Skip to main content
Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

The Navy Department Library

Tags
Related Content
Sources

Adapted from "Captain Vincent Francis Casey, United States Navy" [biography, dated 6 July 1962] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.

 
Topic
  • Operations
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • Korean Conflict 1950-1954
  • China Service 1937-1939, 1945-1957
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Vincent Francis Casey

16 July 1908 - [no death date]

Download PDF Version [244KB]

Born in Los Angeles, California, Vincent Francis Casey attended the University of Southern California, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 1935. He began naval service in June 1935 with flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, and was designated Naval Aviator in 1936. Prior to the outbreak of Work War II, he flew with Fighting Squadron Five (The Red Rippers) at the International Air Races, Lima, Peru, in 1937 and Fighting Squadron Four at the National Air Races in Cleveland in 1939.

In the fall of 1941 he joined USS Long Island (first of World War II converted carriers) and in 1943 became Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron Twenty-One, and was Commander Air Group Twenty-One from September 1943 to December 1944, based on  USS Belleau Wood. While serving in that assignment he saw action at Guam, Palau, Celebes, Morotai, the Philippines, Formosa and Okinawa. He also participated in the Second Battle of the Philippines and the first strikes on Manila. His decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon for service with Task Force Thirty-Eight and Task Force Fifty-Eight.

Returning to the United States early in 1945, he was attached to the Office of the Bureau of Aeronautics General Representative, Western District, Los Angeles, California. During 1945 to 1946 he was Assistant Experimental Officer at the Naval Ordnance Test Station, Inyokern, California, and after instruction at the General Line School, had a year’s duty with Carrier Air Group Five.

 For two years he was Operations Officer at the Naval Air Station, Moffett Field, California and in 1950 assumed command of Composite Squadron Eleven. During the period 1951-1952 he served in USS Philippine Sea, operating in the Korean area during the hostilities there, and in January 1953 became Executive Officer of the Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. In the fall of 1954 he was assigned to Headquarters, Continental Air Defense Command and in May 1956 became Commanding officer of the Naval Air Station, Agana, Guam, Marianas Island, where he remained until July 1958.

Assigned next to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department, he was Assistant Director of the Shore Establishments Division. Effective January 1, 1960, the Bureau of Aeronautics and the Bureau of Ordnance were consolidated. He then served as Executive Officer to the Assistant Chief Field Support in the new Bureau of Naval Weapons. In April 1961 he was ordered to duty as Chief of Staff and Aide to the Commander Fleet Air, Jacksonville, with headquarters at the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida.  

 

Personal Data:

Date and Place of Birth: 7/16/08, Los Angeles, California

Parents: Arthur J. and Mary Adelaide (Meyer) Casey

Education: UCLA (BA, 1935); NAS, Pensacola, Florida (flight training); General Line School, Newport, Rhode Island

Decorations and Medals:

Distinguished Flying Cross: “For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as Commanding Officer of Fighting squadron Twenty-One, attached to the USS Belleau Wood, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the forward Pacific Area, from August 4 to October 25, 1944. Gallantly directing his squadron in a number of devastating attacks against the enemy aircraft and inflicting severe damage upon enemy installations and shipping. As a result of his combat pilot training and superb leadership, he contributed materially to the safety of his squadron, losing only one pilot in action and none operationally…”

Presidential Unit Citation (USS Belleau Wood): “For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore and afloat in the Pacific War Area from September 18, 1943 to August 15, 1945… Daring and dependable in combat, the Belleau Wood with her gallant officers and men rendered loyal service in achieving the ultimate defeat of the Japanese Empire…”

American Defense Service Medal

American Campaign Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with seven stars

World War II Victory Medal

China Service Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Korean Service Medal with two stars

United Nations Service Medal

 Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two stars

Korean Presidential Unit Citation

Promotions (Dates of Rank Only):

Aviation Cadet, USNR   9 June 1935

Ensign, USNR                1 September 1936

Lieutenant (jg), USNR    4 September 1939

Lieutenant (jg), USN       1 March 1941

Lieutenant, USN              2 January 1942

Lieutenant Commander, USN 1 May 1943

Commander, USN     15 March 1944

Captain, USN              1 July 1955

Chronological Transcript of Service:

Jul 1935 Sept 1936    Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla, (flight training)

Sept 1936 Jun 1937   Fighting Squadron Five

Jun 1937 Feb 1940     Fighting Squadron Four

Feb 1940 Jan 1941    Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Flo. (Instructor)

Jan 1941 Sept 1941   Naval Air Station, Pensacola (Inspection and Test Superintendent)

Sep 1941 Mar 1943   USS Long Island (Landing Signal Officer)

Mar 1943 Sep 1943 staff, Commander Fleet Air, West Coast

Sep 1943 Dec 1944 Fighting Sqd. 21 (CO) and CAG 21

Jan 1945 Sep 1945   Office of the Bureau of Aeronautics General Representative, Western District, Los Angeles, Calif. (Liaison Off.)

Sep 1945 Jun 1946 Naval Ordnance Test Station, Inyokern, Calif. (Ass’t Experiential Officer)

Jun 1947 Jun 1947 US Naval School, General Line, Newport, Rhode Island (instruction)

Jun 1947 Aug 1948 Carrier Air Group Five (CO)

Aug 1948 Aug 1950 Naval Air Station, Moffett Field, Calif. (Operations Officer)

Aug 1950 Sep 1951 Composite Squadron Eleven (CO)

Sep 1951 Dec 1952 USS Philippine Sea (Operations Officer)

Jan 1953 Sep 1954 Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Fla. (Executive Officer)

Sep 1954 Apr 1956 Headquarters, Continental Air Defense Command

May 1956 Jul 1958 Naval Air Station, Agana, Guam (CO), additional duty as Commander Naval Air Bases, Marianas

Aug 1958 Jan 1960 Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Dept. (Ass’t Director, Shore Establishments Division)

Jan 1960 Bureau of Naval Weapons, Navy Dept. (Executive Director of the Ass’t Chief Field Support)

Apr. 1961 (orders) Chief of Staff and Aide, Commander Fleet Air, Jacksonville, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida

 

END

Published: Tue Oct 13 10:13:37 EDT 2020