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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 24-P-73:  Ensign William M. Corry, Jr., March 1913

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr., USN (1889-1920)

William Merrill Corry, Jr. was born on 5 October 1889 at Quincy, Florida. Admitted to the the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1906, he graduated in 1910 and spent the next five years serving in the battleship Kansas. In mid-1915, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Corry began instruction in aviation at Pensacola, Florida, and was designated Naval Aviator # 23 in March 1916. He had a flying positions with the armored cruiser Seattle between November 1916 and May 1917, then was an officer in the armored cruiser North Carolina.

In August 1917, Lieutenant Corry began World War I service in France, where he commanded Naval Air Stations at La Croisic and Brest during 1918 and early 1919. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in July 1918. Corry remained in France for the rest of 1919 and the first half of 1920, involved in removing U.S. Naval Aviation forces from Europe as part of the post-war demobilization. In mid-1920 Lieutenant Commander Corry was assigned as aviation aide to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, stationed on the Fleet's flagship, USS Pennsylvania. While on a flight from Long Island, New York, with another pilot in early October 1920, the plane crashed near Hartford, Connecticut. Though thrown clear of the wreckage, the injured Corry ran back to pull the other officer free of the flaming aircraft. Badly burned during this rescue, William M. Corry died at Hartford on 7 October 1920. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during that accident.

Airfields at Pensacola, Florida, and three destroyers have been named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Corry. The ships are: USS Corry (DD-334) of 1921-1930, USS Corry (DD-463) of 1941-1944, and USS Corry (DD-817) of 1946-1981.

This page features all the views we have related to William M. Corry, Jr.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 24-P-73

Ensign William Merrill Corry, Jr., USN
(1889-1920)

Photograph by F. Brunel, taken March 1913

Photograph from the U.S. Navy Bureau of Personnel Collections in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 117KB; 595 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 90230

Officers at the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Florida, circa July-November 1915


They are standing in front of a Curtiss AB type seaplane, and include both station staff and student aviators. They are identified (as numbered on the print) in Photo # NH 90230 (complete caption)

Photograph from the photo album of Vice Admiral T.T. Craven. Courtesy of Lieutenant Rodman DeKay, Jr., USNR (Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 900 x 395 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 90232

Officers at the Naval Aeronautic Station, Pensacola, Florida, circa 1915


They are outside the Flying School office, which bears a sign (at left) with the name of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Clarence K. Bronson. Both station staff and student aviators are present. Most are identified (as annotated on the print) in Photo # NH 90232 (complete caption)

Photograph from the photo album of Vice Admiral T.T. Craven. Courtesy of Lieutenant Rodman DeKay, Jr., USNR (Retired), 1979.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52845

Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr., USN
(in blue uniform),
Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Air Station, Brest, France

Chats with other officers in front of one of the air station's hangars, 30 September 1918.
Note the life preserver and goggles worn by the aviator at left.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52844

Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr., USN
(center, in blue uniform),
Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Air Station, Brest, France

With other officers in front of one of the air station's hangars, 30 September 1918.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52846

Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr., USN
(in blue uniform),
Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Air Station, Brest, France

Gives a demonstration to a pilot, before his departure for a flight. Probably taken on 30 September 1918.
Note what appears to be a carrier pigeon basket held by the pilot, and Curtiss HS type aircraft in the background.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 535 pixels

 



Medal of Honor citation of Lieutenant Commander William M. Corry, Jr. (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 129):

"For heroic service in attempting to rescue a brother officer from a flame-enveloped airplane. On 2 October 1920, an airplane in which Lieutenant Commander Corry was a passenger crashed and burst into flames. He was thrown 30 feet clear of the plane and, though injured, rushed back to the burning machine and endeavored to release the pilot. In so doing he sustained serious burns, from which he died 4 days later."

Note: Other sources give the date of the accident as 3 October 1920.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 18 January 2004
Link added 24 January 2004