Balti-
more, gunnery officer, Patrol Squad
ron 43.