The Personal Collection of Adm. Gerald F. Bogan
SDASM.SC.10018
Finding aid prepared by Robert E. Johnston
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego, CA, 92101
(619) 234-8291
2010
Title: Adm. Gerald Francis Bogan Personal Papers
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10018
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear feet
4 manuscript boxes
Date (inclusive): 1919-1963
Abstract: This collection contains military orders, papers, photographs and artifacts relating to the career of Adm. Gerald F. Bogan
of the U.S. Navy.
Language of Materials note: English
creator:
Bogan, Gerald F. (Gerald Francis), Adm., 1904-1973
Biographical/Historical note
Gerald F. Bogan, Vice Admiral, U.S.N., was a distinguished veteran of 38 years of naval service. Bogan served as Commander,
First Task Fleet, Pacific; as Commander, Air Force, Atlantic; as Commander, Fleet Air, Alameda; and as Commanding Officer,
U.S.S. Saratoga.
Admiral Bogan was born 27 July 1894, Mackinac Island, Michigan. He was a 1916 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and, among
his many decorations, was awarded the Navy Cross for heroic action during World War II. He was elected to the Naval Aviation
Hall of Honor in 1992, National Museum of Naval Aviation.
Admiral Bogan was one of the earliest naval aviators, earning his wings at Pensacola, Florida in 1924. In 1925, he was assigned
to VF Squadron One in San Diego, California, serving on board the carrier Langley, first as executive officer, then, in 1926,
as commanding officer. Later, Admiral Bogan served as the first commanding officer of the Miami, Florida Naval Air station.
He commanded air squadrons on the carriers Langley, Lexington and Saratoga, commanding the Saratoga at the outbreak of World
War II. As a task force commander in the Pacific, he was awarded two Legions of Merit, as well as the Navy Cross for “extraordinary
heroism and distinguished service” during an engagement in Philippine waters on 25 November 1944, in which all carriers in
his force had been damaged by heavy enemy aerial attacks. In 1945, he commanded Carrier Division 4 and Task Group 38.2.
Admiral Bogan passed away in La Jolla, California on 3 June 1973, survived by his widow, Katherine, and a step-son, Harold
A. Fisher of San Diego.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use note
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The materials were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum on March 24, 2010.
Scope and Contents note
This collection contains materials that cover Adm. Gerald F. Bogan's naval career. The collection includes military orders,
correspondence, photographs, articles and books.
Related Archival Materials note
Adm. Bogan photo set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/sets/72157624427863825/
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation.
Gentner, William E. (William Ellis), 1907-
Halsey, William Frederick, Adm., 1882-1959
Mitscher, Marc Andrew, 1887-1947
Pirie, Robert B., Gen., (Robert Burns)
Reeves, Joseph Mason, 1872-1948
United States. Naval Air Transport Service.
United States. Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron.
Yarnell, Harry E., Adm., (Harry Ervin), 1875-1959
Blue Angels
Correspondence, Military Orders and Official Papers
Physical Description:
1. Personal Correspondence, 1919-1941.
2. Orders and Incidental Official Papers, 1921-1932.
3. Orders and Incidental Papers, 1934-1942.
4. Military Writings, 1943-1944.
5. Military Correspondence, 1943-1944.
6. Biography, 11th Naval District, San Diego, 1949; other biographical.
7. Operation Remember Album, 1957, May 1-3.
8. United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 86, Number 11, November 1960.
9. United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 87, Number 5, May 1961 (Includes article by VADM Gerald F. Bogan, Retired,
“The Navy Spreads Its Golden Wings”).
10. Naval Training School, Directory, Class of 5-’43.
11. Presidential Award.
12. Miscellaneous Postcards -1927.
13. Miscellaneous Pamphlets.
14. Other Personal Papers.
Articles
Physical Description:
15. Article, “Barber Shop Chord,” G.F. Bogan, post 1950 (Early Naval Career).
16. Article, “Our Defense Problem,” G.F. Bogan, post 1950.
17. Article, “Modern Sea Power,” G.F. Bogan, post 1950.
18. Article, “Lin Piao’s Manifesto, The World in Peking’s Image.”
Photographs
Physical Description:
Photographs
19. U.S. Naval Air Station, Miami, Florida (Outlying Fields, Adjacent Fields and Seaplane Facilities) – 1942
20. Japanese Ship Damage – Kure, August-October 1945 – 88 photographs.
Admiral Bogan commanded Carrier Division 4 and Task Group 39.2 during aerial attacks on the remnants of the Imperial Japanese
Fleet at Kure anchorage on July 24, 25 and 28, 1945. During the course of these attacks a carrier, three battleships, two
heavy cruisers, two training cruisers, and numerous other smaller vessels were sunk. Additionally, two other carriers and
ships were damaged and effectively taken out of the war. The photographs in Bogan’s collection are comprised of eighty-eight
official USN photographs, taken of the IJN ships at Kure after the Japanese surrender, circa August-October 1945. Specifically:
IJN CV Ryujo (22)
IJN BB Hyuga(6)
IJN BB Haruna (10)
IJN BB Ise (13)
IJN CV Amagi (6)
IJN CC Tone (5)
IJN CC Aoba (15)
IJL Oyoda (1)
IJL Armored Cruisers Iwate and/or Izumo (10)
21. U.S. Carrier Tour, Commander-in-Chief, Iran Navy, North Island, on 3 December 1949 (named Shah of Iran in 1965) – 12 photographs.
Also, a 26 October 1957 newspaper article, describing the tour, San Diego Union.
Photographs
Physical Description:
1. Admiral Marc A. Mitscher (three photographs)
2. Mitscher Field Dedication (1955).
3. Miscellaneous Photographs
Includes Gerald F. Bogan (as an infant, and circa 1918, 1936, and 1950), Admiral and Katherine Bogan (undated), Admiral Bogan’s
Retired Navy I.D. Card, U.S.S. Broome in 1921 (DD 210), U.S.S. Birmingham (first airplane flight from a warship was from the
Birmingham), Unidentified Submarine in Newport, Rhode Island (1916), Burgess Dunne Hydroplane, U.S.S. Saratoga Ship Bell Ceremony
(circa 1949), Commanding Officer’s Quarters, USNAS Miami (1942), Admiral William F. Halsey.
Newspaper Articles
Physical Description:
4. Yacht Abandoned – Admiral Bogan Rescued (1963)
Books
Physical Description:
5. “Sara, The Story of the U.S.S. Saratoga,” c. 1946 (including “Warpath,” a rare map depicting Saratoga missions).
6. “The Gangway, A Pictorial History of the U.S.S. Randolph’s First Year at Sea,” 1946.
7. “Operation Lifeline, History and Development of the Naval Air Transport Service,” by James Lee, photographs by Joe Rosenthal,
Limited Edition, Number 856 of 1000 (possible original signatures of James Forrestal, C.W. Nimitz, A.W. Radford, and J.W.
Reeves, Jr.).
8. “The Book of Navy Songs,” Collected and Edited by The Trident Society, 1937.
9. “Carrier Air Group 86,” 1946.
Books
Physical Description:
1. “The Lucky Bag, The Class of 1913,” U.S. Naval Academy, Yearbook.
2. “40th Reunion, Class of 1916,” U.S. Naval Academy, 1956.
Film
Physical Description:
3. U.S. Naval Academy, 50th Reunion, June 1-2, 1991, Annapolis - Video Cassettes (Set of Three).
Other
Physical Description:
4. Photographs (1956), Admiral Robert Burns Pirie and Captain William E. Gentner, onboard the Coral Sea (CV-43) - six large
format photographs.
Admiral Pirie had been commanding officer of the Coral Sea in 1952. He was a 1926 graduate of the Naval Academy, designated
a naval aviator in 1929. Admiral Pirie retired as a Vice Admiral in 1962, at that time Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air).
He was sometimes referred to “The Beard,” allowed to wear a beard because of a skin condition. Captain Gentner was commanding
officer of CV-43 when the photographs were taken, later also attaining the rank of Vice Admiral.
5. Photographs (4), Pearl Harbor, Matson Liner (pre-war).
6. Cartoon – Admiral Bogan/most likely Leon Swirlbul (Grumman Aircraft).
7. Original Watercolor, Carriers at Sea
8. Article, “Turkey Pilots Are Normal,” E.S. Dickson, circa 1944 (Operating TBMs from Carriers).
Oversize Miscellaneous
Physical Description:
1. Album, World Air Center, Douglas DC-3/DST.
2. Photograph, Blue Angels (Signed), 6 February 1953.
3. Reproductions from the Abbott Collection of Naval Aviation Paintings (Set).
4. Limited Edition, Ink Etching (Numbered, Signed), Navy Seaplane - Water Takeoff.
5. Artists Drawings (Aircraft Prints), Brewster Aeronautical Corporation.
6. Portrait Photograph, Admiral Bogan (then Captain Bogan) – Two Variants.
7. Photograph, “Fighting Three,” Fleet Air Base, San Diego, 1931.
8. Photograph, VH-1, Saratoga (1932).
9. Original Ink Sketch, U.S.S. Saratoga, G. Ashley.
10. Large Format Photographs Depicting Life of Admiral Bogan (19) – Several Humorous
11. Miscellaneous Photographs and Sketches (27), Admiral Bogan, Other Officers, Locations, Aircraft and Ships.
12. Remembrance Album, “U.S.S. Randolph, CV-15,” Vice Admiral Gerald F. Bogan, U.S.N., Commander Air Force, U.S. Atlantic
Fleet
13. Photograph, Signed by Rear Admiral Harry E. Yarnell to Gerald Bogan, April 1932.
14. Photograph, Signed by McClelland Barclay to Gerald Bogan, 25 April 1941. Note: Mac Barclay was a prominent artist and
illustrator, lost at sea in 1943. His Navy poster art was (and is) highly acclaimed and sought after. His work was used as
cover art by many contemporary publications.
Flag
Physical Description:
15. Navy Flag, Vice Admiral Rank (Flagship U.S.S. Salisbury Sound (AV-13).