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Adapted from "Rear Admiral John Paige Benningtont, United States Navy"
[biography, dated 14 January 1948] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
 

Adapted from "Rear Admiral John Paige Benningtont, United States Navy"
[biography, dated 14 January 1948] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.Adapted from "Rear Admiral John Paige Benningtont, United States Navy"
[biography, dated 14 January 1948] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
Adapted from "Rear Admiral John Paige Benningtont, United States Navy"
[biography, dated 14 January 1948] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Ordnance and Weapons
  • Navigation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

John Paige Bennington

2 April 1900-[no death date]


Photo of Rear Admiral John P. Bennington copied from page 178 of the 1922 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

PDF Version [5.6MB]

Rear Admiral Bennington was born in Cardiff, Maryland on April 2 1900, the son of Thomas J. and Emma Henry Bennington. He attended Slate Ridge High School in Cardiff prior to entering the US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, on appointment from his from his native state on June 25, 1918. While a Midshipman he was a member of the baseball squad. Graduated on June 2, 1922, and commissioned Ensign to rank from June 3, 1922, he subsequently progressed through the grades until his promotion in August, 1944, to Captain, to rank from July 10, 1943.

Following graduation in June, 1922, Rear Admiral Bennington had brief temporary duty during July and August in the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Department, Washington, DC. On August 31, 1922, he reported to USS Delaware, and served aboard that battleship, operating with Division 2, Battleship Divisions, Scouting Fleet, until detached on June 8, 1923, with orders to the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, for instruction in torpedoes.

Rear Admiral Bennington had duty at sea for the next five years, serving aboard USS McFarland, a unit of Squadron 14, Scouting Fleet, from January 1924 to May 1925; USS MacLeish, from May 1925 to September 1926, during which time he was a member of the landing force ashore in Shanghai, China, in June and July, 1925; USS Paul Jones, from September 1926 to March 1928, participating in operations in the Yangtze River valley during October 1926 and again, March to June, 1927; and last, USS Nevada, a unit of Battleship Division 2, Scouting Fleet, from July 1928 until May 1929. He had instruction in chemical warfare at Edgewood Arsenal, Edgewood, Maryland, during the latter assignment.

Instruction in general line duties at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis, Maryland, from June 1929 until June 1930 preceded instruction in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, Washington, DC, until June, 1931, when he was ordered to duty in command of the USS Ontario. He served as Commanding Officer of the Ontario, station ship at Tutuila, Samoa, until relieved of command on January 20, 1933. Returning to San Francisco, California, in February, 1933, he proceeded to Washington, DC, where he had duty in the Training Division (Enlisted Personnel) of the Bureau of Navigation from March 3, 1933, until May 10, 1935.

Rear Admiral Bennington again served in the battleship Nevada, then operating with Battleship Division 2, Battle Fleet, from June 1, until June 1937, after which he commanded USS Pinola, until May 31, 1938. He returned to the Naval Academy for duty in connection with the Bureau of Navigation training courses, and detached on June 2, 1941, he reported for duty in connection with fitting out the USS Vulcan, auxiliary repair ship, and for duty as navigator in Iceland prior to and after war was declared by the United States on Japan, Germany, and Italy on December 8, 1941.

Detached from the Vulcan on October 8, 1942, Rear Admiral Bennington reported to the first Naval District for brief duty, after which on January 16, 1943, he went aboard the USS Phoenix to serve in that light cruiser first as navigator and later as executive officer during operations in the Southwest Pacific until June 14, 1944. For meritorious service as Executive Officer and Chief Evaluator for Combat Information Center, attached to the Phoenix, during the period December 26, 1943 to June 6, 1944, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with the following citation:

Bronze Star Medal:

“For meritorious achievement as Executive Officer and Chief Evaluator for Combat Information Center attached to the USS Phoenix during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific Area from December 26, 1943 to June 6, 1944. Fearless and skilled in the performance of duty, Captain (then Commander) Bennington initiated and developed the Office of Chief Evaluator for Combat Information Center and from this battle station rendered invaluable assistance to his Commanding Officer during a raid on the Wakde-Samar Area of Dutch New Guinea, April 29-30, in an attack by torpedo planes June 5, and in vigorous pursuit of five enemy destroyers northwest of Biak Island Schouten Group, June 8-9, 1944, all hazardous night operations. As Executive Officer, Captain Bennington was in large measure responsible for welding his crew into a formidable combat unit and for the success of the Phoenix in carrying out numerous effective ship bombardments of hostile positions. His loyal devotion to duty throughout these vital missions was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Untied States Naval Service.”

Rear Admiral Bennington returned to the United States in June, 1944, and following brief temporary duty at Headquarters, 12th Naval District, San Francisco, California, reported to the Office of the chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC where he served as Ordnance Assistant to the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Material.

Detached from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations on October 10, 1945, Rear Admiral Bennington reported for duty as Commanding Officer of USS Jason (repair ship) at Tsingtao, China, on December 2, 1945. The Jason operated with Commander, Seventh Fleet (Pacific) in Tsangtao, Shanghai, and Guam, during the period of Rear Admiral Bennington’s command.

Relieved of command of USS Jason on January 15, 1947, Rear Admiral Bennington reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (Fleet Maintenance) on February 10, 1947, and served there until relieved of all active duty, pending retirement. He was transferred to the Retired List of the Navy and promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on December 1, 1947.

In addition to the Bronze Star Medal, Rear Admiral Bennington has the Victory Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal (USS MacLeish), and the Yangtze Service Medal (USS Paul Jones), and is entitled to the American Defense Service Medal; the European-African-Middle Eastern Area Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal; the American Area Campaign Medal; and the World War II Victory Medal.

END 

Published: Mon Jul 20 11:30:37 EDT 2020