William Edward Ellis

William Edward Ellis (November 7, 1908 – September 26, 1982) was a Vice admiral in the U.S. Navy. He ended his 40 year career as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic (SACLANT). Ellis first distinguished himself as a naval aviator during World War II, during which time he earned commendations for service in the North African Campaign and, later, valor awards for his leadership as Commander Air Group 18 aboard USS Intrepid.

William E. Ellis
Captain William E. Ellis pictured in the inaugural cruise book for the USS Forrestal, 1957
Nickname(s)"El Gropo"
Born(1908-11-07)November 7, 1908
Burlington, North Carolina, United States
DiedSeptember 26, 1982(1982-09-26) (aged 73)
Norfolk, Virginia
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1926–1968
RankVice Admiral
UnitVGF-26, USS Sangamon
VF-18, USS Intrepid
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Distinguished Service Medal

Ellis was promoted to Intrepid's Air Officer in November 1944, beginning his transition to naval command. In the immediate wake of the Korean War he captained the escort carrier USS Badoeng Strait, but his next assignment gave him command of the supercarrier USS Forrestal for its inaugural cruise in 1957. Following his year with Forrestal he was made Chief of Staff to Commander Carrier Division 6. A year later Ellis received a rank promotion to Rear Admiral and by 1961 he was serving as Commander Carrier Division 2. In 1964, along with another rank promotion to Vice Admiral, Ellis became Commander Sixth Fleet. Ellis's promotion to Chief of Staff SACLANT occurred close to his retirement in 1968. Ellis died from cancer on September 26, 1982.

Early life
United States Naval Academy senior portrait, 1930

William Edward Ellis was born to C.B. and Margaret C. Ellis on November 7, 1908, in Burlington, North Carolina. C.B. Ellis opened a sewing machine shop at the turn of the century which he later transformed into C.B. Ellis Music. The elder Ellis owned and operated the music shop into his late 80s.[1] William plead with his family to consent to his enlistment in the Navy, which was agreed to on the condition that he earn appointment to the United States Naval Academy. After attending nearby Werntz Preparatory School in Annapolis and receiving the backing of his district's congressional representative Charles Manly Stedman, he entered the Academy in 1926 and graduated in 1930.[2]

His first assignment was to the USS Mississippi, though he soon moved into flight training and was designated a naval aviator by 1932.[3] Ellis served briefly aboard the USS Saratoga, his first carrier experience, and in 1937 was an aviation ordinance and landing signal officer aboard the USS Enterprise. His last post before the outbreak of World War II was Commanding Officer (CO) of a training squadron from 1940 – 1942.[4]

World War II

By October 16, 1942, Ellis was serving as CO of VGF-26, the escort fighter squadron aboard USS Sangamon. During Operation Torch Ellis primarily remained on the carrier as Fighter Director Officer, though he did lead one flight over Moroccan territory. For his service he was given an official commendation from the Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, and authorized to wear the Commendation Ribbon.[5]

Following his service on Sangamon, Ellis was advanced from squadron command aboard a "jeep" carrier to air group command aboard an Essex-class carrier—specifically USS Intrepid's Air Group 18. He picked up the nickname "El Gropo," which the men cobbled together from his first name, his position as group commander and also his purported shortcomings regarding navigation.[6] His command lasted from August 30, 1943 until November 3, 1944,[7] when he was promoted to Air Officer. This change moved him out of the air group and into the ship's complement of officers. Ellis was awarded the Air Medal for "skillfully directing his group in its first combat operation" for the month of September 1944, comprising strikes against the Palau's and the Philippines.[8]

The group carried out its most intensive strike schedule in October. Ellis won the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Navy Cross for his role as target coordinator this month. The latter was awarded for Ellis's role in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He flew three consecutive ten-hour days throughout the engagement, confronting two geographically distinct enemy formations both containing capital ships. He was singled out in particular for his role as target coordinator in the initial strikes against the Japanese battleship force and its Yamato-class battleships.[9] Under his leadership, Air Group 18 racked up 187 enemies destroyed airborne, 69 ships sunk and a number of others damaged, including a carrier, a light carrier and five battleships.[10] Ellis served as Air Officer up until April 1945, when Intrepid suffered its fifth Kamikaze crash and had to return to port for extensive repairs.[11]

Post-War

After the war, Ellis served as CO of the Fleet All Weather Training Unit Atlantic, at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. He began this duty in 1948 and remained there until 1949, at which time he briefly met President Harry S. Truman.[12] Ellis attended the Naval War College for the term 1950 – 1951.[13] From July 1953 – July 1954 he captained the USS Badoeng Strait, an escort carrier recently modernized to serve in an anti-submarine warfare role.[14]

In 1956 Ellis was made captain of the Navy's new supercarrier USS Forrestal.[15] He commanded the ship during its inaugural cruise and subsequently was fleeted up to Rear admiral on July 18, 1958.[4] His first post as a two-star admiral was Chief of Staff to Commander Carrier Division 6.[16] Ellis stepped back into a command role with his appointment as Commander Carrier Division 2 in 1961.[17] On June 2, 1964 he was given a third star and Vice admiral rank, and put in charge of the Sixth Fleet.[18] After two years serving in this capacity he was relieved of his command and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Specifically recognized in his full citation are Ellis's adroit management of an Atlantic command at a time when the Vietnam War pulled increasing Navy resource to the Pacific; and the swiftness with which he assisted in the recovery of a hydrogen bomb lost off the coast of Spain.[8] Ellis's final position within the Navy was as Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, a post he served in during his last year of service, 1968.[3] He died in a Norfolk, Virginia hospital on September 26, 1982 as a result of cancer.[19][20]

Awards and decorations
Badge Naval Aviator Badge
1st Row Navy Cross
2nd Row Navy Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal
3rd Row Navy Commendation Medal Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze service star American Defense Service Medal with service star
4th Row European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with service star Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two service stars National Defense Service Medal with service star
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References

Citations

  1. Don Bolden 2014.
  2. Howard White 1958.
  3. The Times-News 1968.
  4. The Times-News 1958.
  5. Wieber 1942, pp. 76–77.
  6. Fletcher 2012, p. 89.
  7. Coleman 1944, p. 4.
  8. The Times-News 1966.
  9. North Carolina Digital Collections, Sixth Fleet in Tarheel Hands.
  10. Coleman 1944, p. 5.
  11. The Times-News & 1964(2).
  12. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Log of President Truman's Eighth Visit to Key West, Florida.
  13. US Naval War College, Naval War College Strategy and Tactics Class 1950 – 1951.
  14. Hyperwar, USS Badoeng Strait (CVE-116).
  15. Howard White 1956.
  16. Naval Aviation News, 'Gray Ghost' For Practice.
  17. Navysite.de, USS Independence Mediterranean Cruise Book, 1961.
  18. The Times-News & 1964(1).
  19. The New York Times 1982.
  20. The Washington Post 1982.

Bibliography

  • Fletcher, Gregory (2012), Intrepid Aviators: The American Flyers Who Sank Japan's Greatest Battleship, Penguin Publishing Group, ISBN 978-1-101-58696-9
  • Gandt, Robert; White, Bill (2009), Intrepid: The Epic Story of America's Most Legendary Warship, Broadway Books, ISBN 978-0-7679-2998-1

Military documents

Online sources

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