FINDAGRAVE Link HERE

Born to missionary parents in Monrovia, Liberia, he entered the U. S. Naval Academy in June 1944.  He graduated in June 1948 and reported to Pensacola for flight training in the fall.

During the Korean War he made two deployments with VF-112 flying the F9F-2 Panther jets, and was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and a Navy Commendation with Combat "V".  

This duty was followed by a year of USAF exchange duty with the 63rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (F-86A and F-86F) at Oscoda, Michigan.  In October 1953, he reported to the Naval Air Training Command to instruct in the F9F-2 at Kingsville, Texas.

From 1954 to 1956, Captain Adams attended the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California, where he received a B.S. degree in aeronautical engineering in June 1956.  This was followed by a year of graduate work at the Forestal Research Center, Princeton University.  There he majored in airplane performance, stability and control, receiving an M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering in June 1957.  

Two years were then spent in Air Development Squadron Three (VX-3) where Captain Adams' activity was concentrated on F-6A (SKYRAY) weapons system and tactics developments.

In August 1959, he became the Air Operations Officer on the staff of Commander SECOND Fleet.  In August 1961, the Captain was selected to attend the U. S. Navy Test Pilot School at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland.  Here he earned the distinction of being the outstanding student in his class.  

Following completion of the Test Pilot School, he joined the Flight Test Division at Patuxent River, flying test flights in A-4E, A-5A, A-6A, F-8E, T-39, E-2A and the F-4B aircraft.  In 1963, he was advanced to the position of Head, Flying Qualities and Performance Branch of the Flight Test Division.  Upon completion of this tour of duty, he reported to VF-14 as Executive Officer in February 1965.

Following a deployment with the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean, he assumed command of VF-14 in December 1965 and began preparing the squadron for combat operations in Southeast Asia.  The Squadron deployed with Air Wing One on the USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (CVA-42) in June 1966 and entered combat in August.  

In November 1966, Captain Adams, having flown 54 combat missions, returned to the staff of Commander Naval Air force, Atlantic for six months' temporary duty with the air wing training section.  He then assumed command of Key West based VF-101, which trained F-4 Phantom pilots and NFOs for Atlantic Fleet attack carrier air wings.  

In July 1968, he was ordered to the USS SARATOGA (CVA-60), as Executive Officer.  He served in this capacity until August 1969, after which he reported to the Office of the Director of Defense Research & Engineering as Navy Military Assistant in the office of the Assistant Director, Air Warfare.  

Among his many responsibilities in this assignment was the updating and rewriting of the Development Concept Paper (DCP) for the F-14 and preparation of the initial drafts of the DCP's for the AIM-7F and AGILE missiles.

Captain Adams became a student at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in August 1971.  While at ICAF he wrote a paper on the management practices changes in the Department of Defense in the acquisition of major weapon systems, lectured on the management of R&D in the Department of Defense and was chairman of a research project and paper on U. S. Foreign Trade (Export) Policy prepared for the Council on International Economic Policy, Executive office of the President.  

In August 1972 he assumed duties as Commanding Officer, USS MARS (AFS-1).

http://www.ussmars.com/page/page/1833900.htm

CVA-60 (later CV-60) was named for the Battle of Saratoga, September and October 1777. It was a decisive American victory resulting in the surrender of an entire British army of 9,000 men invading New York from Canada during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Saratoga was actually two battles about 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York (NS020351a), namely the Battle of Freeman's Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights, and is related with the earlier Battle of Bennington, about 15 miles east of Saratoga. The surrender of General John Burgoyne, who was surrounded by much larger American militia forces, took place after his retreat to Saratoga. The capture of an entire British army secured the northern American states from further attacks out of Canada and prevented New England from being isolated. A major result was that France entered the conflict on behalf of the Americans, thus dramatically improving the Americans' chances in the war. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the Revolutionary War.
 

The first Battle at Saratoga, generally referred to by historians as Freeman's Farm, began with John Burgoyne's offensive (19 September), the British lost two men for every one American casualty. In terms of ground gained, however, both sides fought to a draw. In the second Battle, otherwise known as Bemis Heights (7 October), British losses were four to one. The rebels' victory was overwhelming. After negotiations, Burgoyne officially surrendered on 17 October. He returned to England in disgrace and was never given another command. When news of the American victory reached Europe, France entered the war on the side of the patriots. Money and supplies flowed to the American cause, providing Washington's Continental Army with the support necessary to continue its fight against Great Britain. Britain's loss at Saratoga was disastrous because it showed the European powers that the rebels were capable of defeating the English on their own. More than any other event, it would prove decisive in determining the eventual outcome of the War and the victory of Patriots.
 

American warships that had previously borne the name:

1. A Continental Navy sloop-of-war.
2. A corvette.
3. A sloop-of-war.
4. A cruiser.
5. An aircraft carrier of World War II fame.