Learning Center Our Enshrinees

Thomas Hinman Moorer

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Pilot & Military Leader

Born: February 9, 1912 in Mount Willing, Alabama
Death: February 5, 2004
Enshrined: 1987

Appointed to the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1933 with a bachelor of science degree.

Accepted to the United States Naval Aviation Training School in 1935 and successfully completed his flight training in 1936. He was then assigned to Fighting Squadron 1-B (VF-1B) that same year.

Shot down in his Consolidated PBY Catalina patrol bomber flying boat on February 19th, 1942, north of Darwin, Australia.

Assigned to the United States Strategic Bombing Survey of Japan team for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in 1945 and became Executive Officer of the Naval Aviation Ordnance Test Station at Chincoteague, Virginia in 1946.

Assumed command of the 7th Fleet in 1962 and was awarded the Navy’s Distinguished Service Medal for his exceptional performance in this capacity.

Became commander in chief of the Pacific fleet in June, 1964.

Assumed command of NATO’s Allied command, Atlantic and the US Atlantic Fleet in 1965. He was the first naval officer to have served as commander-in-chief of both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets.

Named Chief of Naval Operations in 1967.

Nominated to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on April 14th, 1970.

Presented the Distinguished Service Medal of the United States Army, and the Distinguished Service Medal of the United States Air Force. During World War II, he also received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal; the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Navy Occupation Service Medal, the China Service Medal, the National Defense Medal with a Bronze Star, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Later he received the Vietnam Service Medal, the Philippine Defense Ribbon, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.