William H. P. Blandy | |
|---|---|
 Admiral William Henry Purnell Blandy | |
| Nickname(s) | Spike or Waffle Nose |
| Born | (1890-06-28)28 June 1890 New York City, US |
| Died | 12 January 1954(1954-01-12) (aged 63) St. Albans, New York, US |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1913–1950 |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands | Atlantic Fleet |
| Battles / wars | Occupation of Veracruz World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal (4) |
William Henry Purnell Blandy (28 June 1890 – 12 January 1954), known to close associates as"Spike",[2] was anadmiral in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II.
Born inNew York City 28 June 1890, Blandy graduated first in his class from theUnited States Naval Academy in 1913. He participated in theoccupation of Veracruz,Mexico in 1914 and served on board thebattleshipUSS Florida with theBritish Grand Fleet duringWorld War I.
During World War II he was Chief of theBureau of Ordnance from 1941 to 1943. Here he had a controversial role in the infamous torpedo scandal involving the initially practically uselessMark 14 torpedo,[3] and the long delays incurred on the work testing and launching the electricMark 18 torpedo.[4]
In December 1943 he became Commander, Group 1, Amphibious Force,Pacific Fleet, and commanded the pre-invasion bombardment group during the campaign forIwo Jima.
One account of Admiral Blandy during the Iwo campaign recalls:
TheUSS Estes was positioned about two miles off-shore during the bombardment, and Admiral Blandy, being the old Gunnery type, kept ordering the captain to come in a little closer so he could "..see the whites of their eyes..". About the time we would be within a little less than a mile from the beaches, a battery of shore guns up on the side of Mount Surabachi would start taking pot-shots at us. Geysers of water would erupt on either side of the ship, and the voice of Vice AdmiralTurner in overall charge of the campaign on theUSS Mount McKinley — a sister ship to the USSEstes — would come in over the "TBS" ship-to-ship radio ordering Blandy to "...get your [censored] out of there before you get it blown off!". We would then back off to a safe distance, only to have the same thing happen a few hours later.[5]
After the war he commanded Joint Task Force 1 during theatomic bomb tests atBikini Atoll.
In mid to late 1945, Rear Admiral Blandy served as Commander, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet (ComDesPac).
In 1946, he made a famous speech in response to public criticism of the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll:
"The bomb will not start a chain-reaction in the water, converting it all to gas, and letting all the ships on all the oceans drop down to the bottom. It will not blow out the bottom of the sea and let all the water run down the hole. It will not destroy gravity. I am not an atomic playboy, as one of my critics labelled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim."[6]
In late 1946, a minor controversy erupted over a published photo(shown at left) of Vice Admiral Blandy and his wife cutting an "atomic cake" in an event celebrating the disbandment of the team behindOperation Crossroads.[7]
He commanded the 2nd Task Fleet and later served as Commander-in-Chief,Atlantic Fleet from 1947 to 1950.
Admiral Blandy retired in 1950. He died on 12 January 1954 at the U.S. Navy Hospital inSt. Albans, New York, and was buried inArlington National Cemetery.
In 1956, thedestroyerUSS Blandy (DD-943) was named in his honor.
_underway_at_sea_on_19_December_1956.jpg)
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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