Donald Norton Yates
Encyclopedia
Donald Norton Yates was the US Army Air Force officer who helped select June 6, 1944 as the date for D-Day
, the Allied invasion of Europe, in his capacity as chief meteorologist on General Dwight D. Eisenhower
's staff. Yates and his British counterpart, James Martin Stagg
, chose well - it turned out to be the only day that month the English Channel
could have been successfully crossed. Yates was subsequently decorated by three governments. He went on to become the chief meteorologist of the newly formed U.S. Air Force, and Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center at Patrick Air Force Base
in Florida.
and graduated from Bangor High School in 1927.
He went on to the U.S. Military Academy, graduating in 1931, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Cavalry. He later enrolled as a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology
, and received a master of science degree in meteorology. Yates became Assistant Chief of the Weather Section in the Operations Division of the Office, Chief of Air Corps, in December 1941. With the outbreak of war, he was appointed the following year Deputy Director of Weather at Army Air Force Headquarters.
, the final recommendation of June 6, 1944 as D-Day
. The citation accompanying his award of the U.S. Army Legion of Merit stated that "through Colonel Yates' good judgment, skill and sound leadership, reconciliation of the differences in forecasting methods were effected, resulting in the development of a procedure capable of utilizing the talents and facilities of both nations (U.S. and U.K.) and all services in a unified manner. The value of Colonel Yates' advice has since been proven as the day selected for the continental assault was probably the only day during the month of June on which the operation could have been launched." For this he received the Degree of Chevalier in the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France.
, Md., until 1950. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1947, and transferred to the U.S. Air Force. On March 17, 1947, he flew the first scheduled weather reconnaissance mission over the North Pole
. In 1950, Brig. Gen. Yates was appointed Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Development at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and the following April he became Director of Research and Development with the Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1952.
, Fla., from 1954 to 1960. During this tour he was awarded the Navy Legion of Merit for his services in connection with the Navy Project Vanguard
and the Navy Ballistic Missile Program Polaris
. in 1960 Yates was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Deputy Director of Defense Research & Engineering (Ranges and Space Ground Support) at the Pentagon
.
, a member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, and a Fellow of the American Rocket Society
.
Yates younger brother Elmer P. Yates
also graduated from West Point and became a Major General in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, the Allied invasion of Europe, in his capacity as chief meteorologist on General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
's staff. Yates and his British counterpart, James Martin Stagg
James Martin Stagg
Group Captain Sir James Martin Stagg, CB, OBE, FRSE was a British Royal Air Force meteorologist who notably persuaded General Dwight D. Eisenhower to change the date of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II, from June 5 to June 6, 1944.Stagg was born in Dalkeith, Scotland...
, chose well - it turned out to be the only day that month the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
could have been successfully crossed. Yates was subsequently decorated by three governments. He went on to become the chief meteorologist of the newly formed U.S. Air Force, and Commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center at Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick. An Air Force Space Command base, it is home to the 45th Space Wing...
in Florida.
Early life and career
Yates was born in Bangor, MaineBangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
and graduated from Bangor High School in 1927.
He went on to the U.S. Military Academy, graduating in 1931, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Cavalry. He later enrolled as a graduate student at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, and received a master of science degree in meteorology. Yates became Assistant Chief of the Weather Section in the Operations Division of the Office, Chief of Air Corps, in December 1941. With the outbreak of war, he was appointed the following year Deputy Director of Weather at Army Air Force Headquarters.
On Eisenhower's Staff, and Planning for D-Day
In February 1944 Col. Yates became Director of Weather Service for the U.S. Strategic Air Force in Europe, in addition, serving on General Eisenhower's staff. In this capacity he made, together with British Group Captain James Martin StaggJames Martin Stagg
Group Captain Sir James Martin Stagg, CB, OBE, FRSE was a British Royal Air Force meteorologist who notably persuaded General Dwight D. Eisenhower to change the date of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II, from June 5 to June 6, 1944.Stagg was born in Dalkeith, Scotland...
, the final recommendation of June 6, 1944 as D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
. The citation accompanying his award of the U.S. Army Legion of Merit stated that "through Colonel Yates' good judgment, skill and sound leadership, reconciliation of the differences in forecasting methods were effected, resulting in the development of a procedure capable of utilizing the talents and facilities of both nations (U.S. and U.K.) and all services in a unified manner. The value of Colonel Yates' advice has since been proven as the day selected for the continental assault was probably the only day during the month of June on which the operation could have been launched." For this he received the Degree of Chevalier in the National Order of the Legion of Honor of France.
Air Force and Promotion to General
Upon his return to the United States in January 1945, Col. Yates was made Chief of the Weather Division which later was merged with the Weather Wing to form the Air Weather Service, which he commanded at Andrews Air Force BaseAndrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
, Md., until 1950. During this period he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in 1947, and transferred to the U.S. Air Force. On March 17, 1947, he flew the first scheduled weather reconnaissance mission over the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
. In 1950, Brig. Gen. Yates was appointed Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Development at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, and the following April he became Director of Research and Development with the Headquarters. He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 1952.
Patrick Air Force Base and the Pentagon
Maj. Gen. Yates was commander of the Air Force Missile Test Center, Patrick Air Force BasePatrick Air Force Base
Patrick Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located between Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach, in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was named in honor of Major General Mason Patrick. An Air Force Space Command base, it is home to the 45th Space Wing...
, Fla., from 1954 to 1960. During this tour he was awarded the Navy Legion of Merit for his services in connection with the Navy Project Vanguard
Project Vanguard
Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory , which intended to launch the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Missile Annex, Florida....
and the Navy Ballistic Missile Program Polaris
UGM-27 Polaris
The Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile built during the Cold War by Lockheed Corporation of California for the United States Navy....
. in 1960 Yates was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General and appointed Deputy Director of Defense Research & Engineering (Ranges and Space Ground Support) at the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
.
Scientific Appointments
Yates was a President of the American Meteorological SocietyAmerican Meteorological Society
The American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
, a member of the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences, and a Fellow of the American Rocket Society
American Rocket Society
The American Rocket Society began its existence on April 4, 1930, under the name of the American Interplanetary Society. It was founded by science fiction writers G. Edward Pendray, David Lasser, Laurence Manning and others. The members originally conducted their own rocket experiments in New York...
.
Yates younger brother Elmer P. Yates
Elmer P. Yates
Elmer P. Yates was a Major General in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who saw service in the Vietnam War. He was the younger brother of Air Force Lt. General Donald Norton Yates....
also graduated from West Point and became a Major General in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
See also
- James Martin StaggJames Martin StaggGroup Captain Sir James Martin Stagg, CB, OBE, FRSE was a British Royal Air Force meteorologist who notably persuaded General Dwight D. Eisenhower to change the date of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II, from June 5 to June 6, 1944.Stagg was born in Dalkeith, Scotland...
- Sverre PetterssenSverre PetterssenSverre Petterssen was a Norwegian meteorologist, prominent in the field of weather analysis and forecasting, and an international leader in meteorology.-Early life:...