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Adapted from "Captain Roy S. Belcher, Jr., United States Navy" [biography, dated 11 August 1965] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • Korean Conflict 1950-1954
  • Vietnam Conflict 1962-1975
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Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Roy S. Belcher, Jr.

18 March 1916 – [no death date]

PDF Version [660KB]

Captain Roy S. Belcher, Jr., was born in Sommerville, Texas, on March 18, 1916, the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Belcher, who now reside in Topeka, Kansas. Upon completion of high school, he earned his bachelor of science degree at Kansas State College. 

Captain Belcher entered the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1940, and completed flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, in May 1941. He was commissioned an Ensign on the same date. He remained at Pensacola until September of that year as a Flight Instructor. In September 1941, he was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas were he was a flight instructor until September 1943. 

In September, he became Executive Officer of Composite Squadron FIFTEEN serving aboard several carriers in anti-submarine operations in both the Pacific and the Atlantic until September 1944 when he was named Commanding Officer and the squadron became a training squadron for Atlantic Fleet antisubmarine warfare pilots. In April 1945 he became Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron THREE, a unit of the Atlantic Fleet in the post war period. From February 1948 to December 1948, he underwent training at the General Line School at Monterey, California. Upon successful completion of the school Captain Belcher became Officer in Charge of Basic Training Unit THREE at the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Saufley Field, Pensacola, Florida, where he remained until August 1950, when he again became a student, this time at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia. 

Following graduation from the College in December 1950, Captain Belcher became Air Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Mindoro, where he remained until July of 1952. In August of 1952, he became a student at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation in June 1953, he became Executive Officer of the Naval Air Technical Training Unit at the Naval Air Station, Olathe, Kansas; where he remained until June 1955.

From July 1955 to October 1956, Captain Belcher was Executive Officer of Composite Squadron TWELVE, the Atlantic Fleet Carrier Early Warning Squadron. He then returned to the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, as a member of the Staff. 

From August 1959 to September 1960, he was on sea duty as Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Roosevelt. In October 1960, Captain Belcher became Assistant Chief of Staff for Plans and Operations for the Commander US Naval Base, Norfolk, Virginia. Then in June in 1962, as a result of a reorganization of the Naval Base, he became Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Logistics for the consolidated Staff of the Commandant Fifth Naval District and Commander Naval Base, Norfolk. In August of 1963, Captain Belcher assumed command of the US Naval Station, Bermuda, and in April 1965 he was designated Commanding Officer of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit, University of Louisville, at Louisville, Kentucky. 

Captain Belcher’s promotion dates are: 

Ensign, April 1941

LTJG, August 1942

LT., March 1943

LCDR, October 1945

CDR., July 1951

CAPT., July 1960

Published: Thu Nov 07 08:36:46 EST 2019