Joseph Mason "Bull" Reeves (November 20, 1872-March 25, 1948) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who was an early and important supporter of U.S. Naval Aviation. Though a battleship officer during his early career, he became known as the "Father of Carrier Aviation" for his role in integrating aircraft carriers into the Fleet as a major part of the Navy's attack capabilities. November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. ... USN redirects here. ... Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by the navies of the world such as those operated by the United States Navy. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ...

Reeves retired in the mid-1930s but was recalled to active duty during World War II to serve in high-level staff positions within the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. He retired again in December 1946 with the rank of full admiral. Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000,000 Total dead: 50,000,000 Military dead: 8,000,000 Civilian dead: 4,000,000 Total dead 12,000,000 World War II (abbreviated WWII), or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict... Flag of the United States Secretary of the Navy. ...

Early life and career

Joseph Mason Reeves was born on November 20, 1872 in the village of Tampico, Illinois, also the birthplace of 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan. November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1872 (MDCCCLXXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Tampico is a village located in Whiteside County, Illinois. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ...

He received an appointment in 1890 to attend the Naval Academy, where he became a football hero. In addition to his on-field heroics, he is credited with the invention of the modern football helmet. Reeves graduated from the Academy in 1894. The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps and is in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington D.C. The Academy often is referred to simply as Annapolis although naval officers normally refer to it in conversation... Group of men drilling in American football helmets A football helmet is a protective device used primarily in American football and Canadian football. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

Upon graduation, Reeves was assigned to the cruiser USS San Francisco (Cruiser No. 5). He served in the battleship USS Oregon (BB-3) during the Spanish-American War, taking part in the action against Admiral Cervera's fleet at Santiago in June and July 1898. The first USS San Francisco (C-5/CM-2) was a steel protected cruiser in the United States Navy. ... USS Oregon (BB-3) was a pre-Dreadnought Indiana-class battleship of the United States Navy. ... Combatants United States Republic of Cuba First Philippine Republic Spanish Empire Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (only 332 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino casualties Unknown[1... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Turn of the Century Through World War I

After the turn of the century, Reeves served in San Francisco and the battleships USS Wisconsin (BB-9) and USS Ohio (BB-12) in addition to tours ashore at Newport and Annapolis, where he was an instructor in the Naval Academy's Department of Physics and Chemistry, 1906-08. USS Wisconsin (BB-9), an Illinois-class battleship, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 30th state. ... USS Ohio (BB-12), a Maine-class pre-Dreadnought battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy named for the 17th state. ... Newport as seen from the International Space Station. ... Nickname: Americas Sailing Capital , San Diego East, Dogtown, Naptown Motto: Vixi Liber Et Moriar - I have lived, and I shall die, free Location in Maryland Coordinates: Country United States State Maryland County Anne Arundel County Founded 1649 Incorporated 1708 Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (D) City Council Richard E. Israel... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Following duties as ordnance officer on board the battleship USS New Hampshire (BB-25), Reeves served as ordnance officer in the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He followed this with assignment to the Board of Inspection and Survey and a tour as Commanding Officer, Naval Coal Depot, Tiburon, California. The second United States Navy New Hampshire (BB-25) was a Connecticut-class battleship. ...

In April 1913, Commander Reeves assumed command of the collier USS Jupiter (AC-3), the Navy's first electrically propelled vessel. The ship was recommissioned in 1922 as USS Langley (CV-1), the Navy's first aircraft carrier. The USS Langley (CV/AV-1) was the United States Navys first aircraft carrier. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... The USS Langley (CV-1/AV-3) was the United States Navys first aircraft carrier. ... Four aircraft carriers, Principe-de-Asturias, USS Wasp, USS Forrestal and HMS Invincible (front-to-back), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier, light V/STOL carriers, and an amphibious carrier. ...

Detached from Jupiter in April 1914, he commanded the cruiser USS St. Louis (Cruiser No. 20) and various other ships until assigned to Oregon, June 1915, as Commanding Officer. The USS Langley (CV/AV-1) was the United States Navys first aircraft carrier. ... The fourth USS , Cruiser No. ... USS Oregon (BB-3) was a pre-Dreadnought Indiana-class battleship of the United States Navy. ...

Detached for shore duty at the Mare Island (California) Navy Yard, in June 1916, he commanded the battleship USS Maine (BB-10) during World War I, earning the Navy Cross for "exceptionally meritorious service" during that tour. USS Maine (BB-10), the lead ship of her class of battleships, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the 23rd state. ... Combatants Allied Powers: Russian Empire France British Empire Italy United States Central Powers: Austria-Hungary German Empire Ottoman Empire Bulgaria Commanders Nicholas II Aleksei Brusilov Georges Clemenceau Joseph Joffre Ferdinand Foch Herbert Henry Asquith Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Victor Emmanuel III Luigi Cadorna Armando Diaz Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Franz... The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ...

Post-WWI Assignments

After the war, he served as Naval Attaché at Rome and in April 1921 assumed command of USS Pittsburgh (ACR-4). Captain of the Mare Island Navy Yard at the end of that year, he commanded the battleship USS North Dakota (BB-29), 1922-23, then attended the Naval War College at Newport. After completing his coursework, he spent a year as a member of the staff. The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ... USS North Dakota (BB-29), a Delaware-class battleship, was the first ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the US State of North Dakota. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ... Logo of the Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC) of the United States Navy is an education and research institution that specializes in developing ideas for naval strategy and passing them along to officers of the Navy. ... Newport as seen from the International Space Station. ...

Entering Naval Aviation

Upon completing his tour at the War College, Captain Reeves decided to enter the new world of Naval Aviation. In order to hold a command post, however, he needed to receive aviation training. Like other older officers -- notably, RADM William A. Moffett, Chief of the Navy's new Bureau of Aeronautics -- Reeves qualified as a "Naval Aviation Observer" rather than as a "Naval Aviator" (i.e., a pilot). He received his qualification in 1925, and assumed the post of Commander, Aircraft Squadron, Battle Fleet. Though a captain by rank, his position as squadron commander permitted him to fly a commodore's pennant. His flagship was the experimental carrier USS Langley--his old ship, Jupiter, modified for aviation operations. The wooden flight-deck was installed over the Langley's existing deck structures, giving the vessel the nickname of "Covered Wagon." Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, USN, at the rank of Commander William Adger Moffett (31 October 1869 – 4 April 1933) was an American admiral notable as the architect of naval aviation in the United States Navy. ... The Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) was the U.S. Navys material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. ...

While in this command, Reeves worked hard to develop carrier aviation tactics, seeking to increase sortie rates and the use of dive-bombing. He proved these concepts by the success of his pilots and aircrew during the Navy's annual fleet exercises (known as "Fleet Problems").

Reeves served on the Navy's General Board, June 1929-June 1930. Fifteen months later he became Senior Member of the Board of Inspection and Survey, Pacific Coast Section. Another tour at Mare Island followed and in June 1933 he became Commander, Battleships, Battle Force, with the rank of vice admiral. In July, he was assigned as Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, with the rank of admiral. The United States Battle Fleet or Battle Force was part of the organization of the United States Navy from 1922 to 1941. ...

On February 26, 1934, Admiral Reeves was designated Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet. He held this command until June 1936, when he was ordered to Washington, D.C., to served on the General Board. He held the Board position until November 23, 1936, and retired seven days later. The United States Fleet was an organization in the United States Navy from 1922 until after World War II. Initially the abbreviation CINCUS, pronounced as sink us, was used for Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, officially replaced by COMINCH in December 1941. ...

Recall during World War II

The admiral's retirement was short-lived, as his nation again needed his services to fight another World War. Reeves was recalled to active duty 13 May 1940, advanced to vice admiral on the retired list, and served in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy from May 21, 1940 until December 23, 1946. He then retired a second time, and spent his last years living in Maryland. He died at the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on 25 March 1948.

Reeves' Legacy

A warship and two airfields have been named in honor of Admiral Reeves.

• The destroyer USS Reeves (DLG-24) was commissioned 15 May 1964 and won three battle stars for Vietnam service. The Reeves was reclassified on 30 June 1975 as a guided missile cruiser (CG-24). Reeves was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy Register on 12 November 1993 at Pearl Harbor.
• Joseph Mason Reeves Field ("Reeves Field") at NAS Lemoore, California, was dedicated November 20, 1961.
• Reeves Field at NAB San Pedro, California (later NAS Terminal Island), was dedicated during the 1930's. This airfield is no longer active.

Naval Air Station Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County, California. ... November 20 is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... Reservation Point at the very southwest tip of Teminal Island. ...

External links

• Naval Historical Center
  • Biographical information from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • Online Library of Selected Images Search for photos of Reeves
  • Profile and images of the USS Langley (CV-1) From the Naval Historical Center.
• Californians and the Military: Admiral Joseph Mason "Bull" Reeves, USN (1872-1948) By WO1 Mark J. Denger and LTC Norman S. Marshall, California Center for Military History. From the website of the California Military Museum, operated by the California State Military Department.
• A Brief History of the United States Naval Academy: 1890s Note on Reeves' invention of the modern football helmet (from the Naval Academy's official website)

References

• Grossnick, Roy et al. United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995. Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Dept. of the Navy, 1997.
  • (Text available online from the Naval Aviation History Office/Branch of the Naval Historical Center)
• Wildenberg, Thomas. All the Factors of Victory: Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves and the Origins of Carrier Airpower. Washington, D.C.: Brassey's, Inc., 2003.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS for short) is the primary reference work for the basic facts about every ship ever used by the United States Navy. ...