Capt. Bill Addison

The Sad Story of Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr.

Story thanks to Capt. William Addison, USN, Ret.

I ran across this interesting story yesterday at the NAM (Naval Air Museum) library, while working on research papers relating to a book on the Battle of Leyte Gulf. It is from an original memo from CNO, Division of Navy History (OP 09B9). Bill Addison.

"On 26 March 1942, at Portland, Maine, USS WASHINGTON (BB 56) was assigned as Flagship of Task Force Thirty-nine, under command of Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr., USN. This same day, the task force was temporarily detached from the Atlantic Fleet and departed for Scapa Flow, Scotland, to report to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, under the operational control of the Commander in Chief, British Home Fleet.

While steaming through moderately heavy seas on 27 March 1942, at 0310 in the morning, "Man Overboard" alarm sounded on WASHINGTON. Cruiser TUSCALOOSA (1000 yard astern of WASHINGTON) maneuvered and dropped life buoys. Two destroyers of the screen headed in to position in WASHINGTON's wake and searched for the man. Immediate muster of all ship and flag personnel revealed the only absentee was Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr., USN.

The formation reversed course and intensive search, aided by aircraft of the Task Force, was made to no avail. At 1228, the search was discontinued and Rear Admiral R. C. Giffen, USN assumed command."

I was on the Tuscaloosa when the admiral went overboard. In fact, I was one of the men that threw out one of the life preservers. The story is incorrect on the time of the event (0310 hours) as I was able to see his head bobbing up and down in the sea. The actual time was sometime mid-afternoon. My name is Joe Raponi and I was the signalman on watch on the bridge.

Joe Raponi

WWII Kilroy Was Here Rear Admiral John W. Wilcox, Jr. Capt. William Addison, USN, Ret. USS Washington

BB-56 USS Washington, 1940-1945

BB-56 USS Washington North Carolina class battleship: Displacement: 37,484 tons (standard) / 44,377 (full load) Length: 729' Beam: 108'4" Draft: 35'6" Speed: 27 knots Armament: 3x3 16"/45, 10x2 5"/38, 4x4 1.1", 18x1 .50-caliber MG; 3 planes Complement: 2339 Propulsion: Steam turbines, 8 575-psi boilers, 4 shafts, 121,000 shp Built at Philadelphia Navy Yard and commissioned 15 May 1941

For details about the incident, go to: (a great site! Expect to spend some time)

http://www.usswashington.com/moverbrd.htm

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