George R . Henderson Vice Admiral George Raymond Henderson ( July 6 , 1893 – November 29 , 1964 ) was a World War II - era officer in the United States Navy . Biography . Henderson was born in on July 6 , 1893 in Pawtucket , Rhode Island . He graduated from the University of Maine in 1916 and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity . Naval Aviator . On July 17 , 1917 he entered the U . S . Naval Reserve Flying Corps as a Landsman / Aviation Machinist ' s Mate at Syracuse , New York . Landsman was a designation given to enlistees prior to boot camp during World War I . The rank existed from 1838 to 1921 . Upon entry he received ground school training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology . In 1918 he received elementary flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida and was designated Naval Aviator HTA ( Heavier - Than - Air ) # 909 . Upon completion of advanced flight training he was commissioned as an Ensign in the U . S . Naval Reserve . On January 6 , 1922 he was transferred to the regular Navy in the grade of Lieutenant . After flight training he was assigned to Aircraft Squadrons Atlantic in June 1922 . Here he set 10 world records for seaplane performance at the Naval Air Show in Bayshore Park , Maryland on October 25 , 1924 . In a PN - 7 flying boat equipped with two Wright T - 2 engines , Henderson set four records for speed over 100 and 200 kilometers with loads of 250 and 500 kilograms , all at 78 . 507 m . p . h ; and four records with a useful load of 1 , 000 kilograms with a speed of 78 . 507 m . p . h . for 100 and 200 kilometers , a distance record of 248 . 55 miles and a duration record of 5 hours , 28 minutes , 43 seconds . In November 1924 he was assigned as Chief Pilot of the Navy Test Board . He later established a world altitude record of 22 , 178 feet for Class C - 2 seaplanes with useful load on April 14 , 1927 . By late 1927 he served in VT Squadron 3 , Aircraft Squadrons Scouting and in in December 1927 . 1930 to 1941 . In 1930 Henderson served at the Bureau of Naval air ( BuAir ) . He then reported to the in July 1932 . The following year he was assigned as Engineer Officer on Staff of Commander Aircraft , Base Force in May 1933 . In June 1935 he served at Naval Air Station Hampton Roads and then back to sea duty as Navigator of the aircraft tender in June 1937 . He was soon assigned as Commanding Officer of Patrol Wing FOUR and finished out he 1930s at the Office of Chief of Naval Operations in June 1938 . World War II . Prior to the commencement of World War II Henderson was fitting out the aircraft carrier at Newport News , Virginia and was serving as Executive Officer when it was placed in commission on October 20 , 1941 . On April 18 , 1942 Henderson was aboard " Hornet " when she participated in the Doolittle Raid against military and industrial targets in the Japanese home islands . After his tour on " Hornet " he served a short stint as Chief of Staff and Air to Commander Patrol Wing Two in June 1942 . Promoted to Captain , Henderson fitted out and commanded the new carrier which was commissioned at Philadelphia Navy Yard in Camden , New Jersey in February 1943 . Following shakedown in the Caribbean , she was reclassified CVL - 23 on July 15 , 1943 . " Princeton " participated in the First and Second Rabaul Air Strikes , on November 5 and 11 , 1943 , severely damaging many enemy combatant ships in Rabaul harbor . By January 1944 Henderson was serving as Commander Aircraft , Munda and Commander Fleet Air Wing One . Here he developed a successful system of combined air and surface operations that annihilated a Japanese barge fleet in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago , and severely damaged numerous shore installations . He also initiated the rescue of many downed aircraft crews , often in enemy waters and under heavy fire from enemy shore batteries . In July 1944 Henderson was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Carrier Division 28 with his flag in the escort carrier . Here he directed his ships and squadrons in vigorous aerial offensives against heavily defended enemy bases . Between September 1944 and early 1945 he successively participated in the Invasion of Palau , Battle of Leyte Gulf , and Invasion of Lingayen Gulf , planning and executing full air coverage of approaching and retiring convoys under extremely hazardous conditions , despite repeated attacks by hostile aircraft . At Leyte Gulf his forces departed the area at 1645 on October 24 and thus did not participate in the Battle off Samar . In February 1945 he took command of Carrier Division 25 with his flag in " Saginaw Bay " for the Invasion of Iwo Jima . In late March 1945 he moved his flag to the escort carrier for the Invasion of Okinawa . As the war was winding down in August 1945 Henderson was serving ashore again as Commander Fleet Air , Quonset Point , Rhode Island . Post war . After the war Henderson served as Commandant of Naval Operating Base , Bermuda in May 1946 . His next assignment was as Chief of Staff to Commander U . S . Naval Forces , Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean in October 1947 and later served as the Deputy Commander in Chief of the same command in October 1948 . Korean War . In August 1950 shortly after the start of the Korean War , Henderson was serving as Commander Fleet Air , Japan with added duty as Commander Naval Air Bases , Japan . Here he was responsible for supplying logistic support for operating squadrons , maintenance units , tenders and bases in the Japan - Korea area in an important contribution to the successful prosecution of the Korean Campaign . Assumed command of Carrier Division 5 in May 1951 and as Commander of Task Force 77 during operations in Korea from May to August 1951 . With his flag in , his task force exerted relentless pressure against the enemy , provided effective close air support for ground troops , inflicted extensive damage upon the enemy by daring air strikes , and constantly interdicted their key communication systems . In October 1951 he served as Commander of Naval Air Bases , 11th & 12th Naval Districts headquartered ( at the Lake Training Station in Lake Bluff , Illinois . ) in San Diego , California and in May 1953 assumed additional duties as Commandant of the 11 Naval District . Retirement and death . Henderson transferred to the Retired List of the Navy on August 1 , 1954 as a Rear Admiral , designator 1313 . He was advanced to rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of combat awards , after 37 years of Naval service in 3 wars . Among his awards were the Navy Distinguished Service Medal , Legion of Merit ( 6 ) with combat V ’ s , the Purple Heart , and Presidential Unit Citation . He died on November 29 , 1964 at the age of 71 . Vice Admiral Henderson was one of two World War II naval aviator admirals to have gone from seaman to Admiral .