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Adapted from "Commander Floyd John Bertoglio, United States Navy, Deceased"
[biography, dated 23 June 1959] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

Topic
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Floyd John Bertoglio

29 April 1918-19 November 1979

PDF Version [1.1MB]

Floyd John Bertoglio was born in Benld, Illinois, on April 29, 1918, son of Peter P. and Helen (Mayernick) Bertoglio. He received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Illinois College at Jacksonville, Illinois in 1940 and while there worked at a school for the deaf in Jacksonville, becoming interested in teaching the deaf. He received a scholarship to train at Clark School for the Deaf at Northampton, Massachusetts and at the same time attended Massachusetts State College at Amherst, from which he received the degree of Master of Science in education in 1941.

He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in December 1941 and after elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Glenview, Illinois was appointed Aviation Cadet, USNR in February 1942. He was commissioned Ensign, USNR on August 17, 1942 and subsequently attained the rank of Commander to date from January 1, 1956, having transferred to the Regular Navy on September 16, 1946.

After receiving his appointment in 1942, he had flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. Designated Naval Aviator on August 17, 1942, he joined Scouting Squadron THIRTY-THREE, base at Quonset Point, Rhode Island and operating on antisubmarine patrol. In June 1944 he transferred to Torpedo Squadron FORTY-FIVE and was cited as follows:

Distinguished Flying Cross: “For meritorious achievement…during operations against enemy Japanese shipping in the vicinity of Formosa on January 15, 1945. In the face of intense barrage of hostile antiaircraft fire from ship and shore batteries, Lieutenant Bertoglio pressed home a determined bombing attack on an enemy destroyer at Tochien Harbor to score a damaging hit which probably sank the vessel…”

Silver Star Medal: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity…in action against major units of the Japanese Fleet in the vicinity of Honshu on March 19, 1945. Participating in a bombing attack against hostile aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers, (he) braved intense antiaircraft fire from ship and shore batteries to score a direct damaging hit on an enemy carrier…”

He was awarded the Air Medal with Gold Stars in lieu of the Second and Third Air Medals and a Gold Star in lieu of the Second Distinguished Flying Cross for completing twenty missions in the Western Pacific Area during the period January 3 to April 1945. He is also entitled to the Ribbon for and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded USS San Jacinto.

Detached from Torpedo Squadron FORTY-FIVE in June 1945, he returned to the United States and reported as a Combat Team Instructor at the Naval Air Station, Opa Locka, Florida. He remained there for four months, after which he served in the Distribution Control Branch, Aviation Personnel Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, DC. In July 1947 he joined Attack Squadron SEVENTY-FIVE, based at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, later on board USS Leyte and finally on board USS Philippine Sea. In that assignment he was Officer in Charge of the squadron detachment on the Mediterranean cruise. He participated in several Mediterranean cruises, in addition to cruises to the Davis Straits (to test cold weather flying) and to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

He was a student at the General Line School, Newport, Rhode Island, from July 1949 until June 1950. Completing his instruction, he next had duty as an Instructor with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Unit at the Illinois Institute of Technology at Chicago. In July 1952 he reported for instruction at the Combat Information Center School, Chicago, and in January 1953 joined the carrier escort Gilbert Island to serve as CIC Officer and Assistant Operations Officer.

Detached from the Gilbert Island in April 1954, after participating in cruises to the Mediterranean, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Guantanamo Bay, he was assigned until April 1956 as Officer in Charge of the Ground Control Interception Unit attached to the Fleet All Weather Training Unit, Key West, Florida. He again had duty in the Distribution Control Branch, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations from April 1956 to April 1957, when he transferred to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, to serve as Head of the Statistics Section, Aviation Officer Distribution Control Branch.

In July 1958 he became Commanding Officer of Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron THREE and in June 1959 was ordered to duty with Carrier Division SIX.

In addition to the Silver Star Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star, the Air Medal with two Gold Stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Commander Bertoglio has the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three stars: the World War II Victory Medal; the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Europe Clasp; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one star.

END 

Published: Mon Jul 20 11:11:47 EDT 2020