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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
SON: Captain Robert Davison McCRARY
Date
Nov 15, 2011
Last Updated: Oct 18, 2014
Comments
ROBERT DAVISON McCRARY
Obituary | Condolences
McCRARY, ROBERT DAVISON Surrounded by his loving family, Captain Robert Davison McCrary (U.S. Navy, retired) passed away peacefully on November 15, 2011, due to complications after a successful heart operation. The son of a naval aviator, Bob was born in 1923 in Lakewood, NJ while his father was stationed at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. While Bob was growing up, his father was also stationed at various other locations throughout the country. Bob met the love of his life, Ann, at Coronado High School in the late '30s when their fathers were both stationed at North Island Naval Air Station. Bob was in his first year as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy when the U.S. entered World War II. His class (1945) was accelerated to graduate in June of 1944. He married Ann after graduating and soon departed to join his first ship (USS Franklin (CV-13)) in the South Pacific. Bob received a Silver Star Medal for heroic actions after the Franklin was severely damaged by Japanese dive bombers prior to the invasion of Okinawa. During his 30-year naval career, Bob served on ten ships and in five shore assignments, with three of his assignments being as a Commanding Officer. Many of his assignments were in San Diego, during which the family always lived in Coronado, where Bob and Ann's families had chosen to retire. Bob retired from the Navy in Virginia Beach, VA and he briefly worked for Raytheon as a government contractor. Once he retired for good, he and Ann became more active in their local church and the Young Life Christian youth organization. As adult lives took their children farther from home, Bob and Ann decided to return to Coronado in 1998 to enjoy the weather, old friends, and to be close to part of their family. Bob continued his involvement with Young Life in Coronado and he and Ann became very active in St. Paul's Methodist Church. Bob was also an active member of the Coronado Chapter of the Optimist's Club. Recreationally, Bob played a lot of golf, walked all around town for exercise, completed numerous home improvement projects, watched sports and nature programs on TV, and, with Ann, continued his passion for genealogical research. Bob was a patriot, a war hero, a military leader, a devoted husband, a wise and caring father, a good neighbor, and a devout Christian. He had a wry sense of humor, loved to do things with his grandchildren, and generously contributed his services and other resources to a variety of religious and community programs. He will be dearly missed by his family and a wide circle of friends. Bob was preceded in death by his father, Frank McCrary (Captain, U.S. Navy, retired), his mother, Mary McCrary, and his brother, Shannon McCrary (Commander, U.S. Navy). He is survived by his wife, Ann McCrary, his sister, Mary Ann Thomas (Ralph) of San Rafael, CA, his three children, M. Shannon McCrary (Captain U.S. Navy, retired) (Mary Pat) of Coronado, Mandy Kirk (Brad) of Jacksonville, FL, and Cyd Redfield of Coronado, five grandchildren, and three great-grand-children. Bob's life will be celebrated in a memorial service at St. Paul's Methodist Church in Coronado on November 22nd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrance contributions be made in Bob's name to the St Paul's United Methodist Youth Fund.
Published in U-T San Diego on Nov. 20, 2011
SILVER STAR CITATION: Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Ensign Robert Davison McCrary (NSN: 0-389819), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving aboard the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. FRANKLIN (CV-13), which was striking the main Japanese islands near Kobe on 19 March 1945. After his ship was hit in an enemy air attack, a series of violent explosions of ready bombs, rockets and ammunition occurred which threatened the complete destruction of the ship. Courageously, and without regard for his personal safety, he organized and led parties into numerous hot magazines to remove and jettison live ammunition and then fought raging fires in the face of further enemy air attacks. His courageous conduct contributed greatly to the saving of the ship and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0405 (April 25, 1945) Action Date: March 19, 1945 Service: Navy Rank: Ensign Division: U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13)
