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Adapted from "Captain Myron Thomas Evans, United States Navy" [biography, dated 7 May 1956] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
 

Adapted from "Captain Myron Thomas Evans, United States Navy"
[biography, dated 7 May 1956] in Modern Biographical Files collection, Navy Department Library.
Topic
  • Aviation
Document Type
  • Biography
Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • NHHC-Library

Myron Thomas Evans

19 April 1903-[no death date]


Photo of Captain Myron T. Evans copied from page 188 of the 1927 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy yearbook 'Lucky Bag'.

PDF Version [717KB]

Myron Thomas Evans was born in Coalton, Ohio on April 19, 1903, son of Mrs. Elizabeth S. (Lloyd Evans and the late Edgar T. Evans. He attended Jackson (Ohio) High School and Culver (Indiana) Military Academy, prior to his appointment to the US Navy Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, form his native state in 1923. As a Midshipman he won Class numeral in Varsity boxing, was a member of the Glee Club and played Company football and baseball. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 2, 1927, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain, to date from March 20, 1945.

Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1927, he joined USS Tennessee, and in June 1929 transferred to USS William Jones. Detached from that destroyer in September 1929, he was ordered to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, for flight training. Designated Naval Aviator on August 22, 1930, he next had duty with the aviation units aboard the battleships Idaho and New York successively.

Returning to the United States in May 1933, he was a Flight Instructor at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida, until June 1935, after which he served with Fighting Squadron THREE, based on USS Ranger. In January 1937 he joined Patrol Squadron SIXTEEN, and was a member of that squadron, the first to occupy Sitka, Alaska, during the establishment of the Naval Air Base, Sitka. He was assigned in July 1938 to Patrol Squadron TWENTY TWO (ex- Patrol Squadron FOUR), and in June 1940, transferred to Patrol Squadron TWNETY THREE, to serve with that squadron until June 1941.

From the beginning of World War II, December 8, 1941 until October 1942, he commanded Cruiser Aircraft Squadrons FOUR and SIX. In that command he participated in various operations including the battles of Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, and Eastern Solomons. Following duty as Air Officer in the Staff of the Commander Hawaiian Sea Frontier, he reported in July 1943 as Gunnery Officer at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas. Returning to the combat area in February 1944, he joined USS Yorktown as Officer, and later become Executive Officer of that aircraft carrier. For outstanding service while attached to the Yorktown, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” and is entitled to the Ribbon for, and a facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation awarded the Yorktown. The citations follow in part:

Bronze Star Medal:  “For meritorious service as Air Officer of the USS Yorktown in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific War Area, from June 30, 1944 to April 10, 1945. Serving with distinction during this period, Captain Evans constantly improved flight deck procedures, maintenance methods and air operations to maintain high aircraft availability and to inflict maximum damage on the enemy… (He) contributed materially to the success of the air department in the attack on the Marianas Islands. July 1944; on the Western Caroline Islands, July 1944; on Philippine shipping and central Philippine airfields, November 1944; on Luzon airfields in support of the occupation of Mindoro, December 1944; on Luzon and Formosa airfields, shipping in South China Sea and airfields along the French Indo-China Coast, Canton- Hong Kong area and Formosa, January 1945; on shipping and airfields at Formosa and Nansel Shoto, January 1945; attack on Tokyo Bay area airfields and aircraft factories; on Chichi Jima, Volcano Islands. February 1945; and in support of invasion of Okinawa, March and April 1945…”

Presidential Unit Citation:  “For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, at sea, and on shore in the Pacific War Area… Daring and dependable in combat, the Yorktown with her gallant officers and men rendered loyal service in achieving the ultimate defect of the Japanese Empire.”

Detached from the Yorktown in August 1945. He had a period of hospitalization before reporting in January 1946 as Commanding Officer of the Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Crows Landing, Virginia. He continued to command that Air Station until June 1946, when he became Bureau of Aeronautics Representative, New York, New York. Two years later, June 1948, he assumed command of USS Albemarle, and in July 1949 was relieved for duty as Deputy Director of the Guided Missile Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy department, Washington, DC. He remained there until October 1950, and following an assignment which extended to January 1953, as Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station, Point Mugu, California, he reported as U.S. Naval Attaché for Air, Caracas, Venezuela.

In March 1956 he was ordered to duty as senior member of the Physical Evaluation Board, Fourth District, with headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In addition to the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V” and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Captain Evans has the American Defense Service Medal; the American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver stars and two bronze stars (twelve engagements); World War II Victory Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

END 

Published: Tue Apr 28 09:31:52 EDT 2020