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Adapted from "Captain Walter W. Alldredge, United States Navy" [biography, dated 23 April 1971] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

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  • Biography
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  • Vietnam Conflict 1962-1975
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Walter Whitmore Alldredge 

3 July 1920 -

PDF Version [1.4MB]

Walter Whitmore Alldredge was born in Richmond, California, on 3 July 1920, son of Walter W. and Erna Anita (Riebel) Alldredge. He attended Coalinga Junior College, Coalinga, California, prior to enlisting on 27 July 1942 in the US Navy. Appointed Aviation Cadet, US Naval Reserve, he had flight training and on 1 September 1943 was commissioned Ensign, USNR and designated Naval Aviator. Advancing progressively in rank, he subsequently attained that of Captain, to date from 1 September 1964, having transferred from the Naval Reserve to the Regular Navy on 8 April 1946.

After receiving his commission in 1943, he had advanced flight training until December of that year, and in January 1944 joined Dive Bombing Squadron TWO, attached to USS Hornet. He was awarded the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement...as Pilot of a Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron TWO...during action against enemy shipping in the vicinity of the Japanese-held Islands of Visayan, on September 24, 1944..." The citation further states in part: "Braving intense antiaircraft fire, (he) pressed home an attack to score a direct hit on a large enemy tanker..."

He also was awarded the Gold Stars in lieu of the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing twenty-five missions during the period 12 June 1944 to 13 September 1944 in the Pacific War Area. He is entitled to the Ribbon for the Presidential Unit Citation awarded USS Hornet.

From December 1944 to November 1945 he served in the Operation and Maintenance Department of Fighter Bombing Squadron NINETY-FIVE, attached to USS Bunker Hill, after which he was assigned to the Maintenance Department of Carrier Aircraft Service Unit THIRTY-THREE. In September 1946 he reported as a student, under the five term program, at the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, and in October 1947 joined Ground Control Approach (Radar) Unit No. 32, St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until April 1949. He had duty in connection with jet training with the Fleet All Weather Training Unit between May 1949 and January 1952 and while there established the Navy's first jet instrument training program.

After instruction at the General Line School, Monterey, California, he was assigned, in January 1953, to the Instruments Branch, Airborne Equipment Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, Washington, DC. He continued duty there until December 1954 and next month joined Fighter Squadron NINETY-FOUR, to serve as Operations Officer until July 1956, then as Executive Officer. In August 1958 he assumed command of Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED and FORTY-SIX and in August 1959 was detached for duty with Carrier Air Group TWELVE.

He had instruction at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia, between January and July 1960, when he reported as Head of the Airborne Attack/Defense Weapons Systems Section in the Aviation Plans Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department. In January 1963 he assumed command of Attack Carrier Air Group FIVE, based in USS Ticonderoga, which participated in operations in the Vietnam area. During the period March 1964 until June 1965 he had duty on the Staff of the Commander SEVENTH Fleet. He reported in August 1965 for instruction at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island and in April 1966 was assigned to the Joint Staff Office (Strategic Operations), Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, DC. Detached to the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Fallon, Nevada, in August 1969 he served as Commanding Officer. In April 1971 he was ordered to duty as Officer-in-Charge, Commander Seventh Fleet Staff, Detachment Charlie.

In addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Gold Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Captain Alldredge has the Joint Service Commendation Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

END 

Published: Thu Apr 27 08:37:12 EDT 2017