Calvin T. Durgin
Encyclopedia
Calvin Thornton Durgin was a Vice Admiral
who served in the U.S. Navy from 1916 until 1951. He served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air in 1949.
on June 3, 1916. As a young officer he served aboard destroyers and battleships in World War I.
In 1920, he became a naval aviator
and did graduate work in aeronautical engineering at M.I.T. before receiving a masters degree there in 1924. Durgin, became known as a naval expert in air combat and served in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific during World War II
.
During the war, he commanded the aircraft carrier
, Ranger during an assault on Morocco and commanded a carrier group during the 1944 invasion of southern France.
In the Pacific, he commanded a fleet of escort carrier groups. These groups provided support for landings in the Philippines
, Iwo Jima
, and Okinawa.
In 1949, he became the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air and in 1950 became the commander of the United States' First Pacific Fleet. His last assignment, on active duty, was as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey.
In 1951, Durgin retired from active service and upon retirement, was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. At this time, he took the position as president of SUNY Maritime College, where he served until 1959 when he retired to a farm at Dogue, Virginia
.
Durgin died on March 25, 1965 of a heart attack while attending the Metropolitan Opera.
Durgin's papers are kept in the archives of the Washington Navy Yard
, and the Stephen B. Luce Library of Maritime College.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
who served in the U.S. Navy from 1916 until 1951. He served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air in 1949.
Biography
Calvin T. Durgin was born in Palmyra, NJ on January 7, 1893. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was commissioned an ensignEnsign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
on June 3, 1916. As a young officer he served aboard destroyers and battleships in World War I.
In 1920, he became a naval aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and did graduate work in aeronautical engineering at M.I.T. before receiving a masters degree there in 1924. Durgin, became known as a naval expert in air combat and served in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
During the war, he commanded the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
, Ranger during an assault on Morocco and commanded a carrier group during the 1944 invasion of southern France.
In the Pacific, he commanded a fleet of escort carrier groups. These groups provided support for landings in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
, and Okinawa.
In 1949, he became the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air and in 1950 became the commander of the United States' First Pacific Fleet. His last assignment, on active duty, was as President of the Board of Inspection and Survey.
In 1951, Durgin retired from active service and upon retirement, was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral. At this time, he took the position as president of SUNY Maritime College, where he served until 1959 when he retired to a farm at Dogue, Virginia
Dogue, Virginia
Dogue is an unincorporated community in King George County, Virginia, United States....
.
Durgin died on March 25, 1965 of a heart attack while attending the Metropolitan Opera.
Durgin's papers are kept in the archives of the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
, and the Stephen B. Luce Library of Maritime College.