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Home Town Bay City, Michigan
Last Address Buried at Arlington National Cemetery next to his son, also Rear Admiral and also a Navy Cross recipient.
Date of Passing Jan 15, 1934
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Rear Admiral James Joseph Raby
James Joseph Raby (September 17, 1874, Bay City, Michigan - January 15, 1934, Midway, Georgia) was an rear admiral of the United States Navy.
Raby was appointed a midshipman on September 9, 1891. Commissioned as an ensign on July 1, 1895, he advanced rapidly in rank, becoming commander on July 1, 1914, captain on November 23, 1919, and rear admiral on November 1, 1927.
1911 the battleship Oregon (BB-3). In 1912, he commanded the USS Pennsylvania (USS Pitsburgh CA-4) with additional duty as Commander of the port of Apra, Guam. During World War I, he received the Navy Cross for convoy escort duty while commanding Albany (CL-23) and later Missouri (BB-11).
After various assignments in Washington, D.C., in 1922 Raby became Commandant of the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and of the 8th Naval District. In 1931, he became Commandant of the 6th Naval District with additional duty as Commandant of the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina.
He died near Midway, Georgia, in a traffic accident on January 15, 1934, aged 59.
Other Comments:
JAMES JOSEPH RABY REAR ADMIRAL USN
DATE OF DEATH: 01/15/1934
BURIED AT: SECTION 6 SITE 9629
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
JANE CALLAGHAN RABY(wife)
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/20/1875
DATE OF DEATH: 10/31/1957
BURIED AT: SECTION 6 SITE 9629 N H
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
JOHN J. RABY (son)
R/ADM US NAVY
DATE OF BIRTH: 11/01/1907
DATE OF DEATH: 02/19/1967
BURIED AT: SECTION 6 SITE 9109-K
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
NOTE: Admiral Raby was the father of John Raby, Rear Admiral, United States Navy, and they are buried in the same section at Arlington National Cemetery. Both, father and son, were: Naval Aviators, each was awarded the Navy Cross and retired as Rear Admirals.
Bio: James Joseph Raby
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Last Updated: Dec 27, 2010
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James Joseph Raby Rear Admiral, United States Navy
ADMIRAL RABY KILLED IN AUTO WRECK IN SOUTH Aide and Wife Hurt as Car Turns Over
SAVANNAH, Georgia, January 15, 1934 Rear Admiral James Joseph Raby, 59 years old, who took out the first merchant convoy under American escort in the World War, was killed today in an automobile accident 31 miles south of here.
Accompanied by Lieutenant E. B. Abernathy, his aide, and Mrs. Abernathy, he was on his way from Florida to Charleston, South Carolina, when the car turned over in attempting to pass another. The three were thrown clear of the car as the machine, driven by Lieutenant Abernathy, went out of control.
The Admiral suffered a fractured skull and died within 15 minutes. Mrs. Abernathy was brought to a hospital here suffering severe shock and undetermined injuries. Lieutenant Abernathy was slightly cut over one eye.
The body of Admiral Raby was placed aboard a midnight train for Charleston. A Navy Board of Inquiry assembled at Charleston and came here, opening its formal investigation at 8 P.M. Its findings will be forwarded to Washington.
Admiral Raby has a distinguished record and had been transferred from command of the Sixth Naval District, with headquarters at Charleston, to San Francisco to assume command of the Twelfth District.
He held a commission as Air Pilot and often flew his own plane.
Born in Bay City, Michigan, September 17, 1874, he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1895. He advanced through the grades to the rank of Rear Admiral in 1927.
He commanded successfully during the War the Albany, Missouri and Georgia and was later commander of the destroyer squadron. He commanded the Naval Air Station at Pensacola, 1923 to 1926, and previously had seen service at San Francisco and as instructor in the Naval Academy as in the Naval Operations Office in Washington.
Admiral Raby left Miami, Florida, yesterday, where he had been attending the all-American air meet. He was to have reported at San Francisco to assume his new command on February 1.
His wife was the former Miss Jane Callaghan of San Francisco.
NOTE: The Admiral's son, John Raby, Rear Admiral, United States Navy, is buried in the same section in Arlington National Cemetery.
RABY, JAMES JOSEPH REAR ADMIRAL USN DATE OF DEATH: 01/15/1934 BURIED AT: SECTION 6 SITE 9629 ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
RABY, JANE CALLAGHAN W/O JAMES JOSEPH DATE OF BIRTH: 12/20/1875 DATE OF DEATH: 10/31/1957 BURIED AT: SECTION 6 SITE 9629 N H ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY