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Re: USNA Annapolis class of 1923
And it would appear that at at least eleven of the fourteen rear admiral/naval aviator types I can identify in the class of 1923 (identified by their 131 specialty designation) received their promotions upon the date of their retirements as captains . . . tombstone admirals.
That leaves us with
Aaron Putnam Stoors (retired 1957)
Francis Hughes Massie (died on active duty in 1960)
and
Edward Murr Arnold (retired 1963)
as actually serving as active duty rear admirals.
Of course there are always those who were promoted beyond rear admiral and, thus served as active duty RADMs but I did not look closely at them.
Harry Donald Felt, ADM (retired 1964)
Frederick Makay Trapnell, VADM (retired 1952)
Charles Frederick Coe, VADM (retired 1954)
Richard Wayrick Ruble, VADM (retired 1955)
Stanhope Cotton Ring, VADM (retired 1955)
Selden Booth Spangler, VADM (retired 1958)
Thomas Binney Williamson, VADM (retired 1958)
Frank Trenwith Ward, VADM (retired 1958)
Up until 31 Oct 1959, an officer could retire and upon retirement receive a promotion to the next highest grade; a promotion in name only, all retirement pay and benefits were based on the last active duty rank. Such promotions were based on having been awarded combat decoration(s). I would not be at all surprised if all of the VADM's on the above received their third star upon retirement and, in fact, I know for sure, without even looking it up, that three of them did.
Those who appear to have received their RADM promotion upon retirement were
George Arthur T Washburn (retired 1948)
John Geraerdt Crommelin (retired 1950)
William Theodore Rassieur (retired 1952)
Alfred Clarence Olney Jr (retired 1952)
Curtis Stanton Smiley (retired 1953)
Josephus Asa Briggs (retired 1953)
William Donald Anderson (retired 1953)
William Henry Hamilton (retired 1953)
John Valdemar Peterson (retired 1953)
Ralph Walter Woods (retired 1953)
Richard Maxey Oliver (retired 1954)
Note that the majority of these gents had 30 years service. Generally after 30 years and no flag promotion it was time to retire.
Rich
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