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Home Town Cheraw, South Carolina
Last Address Arlington National Cemetery
Date of Passing May 29, 1962
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Patrick Nieson Lynch Bellinger Aviator No. 4 Recommended for the Medal of Honor in 1914
Veracruz, in the spring of 1914 during the Mexican crisis:
Bellinger, in a Curtiss A-3, piloted the first navy flight into a combat zone,
eleven days later, Lieutenant P. N. L. Bellinger returned to base with holes from
hostile bullets in his plane, the first combat damage received by a Navy aircraft.
Date of birth: 8 October 1885 Date of death: 29 May 1962 Place of Birth: Cheraw, South Carolina Home of record: Cheraw, South Carolina Service Years: 1907-1947
Patrick Bellinger graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1907. By 1940 he had advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral in command of Patrol Wing 2 based in Honolulu. He was the senior air officer present during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and himself sent out the first radio alert: "Air raid. Pearl Harbor - this is no drill." He retired as a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral.
In 1914, during the United States occupation of Veracruz, while flying off the USS Mississippi, Bellinger became the first American to encounter enemy fire in an airplane, and was recommended for the Medal of Honor. On 13 June 1913 he set an altitude record when he flew a Curtiss seaplane to the height of 6,200 feet.
Bellinger was also commander of the squadron of seaplanes to make the first trans-Atlantic flight. On May 8, 1919, NC-1, NC-3, and NC-4 took off from Naval Air Station Rockaway in Long Island, New York. Bellinger's plane, the NC-1 sank and he and his crew transferred to the Greek steamer Ionia and soon after to the USS Gridley. For his leadership in the flight, he was awarded the Navy Cross. By 1940 he had advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral in command of Patrol Wing 2 based in Honolulu. He was the senior Naval Air Commander present during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor when the Japanese launched their "day of infamy" attack on December 7, 1941. and sent out the first radio alert: "Air raid. Pearl Harbor - this is no drill."
In May 1942 he took command of all patrol wings in the Pacific, and in August became Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief of the US Fleet, Admiral Ernest J. King. In March 1943, he was given command of the Atlantic Fleet Air Force. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1943.
He retired with the rank of vice admiral on 7 July 1947 to his home, "Earlhurst" in Covington, Virginia and died on 29 May 1962 at Clifton Forge, Virginia.
Admiral Bellinger is buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.
Awards and decorations
As well as the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Medal, Bellinger's foreign decorations include the Officer of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, from Italy; the Military Order of the Tower and Sword, from Portugal; and the Légion d'honneur and Croix de Guerre, from France.
Other Comments:
Vice Admiral Patrick N. L. Bellinger, USN Navy Cross 1919, Peace Time Award
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions, Peace Time Award
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Patrick Niesson Lynch Bellinger (NSN: 0-6598), United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Seaplane NC-1, which made a long overseas flight from New Foundland to the vicinity of the Azores, in May 1919. Action Date: May 8 - 27, 1919 Service: Navy Rank: Commander Company: Seaplane NC-1
Navy Distinguished Service Medal Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Vice Admiral Patrick Niesson Lynch Bellinger (NSN: 0-6598), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander Air Force, United States Atlantic Fleet, during the period March 1943 to February 1946. Vice Admiral Bellinger directed the organization, development and administration of Air Force, Atlantic Fleet with rare skill, unexcelled judgment and unusual efficiency, discharging the multitudinous responsibilities of his command in an exemplary manner. Faced with the tremendous task of training innumerable personnel manning aircraft and aircraft carriers, he formulated and executed the necessary program. The excellence of this program was evidenced by the superior performance of all theaters of war of both ships and men who trained under his command. Vice Admiral Bellinger's extraordinary ability, his complete devotion to duty and exceptionally meritorious service contributed immeasurably to the successful prosecution of the war and his achievements reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: March 1943 - February 1946 Service: Navy Rank: Vice Admiral
1941-1942, Commander Fleet Air Hawaii, Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMNAVAIRPAC)
Chain of Command Following command of the Naval Air Station, Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia, from July 1938 until November 1940, he proceeded to Honolulu and assumed command of Patrol Wing TWO, with the rank of Rear Admiral. In May 1942, he was ordered to duty as Commander Patrol Wings, Pacific Fleet, and in August 1942 was appointed to Deputy Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, US Fleet. He served in that capacity until March 1943, when he was designated Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet. On 5 October 1943, he was appointed Vice Admiral, retaining this command. For "exceptionally meritorious service to the Government of the United States in a duty of great responsibility as Commander Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, from March 1943 to February 1946..." he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. The citation continues in part: "...A resourceful and aggressive administrator, (he) exercised keen foresight and sound judgment in organizing the Air Force of the Atlantic Fleet and subsequently in directing its expansion, development and operations and, by his superior knowledge of aeronautical and naval problems and his thorough comprehension of the tasks assigned him, discharged his myriad duties expeditiously and effectively, contributing in large measure to the protection of Allied shipping in the Atlantic. As a result of his forceful leadership and expert methods, new carriers and carrier aircraft units of the United States Fleet were trained to an efficient state of combat readiness and the carriers in the Pacific theater of war were highly successful in their operations against the enemy..." On 7 March 1946, Vice Admiral Bellinger reported for duty on the General Board, Navy Department, Washington, DC. On 7 July 1947, he was ordered relieved of active duty pending retirement, and on 1 October 1947 he was transferred to the Retired List of the US Navy in the rank of Vice Admiral.
