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

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

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN (1896-1967) --
13th Chief of Naval Operations, 16 August 1951 - 17 August 1953

William Morrow Fechteler was born in San Rafael, California, on 6 March 1896, the son of Lieutenant (later Rear Admiral) Augustus F. Fechteler, USN. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1916 and served in the battleship Pennsylvania (BB-38) during World War I. Over the following two decades, Fechteler had a variety of seagoing and shore billets, including several staff positions and command of the destroyer Perry (DD-340).

In 1942-43, Captain Fechteler served in the Bureau of Navigation (later Bureau of Naval Personnel), then commanded the battleship Indiana (BB-58) in the Pacific. Promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in early 1944, he was Commander of the Seventh Fleet's Amphibious Group 8 from August 1944 to March 1945, participating in landings at Morotai, Leyte, Lingayen and elsewhere in the Philippines. He spent the rest of 1945 as Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel, in Washington, DC, followed by service as Commander, Battleships & Cruisers, Atlantic Fleet. As a Vice Admiral, he was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel, from February 1947 until January 1950 and, as an Admiral, was Commander in Chief, Atlantic and U.S. Atlantic Fleet in February 1950 - August 1951.

In August 1951, Admiral Fechteler was appointed Chief of Naval Operations, succeeding Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, who had died in office in July. As CNO, Fechteler was responsible for sustaining Korean War era naval activities in the Far East and in the European area. He made two trips across the Atlantic in 1951-52 and one to Asia. He was able to continue the Navy's building program for new aircraft carriers in the face of economy moves and to expand pay and benefits for the Navy's people.

When the President Dwight D. Eisenhower took office in 1953, he chose to replace all the Armed Forces' chiefs. In August 1953, Admiral Fechteler exchanged positions with the new CNO, Admiral Robert B. Carney, becoming Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe. He served at that command's Naples headquarters until July 1956, when he retired. Over the next several years, Fechteler served on a special Defense Department study committee on personnel compensation and worked for the General Electric Company. Admiral William M. Fechteler died on 4 July 1967.

This page features selected views of Admiral William M. Fechteler.


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 #: 80-G-302299

Rear Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN


Portrait photograph, taken circa 1944-45.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 61KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-706248

Vice Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN


Photograph taken circa 1947-50, when he was serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 55KB; 585 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-707159

Vice Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN


Photographed 12 April 1949, while serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Personnel.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 55KB; 595 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-412087

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN


Portrait photograph, taken 17 February 1950 when he was Commander in Chief, Atlantic and U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 62KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 77912-KN (Color)

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN,
Chief of Naval Operations, 16 August 1951 -- 17 August 1953

Portrait by Dayton Brown, 1951.

Courtesy of the Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Donation of Mrs. William M. Fechteler.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 75KB; 565 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-431934

Death of Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, July 1951


Senior officers salute as Adm. Sherman's body arrives at Washington National Airport from Naples, Italy, on 25 July 1951, three days after his death.
Standing in the front row are (from left to right):
General Omar Bradley, U.S. Army;
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, USAF;
General J. Lawton Collins, U.S. Army;
Admiral Lynde D. McCormick, USN;
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN;
General Clifton B. Cates, USMC;
Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, USN; and
Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN.
Photographed by AFC Paul Begley.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 595 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-445182

Senior U.S. Army and Navy Officers


At Haneda airfield, Tokyo, Japan, July 1952. Those present are (from left to right):
General J. Lawton Collins, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army;
Vice Admiral Robert P. Briscoe, USN, Commander Naval Forces Far East;
Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; and
General Mark Clark, U.S. Army, Commander in Chief Far East Command.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-445032

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN
,
Chief of Naval Operations (left)

Is greeted by Lieutenant General James A. Van Fleet, Commanding General, Eighth Army, at a Korean airfield. Photo is dated 17 July 1952.
Note old B-17 parked in the left distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 95KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-445034

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN
,
Chief of Naval Operations (left)

Boards a Sikorski HO3S-1 helicopter at airfield K-18, while visiting Korea.
Photo is dated 18 July 1952.
Note the helicopter's rescue hoist and nickname, "Lucky Lady", painted on its door.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 122KB; 590 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-445016

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN
,
Chief of Naval Operations (center)

Talks with Major General John Seldon, USMC, during the CNO's visit to the First Marine Division in Korea. Vice Admiral Robert P. Briscoe, USN, Commander Naval Forces Far East, is at right.
Photo is dated 18 July 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 120KB; 600 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 49543

Admiral William M. Fechteler, USN
,
Chief of Naval Operations

Observing shore bombardment from on board USS Iowa (BB-61), off Wonsan, Korea, in August 1952.

Courtesy of Commander Frank A. McQuade, USNR.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 595 x 765 pixels

 


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


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18 June 2000