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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 --

Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN (1893-1984)

Homer Norman Wallin was born in Washburn, North Dakota, on 6 December 1893. Following brief attendance at the University of North Dakota and a year in the state National Guard, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1913. He graduated in March 1917 and was commissioned in the rank of Ensign. During most of the First World War, he served in the battleship New Jersey (BB-16). In September 1918, he was transferred to the Navy's Construction Corps and was sent to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for postgraduate education in Naval Architecture.

After receiving his Master of Science degree in 1921, Wallin served for four years at the New York Navy Yard. He was assigned to the Bureau of Construction and Repair in Washington, D.C., in 1925-29. Over the following decade he had successive tours at the Mare Island and Philadelphia Navy Yards and at the Bureau of Construction and Repair (redesignated the Bureau of Ships in 1940).

In 1941, Captain Wallin became Material Officer for Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and was serving in that position when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Early in the following year, he was placed in charge of the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's Salvage Division. Through most of 1942, he directed the Pearl Harbor ship salvage effort, a huge task that enabled the Navy to recover the use of three sunken battleships. From November 1942 to August 1943, he was Force Maintenance Officer for the South Pacific Force, then spent a few months at the Bureau of Ships. Rear Admiral Wallin was Supervisor of Shipbuilding and Inspector of Ordnance at Seattle and Commander of the Naval Station at Tacoma, Washington, beginning in October 1943.

Following World War II, Wallin commanded the Philadelphia and Norfolk Naval Shipyards. In February 1951, he became Chief of the Bureau of Ships, a post he held until August 1953, when he took command of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. He retired from active service on 1 May 1955 and was simultaneously advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the basis of his combat awards. Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin died on 6 March 1984.

This page features all our views of Vice Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN.


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 95691

Rear Admiral Homer N. Wallin, USN


Photographed while he was serving as Chief of the Bureau of Ships, February 1951 - July 1953.

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

Online Image: 74KB; 580 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 64486

USS California (BB-44)


Members of the Salvage Division discussing her salvage at Pearl Harbor, circa February-March 1942. Those present are (from left to right):
Chief Shipfitter J.M. Ephland, Master Diver;
Lieutenant Wilfred L. Painter, Officer in Charge of Work;
Commander John F. Warris, Temporary Commanding Officer, USS California;
Captain Homer N. Wallin, Salvage Officer;
Lieutenant James W. Greely, Assistant Salvage Officer;
Lieutenant Wilbert M. Bjork, Assistant Salvage Officer; and
Lieutenant James W. Darroch, Assistant Salvage Officer.

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

Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50002

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
, (center),
Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet

Observes efforts to right the capsized USS Oglala (CM-4) at Pearl Harbor, where she had been sunk during the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid.
With him are Rear Admiral William R. Furlong (left), Commandant, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, and Captain Homer N. Wallin (right), who was in charge of the salvage operations.
The photograph was taken in April-May 1942, possibly during the initial righting attempt on 11 April.

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

Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 630 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 64490

Salvage of USS West Virginia (BB-48), 1942-43


Captain Homer N. Wallin (left), Salvage Officer, and Lieutenant Commander W. White, Commanding Officer of USS West Virginia, on board the ship while she was under salvage at Pearl Harbor in 1942.
They are wearing the "tank" suit coveralls and knee-length rubber boots used by Pearl Harbor salvage team members when engaged in particularly dirty work.

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

Online Image: 116KB; 585 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-659069

USS Missouri (BB-63)


Captain Karl Poehlmann, Commander of the Bremerton Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, accepts Missouri into his custody, during decommissioning ceremonies at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, 26 February 1955.
Missouri's Commanding Officer, Captain James R. North, is in the center, holding her final commissioning pennant.
At left the ship's Executive Officer, Commander William Davis.
Rear Admiral Homer N. Wallin, Commander of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, is between Commander Davis and Captain North.

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

Online Image: 80KB; 595 x 765 pixels

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

 

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 3 December 2000