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Home Town Lonoke, Lonoke County, AR
Last Address Alameda County, California CAPT FRANK ROBERT McCRARY, US NAVY ret. WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II 10/01/1879 to 06/01/1952 BURIED AT: SECTION P SITE 2803 FORT ROSECRANS NATIONAL CEMETERY Note: Buried alongside wife, CY Mary Davison McCrary, USN
Date of Passing Jun 10, 1952
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Captain Frank Robert McCrary, USN Naval Aviator Number 91.
The Navy's first Lighter than Air (LTA) pilot.
Headed the Free Balloon and LTA training, 1915-1917.
The first CO of the Navy's first dirigible, Shenandoah, ZR-1.
Captain Frank Robert McCrary, USN: Born 1 October 1879, in Arkansas, Captain McCrary entered naval service on 11 September 1897 as a Naval Cadet at the US Naval Academy. He graduated with the Class of 1901. As a lieutenant commander, he was the first Navy’s first Lighter than Air (LTA) pilot, and executive officer of Pensacola Naval Air Station and headed up its Free Balloon and LTA training there, 1915-1917. He became the first CO of the Navy’s first dirigible, Shenandoah, ZR-1. He held that position from October 1923 to some time in 1924. The Shenandoah crashed in September 1925 under the command of his replacement due to violent weather in Ohio. There were 13 fatalities and 29 survivors.
McCrary was promoted to Captain on 22 January 1924. Captain McCrary was appointed commanding officer of NAS North Island (then called NAS San Diego) for the first time, and served there until 10 June 1926 when he assumed command of the USS Langley CV 1 until 4 January 1927. From there, he returned to North Island for the second time from 12 September 1927 until September 1930 when he assumed command of the USS Saratoga CV-3. He served in that capacity until June, 1932 when he transferred to the Naval War College. Next, McCrary is shown as one of the commandants of Taal Air Stalin at Pensacola Naval Air Station from June 1933 - May 1934.
His last assignment was Bureau of Aeronautics. He retired from the Navy June 30, 1936. The Navy re-called McCrary out of retirement and on November 1, 1940 he become Alameda Naval Air Station’s first commanding officer, until 1943, age 64.
He died at age 72 years on 10 June 1952, in Alameda County, California.
He married Chief Yeoman Mary B. Davison in Dublin, Ireland during WW I. Mary had been doing Red Cross work in France and became first American woman yeoman to serve in a foreign field at the Naval Aviation Headquarters in Paris. Their son, Commander Shannon McCrary, followed in his father’s footsteps as a Naval Aviator. Unfortunately, CDR Shannon McCrary was killed in a crash not far form Miramar Naval Air Station in 1956. Their other son was Captain Robert Davison McCrary, USN retired. During his 30-year naval career, Bob served on ten ships and in five shore assignments, with three of his assignments being as Commanding Officer. He died in 2011.
.oOo.
The Alameda Naval Air Station has a remarkable history. It was one of the largest, most complete Naval Air Stations in the world. It was commissioned on November 1, 1940 and commanded by Captain Frank McCrary. There were 200 military and civilian personnel.
The workers at the Naval Air Station represented 271 separate and distinct trades and could manufacture and repair every part of any aircraft. In time, modern production methods insured that the overhaul of an attack aircraft was completed every day and one and a half patrol aircraft every other day.
Other Comments:
Awards and Citations
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during World War I
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Frank Robert McCrary, United States Navy, for distinguished and heroic service as Commanding Officer of a U. S. Naval Aviation Detachment in Ireland, during World War I. Action Date: World War I Service: Navy Rank: Commander Division: Naval Aviation Forces
Captain Frank Robert McCrary, USN (background info.)
Date
Not Specified
Last Updated: Nov 17, 2011
Comments
I am seeking from the McCrary relatives details of the aviation career of Captain Frank Robert McCrary, USN, during his duties while assigned at NAS North Island, San Diego, California. Such details will include association with other aviation officers then assigned to NAS North Island.
Captain McCrary, USN, was the commanding officer of NAS North Island (then called NAS San Diego) from 12 September 1927 until relieved of his duties sometime in 1930.
Born 1 October 1879, in Arkansas, Captain McCrary entered naval service on 11 September 1897. He was promoted to Captain on 22 January 1924. He retired on 30 June 1936. He died on 10 June 1952, at age 72 years, in Alameda County, California.
It is my theory that Captain McCrary knew well three of naval aviations leading aviators at the time who were all assigned at NAS North Island, together. These three officers were: Lieutenant Commander Frank Wilbur Wead, USN, naval aviator; Lieutenant Commander Daniel Webb Tomlinson, IV, USN, naval aviator; and, Lieutenant Commander John Dale Price, USN, naval aviator. LCDR Wead was a squadron commander at NAS North Island during 1922 - 1926, who was shortly followed by LCDR Tomlinson in the command of that same squadron (VF-6B. These three men helped advanced the art of war in naval aviation that involved "dive bombing"- their same techniques that won the Battle at Midway (4 June 1942).
The officers mentioned above could not have done their job without the strong moral support & dedicated "pushing" provided by the best women of naval aviation: Mrs. Minnie (Bryant) Wead; Mrs. Marion Price; Mrs. Tomlinson; and, chaired by Mrs. Mary McCrary. They most certainly knew each other and attended officers' wives luncheons and teas and other social engagements at the officers club, NAS North Island.
According to the "1925 San Diego County Directory: 1925 Coronado City Directory" (p. 957), Captain Frank R. McCrary, USN, and his wife Mrs. Mary McCrary were residing at "1105 G Avenue". On (p. 967) LCDR Frank W. Wead and his wife Mrs. Minnie Wead were residing at "827 A Avenue". Captain McCrary and LCDR Wead lived less than one mile from each other and one would expect that they frequently walked to one another's home for evening social events during the weekends. The McCrary home had a beautiful view and short walk to the Silver Strand Beach front and to the Hotel del Coronado.
According to the "1926 San Diego County Directory: City of Coronado", on (p. 1044) LCDR John D. Price and Mrs. Marion Price were residing at "545 Palm Avenue". On (p. 1049), LCDR Wead and his wife were residing at "600 9th Street". They lived less than 1/2 mile from each other and one can expect that their wives were able to visit each day.
It was at this address of "600 9th Street, City of Coronado", that LCDR Frank Wead experienced his terrible tragedy of falling at his home down the flight of stairs and practically breaking his neck. The old Balboa Naval Hospital received the alarm of this tragedy including the naval clinic at NAS North Island. It took time for the 1924 Ford truck ambulance to transit the San Diego Bay to reach the Naval Hospital in Balboa Park area.
The next entry of LCDR Wead was found in the "1928 San Diego County Directory: San Diego City Directory", on (p. 810) with this entry: "Wead, F. W. Lieut. USN U.S. Naval Hospital". Mrs. Minnie Wead was no longer associated with the naval officers and wives for her husband was given a discharge from active duty on Monday, 28 May 1928 due to incapacity resulting from an incident of the service.
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Thank you so much for responding! I am retired US Navy (aviation community) and we reside in northern Virginia having the opportunity to research at various libraries and research centers. My wife- Kathy- and I resided off and on in San Diego since the late 1970s.
I am researching naval aviation history details for a dissertation that will involve a number of important events regarding the various pioneering naval aviators who advanced the idea of naval aviation in the areas of fighter, dive bomber and observation. Certain episodes regarding the pioneering days and test days (1910s â?? 1920s) caught the imagination of young Naval Academy graduates, mid-career naval officers, and the officers and men who served in the various naval squadrons organized by the Navy Department. Such squadrons operated from NAS North Island.
For example, Greenbury Point, Annapolis, Maryland, was the first location for a naval aviation detachment to experiment with seaplanes and landplanes. In January 1914, they moved to Pensacola. During the 1920s in San Diego, the public got to view naval aerobatic shows; test flights of new aircraft were conducted off Point Loma, including the testing of flight deck equipment aboard USS Langley.
USS Langley operated from NAS North Island during the early 1920s, a time period when such commanding officers like Captain Frank Robert McCrary, USN, and his predecessors were in charge of the naval station; when Frank Wead and John Dale were advancing the ideas involving new dive bombing techniques; when Daniel Tomlinson was sharpening the flying techniques of his squadron in aerobatic shows over San Diegoâ??s Lindbergh Field.
What I am interested in are the newspaper articles and the stories capturing these events with the above names mentioned. Any dates and names found in the San Diego Union-Tribune regarding those pioneers and events at North Island would be greatly appreciated. Annapolis, Maryland, is within 1.5 hr driving time to research at the Library. I believe photographs of North Island and the activities during the 1920s are available at the Naval Historical Center, Washington Navy Yard.
Any information regarding North Island activities will be greatly appreciated.
