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Adapted from "Admiral Jackson Dominick Arnold, United States Navy, Deceased" [biography, dated 11 February 1972] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
Topic
  • Aviation
  • Cruises, Deployments, and Exercises
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
  • Vietnam Conflict 1962-1975
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Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Jackson Dominick Arnold 

3 November 1912-8 December 2007


Photo of Admiral Jackson D. Arnold copied from page 72 of the 1934 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

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Jackson Dominick Arnold was born in Gainesville, Florida, on November 3, 1912, son of Mrs. (Irene E. Dominick) Arnold and the late Major Albert Charles Arnold, USA. He attended Hyattsville (Maryland) High School; Central high School, Washington, DC, and the Stadium High School, Tacoma, Washington, prior to his appointment to the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, from the Third District of South Carolina in 1930. As a midshipman he played varsity tennis and was a member of the “N” club. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on May 30, 1934, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Admiral, to date from October 14, 1970.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1934, he reported on board USS Arizona, and in January 1937 was detached for flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. Designated Naval Aviator in December 1937, he then joined Torpedo Squadron SIX, as Material Officer, operating from USS Enterprise. Transferred to Scouting USS Savannah in June 1938, he had duty as Senior Aviator of Cruiser Scouting Squadron EIGHT until may 1940. He was next assigned to the Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, as Assistant Assembly and Repair Officer, and Inspection and Survey officer, and was so serving when the Japanese attacked the Naval Base there on December 7, 1941.

From May 1942 to March 1943 he had duty in connection with the forming and he training of personnel for Torpedo Squadron TWO at the Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He commanded that squadron, which has attached to USS Hornet, until June 1943, when he became Commander Carrier Air Group TWO. For outstanding services while on board the Hornet, he was awarded the following:

Distinguished Flying Cross: “For heroism and extraordinary achievement…as Commander of Torpedo Squadron TWO..in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Hollandia, New uinea Area, April 21, 23, and 24; and on Truk Islands, April 29 and 30, 1944…” during which he destroyed three enemy twin-engined medium bombers and a large enemy antiaircraft gun position and directed attacks on fuel ans ammunition dumps, barracks, and lare warehouse areas.

Navy Cross: “…Particpating in a strike against hostile surface units, Commander Arnold scored a damaging near miss on a carrier and directed his flight in damaging and probably destroying the enemy vessel and in obtaining a torpedo hit on a cruiser…” on June 20, 1944, during the First battle of the Philippine Sea.

Air Medal: “…On September 12, 1944, in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, he skillfully attacked and destroyed a single engine enemy fighter plane while leading a strike against important enemy bases…”

Silver Star Medal: “…On September 21, 1944, in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, he personally directed naval air units in a strike against an important enemy harbor… the results (of which) were devastating to the enemy causing the destruction of and damage to a sizeable amount of merchant shipping and shore facilities…”

He was also awarded Gold Stars in lieu of the Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Air Medal, and a Gold Star in Lieu of the Second Distinguished Flying Cross for completing twenty-five missions, during the period March 30 to September 7, 1944, in the Guam, Woleai, Ponape, Palau, Bonin, and Philippine Islands Areas. He is also entitled to the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded USS Hornet.

Returning to the United States in December 1944, he was assigned to the Aviation Plans Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), Navy Department, Washington, DC. There he was a member of a Board to develop a personnel program similar to the Integrated Aeronautic Program developed by Admiral Arthur W. Radford, USN; and later was recorder of the Board to review the Integrated Aeronautic Program in order to insure policies for Naval aviation which would provide a unified program capable of expansion in time of national emergency. During the period October 1946 to December 1947 he served as Head of the Integrated Aeronautic Program Unit, which was engaged in monitoring the program, and preparing reports for DCNO (Air) and the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics. He also had duty as Secretary for the Air Planning Group engaged in the development of policy for the Naval Aviation Program.

In January 1948 he joined USS Boxer as Air Officer, and in September of that year was detached for duty as Assistant Overhaul and Repair Officer, later Overhaul and Repair Officer, at the Naval Air Station, San Diego, California, and while there was designated, September 27, 1948, aeronautical engineering duty officer. In June 1950 he reported for instruction at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in June 1952 received the degree of Master of Business Administration. While there he had industry training, July-August 1951, at the General Mills Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He became Head of the Technical Division, Office of the Bureau of Aeronautics General Representative, Western District, with headquarters in Los Angeles, California.

He was Bureau of Aeronautics Representative, Burbank, California, from July 1953 until March 1955, when he was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, as Director of the Contracts Division.

Under orders of March 27, 1958, he served as Commanding Officer, Naval Air Material Center, Naval Base, Philadelphia, and on July 31, 1961, he was again ordered to the Navy Department to serve in the Bureau of Naval Weapons (combination of Bureaus of Aeronautics and Ordance, effective January 1, 1961), as Assistant Chief for Production and Quality Control. On November 30, 1963 he joined the Staff of Commander Naval Air Force, US Pacific Fleet as Force Material Officer.

In September 1966, Admiral Arnold assumed duty as Deputy Chief of Naval Material for Logistic Support, Navy Department. In August 1967 he became Vice Chief of Naval Material and on June 30, 1970 he relieved Admiral I.J. Galatin as Chief of Naval Material. “For exceptionally meritorious service.. as Vice Chief of Naval Material from August 1967 to May 1970, and Acting Chief of Naval Material from June 1970 to September 1970 and as Chief of Naval Material from October 1970 to December 1971…” he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. On December 1, 1971 he was transferred to the Retired List of the US Navy.

In addition to the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star, the Air Medal with four Gold Stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Admiral Arnold has the American Defense Service Medal with silver star (five engagements); World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; the Vietnam Service Medal with one star and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He also has the Expert Rifleman Medal, the Expert Pistol Shot Medal and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge.

He is a member of the Army-Navy Country Club, Arlington, Virginia, the American Jujitsu Guild, Honolulu, the Quiet Birdmen, and the Harvard Business School Club of Washington, DC.

He died December 8, 2007.

END

Published: Tue Sep 01 09:26:35 EDT 2020