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Contact Info
Home Town New York City
Last Address Jacksonville, Florida
Date of Passing May 29, 2003
Wall/Plot Coordinates Burial location unknown
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VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT JOSEPH STROH, USN Naval Aviator Number 3888, 25 January 1932
Grey Eagle Award, 1 August 1968 – 28 November 1969 Combat experience in Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas.
SARATOGA'S first Commanding Officer was, appropriately enough, a native New Yorker. Born in New York City, Captain Stroh attended Evander Childs High School prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1926.
Graduating from Annapolis with the Class of '30, he was assigned to the USS ARKANSAS. He reported shortly afterwards to NAS, Pensacola for flight training and was awarded the wings of a Naval aviator on 25 January 1932.
After a brief tour of duty at Hampton Roads, Va., he saw sguadron duty aboard the USS PENSACOLA and the USS RANGER. Then he reported to Pearl Harbor where he was stationed until 1937. During this time he served with Scouting Squadron SIX-S, Bombing Squadron THREE-B, and Patrol Squadrons SIX-F and EIGHT-F.
Upon his return to the States, he was based on the carriers ENTERPRISE and YORKTOWN as a member of Bombing Squadrons EIGHT and SIX.
On the outbreak of World War II, Captain Stroh was attached to the American Embassy in London as a special U. S. Naval Observer. He returned in 1942 to take command of the Photographic Interpretation School, Anacostia, and later served with Fleet Air Photo Squadron ONE.
In 1943, he became CO of Photographic Squadron THREE. The squadron accomplished the major portion of the photographic reconnaissance over the Gilbert, Marshall and Mariannas Islands, and was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for its work. Captain Stroh personally received the Air Medal, two Gold Stars, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the campaigns.
During the last year of the war, he served with ComAirPac as head of the Plans Division under Adm. John H. Towers, and was awarded the Legion of Merit for "exceptionally meritorious conduct" in that capacity.
His assignments after the war were as Executive Officer of the carrier HORNET; in the Office of CNO; as a student at the Air War College, Maxwell AFB; as Commander, Tactical Air Group TWO under Commander, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic.
In 1950, he became Commanding Officer of the USS VALCOUR (AVP-55) and in 1951, he reported to CinCLantFlt for duty in connection with the establishment of the Supreme Allied Command. He served on the staff of this command until August of 1953 when he reported as a student at the National War College in Washington, D. C.
Captain Stroh returned to the Navy Department to serve as Assistant for JCS and NATO matters in the office of the DCNO (Air), where he remained until July 27, 1955, when he received orders as Prospective Commanding Officer of CVA-60. He reported aboard as CO on 14 April 1956 when the carrier was commissioned.
After the long and difficult job of testing and shakedown, followed by fleet exercises in the Atlantic, Captain Stroh was ordered to report to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and was relieved of command of SARATOGA on 1 December 1956.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1958, and Vice Admiral in 1963; he served as Deputy Director, Strategic Target Planning at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska until 1967, when he reverted to the rank of Rear Admiral. Vice Admiral Stroh's last tour of duty was COMFAIR Jacksonville, where he was retired in 1969.
Graduating from Annapolis with the Class of '30, he was assigned to the USS ARKANSAS. He reported shortly afterwards to NAS, Pensacola for flight training and was awarded the wings of a Naval aviator on 25 January 1932.
