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Photo # NH 104886-KN:  Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN, September 1967

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

Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN, (1912-2004) --
18th Chief of Naval Operations, 1 August 1967 - 1 July 1970.
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 2 July 1970 - 1 July 1974

Thomas Hinman Moorer was born in Mount Willing, Alabama, on 9 February 1912. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1929, graduating four years later. During 1933-1935, Ensign Moorer served in the heavy cruisers Salt Lake City and New Orleans. He was next assigned to flight training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, where he received his "wings" in July 1936, about a month after being promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade). Three years' service in Fighting Squadrons One-B (VF-1B) and Six (VF-6), based on the aircraft carriers Langley, Lexington and Enterprise, was followed by three more as a patrol plane pilot. While flying PBYs with Patrol Squadron Twenty-Two (VP-22) in late 1941 and early 1942, he participated in the desperate struggle against Japan's assault on the Philippines and Dutch East Indies. On 19 February 1942, Lieutenant Moorer's plane was shot down in aerial combat north of Darwin, Australia, but he successfully brought the flaming flying boat to the ocean surface. Rescued by a freighter, which was soon afterwards sunk by Japanese planes, Moorer and his crew eventually made their way to land in life boats.

Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in October 1942, and Commander in April 1944, Moorer served during the rest of World War II with Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101), in a training assignment, as Commanding Officer of Bombing Squadron 132 (VB-132), and on the staff of the Atlantic Fleet's Air Force commander. After Japan's August 1945 capitulation, Commander Moorer participated in the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey's activities in Japan. During the later 1940s and early 1950s, he had shore assignments at Chincoteague, Virginia and Inyokern, California, and sea duty on the aircraft carrier Midway and on a carrier division staff. As a Captain, from 1952 into 1958, Moorer attended the Naval War College, held a staff position with Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, was Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air) and commanded the seaplane tender Salisbury Sound.

Achieving Flag Rank in August 1958, Rear Admiral Moorer subsequently held several important planning positions in Washington, D.C., and commanded Carrier Division Six. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1962 and led the Seventh Fleet until June 1964 when, with the rank of Admiral, he became Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet. While in that post, Moorer guided the Navy's initial Vietnam War operations. Between April 1965 and June 1967 he commanded the Atlantic Fleet, the U.S. Atlantic Command and North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in that ocean.

From August 1967 to July 1970, Admiral Moorer served as Chief of Naval Operations and, in the latter month, became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His able leadership during a period of great difficulty was recognized by reappointment as JCS Chairman in 1972. Admiral Moorer retired from Naval service at the beginning of July 1974. Residing thereafter in the national capital area, he maintained active involvement in military and foreign affairs, and served on the boards of directors of several private corporations. Thomas H. Moorer died on 5 February 2004 in Bethesda, Maryland.

This page features selected formal portrait views of Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, and provides links to other images of and related to him.

For more pictures concerning Admiral Moorer, see:

  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Candid Individual Views;
  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Group Photographs, through 1967;
  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Group Photographs, 1968-1969; and
  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Group Photographs, 1970 and later.

    For additional information about Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, see:

  • His entry in the Navy Department Library's "Biographies in Naval History" series.


    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 #: NH 104918

    Captain Thomas H. Moorer, USN


    Portrait photograph, taken circa 1956-1957, when was Commanding Officer of USS Salisbury Sound (AV-13).

    Photo received from USS Salisbury Sound, 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 45KB; 580 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104905

    Rear Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN


    Portrait photograph, dated 22 May 1959.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 56KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1063860

    Vice Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN


    Portrait photograph, dated 11 August 1964.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 49KB; 590 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1063860.

     
    Photo #: NH 104887

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN
    ,
    Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic

    Portrait photograph, taken circa 1965-1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 52KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104886-KN (color)

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN,
    Chief of Naval Operations

    Portrait photograph, taken September 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 47KB; 575 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: KN-15045 (Color)

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN,
    Chief of Naval Operations

    Portrait photograph, taken September 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 44KB; 520 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-KN-15045

     
    Photo #: NH 104894

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN
    ,
    Chief of Naval Operations

    Photographed circa September 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 42KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 104896

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN
    ,
    Chief of Naval Operations

    Portrait photograph by Fabian Bachrach, September 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 52KB; 585 x 765 pixels

    Note:
    This image appears to be cropped from Photo # NH 104897.

     
    Photo #: NH 104897

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN
    ,
    Chief of Naval Operations

    Portrait photograph by Fabian Bachrach, September 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 54KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Note:
    For what appears to be a cropped (head and shoulders) version of this image, see: Photo # NH 104896.

     
    Photo #: NH 104895

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN
    ,
    Chief of Naval Operations

    Portrait photograph, taken in September 1967.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 43KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 72898-KN (color)

    Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN,
    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Portrait by Albert K. Murray.

    This portrait was commissioned by the United States Naval Institute, 1970.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 84KB; 580 x 765 pixels

     


    For more pictures concerning Admiral Moorer, see:

  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Candid Individual Views;
  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Group Photographs, through 1967;
  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Group Photographs, 1968-1969; and
  • Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN -- Group Photographs, 1970 and later.


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 16 July 2007
    Minor text correction 12 August 2007