NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Winfield S. Cunningham

Winfield Scott Cunningham (16 February 1900 – 3 March 1986) was the Officer in Charge, Naval Activities, Wake Island when the tiny island was attacked by the Japanese on 8 December 1941. Cunningham commanded the defense of the island against the massive Japanese attack. After 26 days, the island was surrendered to the Japanese. Cunningham was taken prisoner and held as a POW in Japan. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his leadership at Wake Island. The United States Navy (also known as USN or the U.S. Navy) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Combatants Empire of Japan United States of America Commanders Shigeyoshi Inoue Winfield S. Cunningham Strength 2,500 infantry[1] 523 infantry[2] Casualties 700-900dead 2 destroyers 2 patrol boats 20 aircraft 122 dead 49 wounded 12 aircraft[3] The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on... 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. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Empire of Japan United States of America Commanders Shigeyoshi Inoue Winfield S. Cunningham Strength 2,500 infantry[1] 523 infantry[2] Casualties 700-900dead 2 destroyers 2 patrol boats 20 aircraft 122 dead 49 wounded 12 aircraft[3] The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on... December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... 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. ...

Biography

Winfield Cunningham was born on 16 February 1900 in Rockbridge, Wisconsin. He was the son of Frederick Michael and Ruth Ella (Moore) Cunningham. Cunningham attended high school at Camp Douglas. In 1916, at the age of 16, after completing his junior year in high school, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. Due to World War I, his graduating Class of 1920 was graduated early — on June 6, 1919. He was commissioned to the rank of Ensign and had his first assignment on the naval transport USS Martha Washington which brought troups home from France. He would then spend the next two years on ships off the waters of Turkey. In January 1922, aboard the USS Huron, he sailed for China where he would spend the next year and a half. Returning to the U.S., on May 3, 1923, he was promoted to Lieutenant (jg)), with the promotion backdated to an effective date of June 7, 1922. February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1900 (MCM) was an exceptional common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... 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 located in Annapolis, Maryland. ... Combatants Allied Powers: United Kingdom France Italy Russia United States Serbia Central Powers: Austria-Hungary Bulgaria Germany Ottoman Empire Commanders Douglas Haig John Jellicoe Ferdinand Foch Georges Clemenceau Nicholas II Woodrow Wilson John Pershing Wilhelm II Reinhard Scheer Franz Josef I Conrad von HÃ¶tzendorf Ä°smail Enver Ferdinand I Casualties... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

While serving in China in 1922, after four years of sea duty, then-Ensign Cunningham applied to enter aviation training. Though turned down in this first request, he would put in requests several times before being accepted in 1924. On 14 February 1925, Lieutenant (jg) Cunningham reported at a Student Naval Aviator to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. While in training he was promoted to Lieutenant (regular grade) on 7 June 1925 and designated a naval aviator on 11 September 1925. First flight, December 17, 1903 Aviation or air transport refers to the activities surrounding human flight and the aircraft industry. ... February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Naval Air Station Pensacola, The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is a United States Navy base located in Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... June 7 is the 158th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (159th in leap years), with 207 days remaining. ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... An aircraft carrier is a warship whose main role is to deploy and recover aircraft. ... September 11 is the 254th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (255th in leap years). ... 1925 (MCMXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Wake Island

On 28 November 1941, CDR Cunningham reported for duty as Officer in Charge, All Naval Activities, Wake Island. His command briefing gave top priority to completing the construction of the naval air station, over any attention to improving the island's defenses. Combatants Empire of Japan United States of America Commanders Shigeyoshi Inoue Winfield S. Cunningham Strength 2,500 infantry[1] 523 infantry[2] Casualties 700-900dead 2 destroyers 2 patrol boats 20 aircraft 122 dead 49 wounded 12 aircraft[3] The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on... November 28 is the 332nd day (333rd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

On 8 December 1941, the word of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached Wake Island at 07:00, less than 2-1/2 hours after the attack began. Cunningham ordered the personnel to battle stations; while at the same time Major Devereux, Commanding Officer of the Wake Detachment of the 1st Defense Battalion ordered a "Call to Arms". Cunningham recalled the Philippine Clipper (Martin 130 flying boat) and set in motion plans for a scouting patrol. The patrol was to take off at 13:00; the bombing attack against Wake Island by the Japanese began at 1157. The bombing continued for days. On 11 November, Japanese ships approached the Island. Cunningham ordered the Wake Island guns to hold until the ships were close in. At first, the Japanese ships met with no resistance; then with the ships within range of the island defenses, the U.S. guns opened fire. The small U.S. force on the island was able to repulse the initial landing attempt, but they were in serious need of additional critical supplies and support — including gunsights, spare parts and fire-control radar — which Cunningham requested from the Commandant, 14th Naval District. But, no reinforcements were to come. December 8 is the 342nd day (343rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Husband Kimmel (USN), Walter Short (USA) Chuichi Nagumo (IJN) Strength 8 battleships, 8 cruisers, 29 destroyers, 9 submarines, ~50 other ships, ~390 planes 6 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers, 8 tankers, 23 fleet submarines, 5 midget submarines, 441 planes Casualties... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 50 days remaining. ...

The island remained under attack by the Japanese. After 15 days under siege, on 23 December 1941, CDR Cunningham finally gave the order for surrender. Cunningham, along with surviving personnel and contractors, were taken captive. December 23 is the 357th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (358th in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ...

Prisoner of War

Cunningham and his fellow prisoners were transported from Wake island aboard the Japanese transport Nitta Maru to Shanghai, China by way of Yokohama, Japan. Treatment was harsh — five POWs were executed onboard and some of the inprisoned contractors were later executed. Twice during his captivity, Cunningham attempted to escape and was later recaptured by the Japanese. During his captivity, he lost over 70 pounds. On 18 August 1945, after 1330 days of confinement, the Japanese prison commander announced the end of the war to the American prisoners. On 24 August 1945, Winfield left China on a U.S. Army plane, and finally arrived in the U.S. on 7 September 1945, the same day Wake Island was formerly surrendered by the Japanese. Alternate meanings: See Shanghai (disambiguation) Shanghai (Chinese: 上海; pinyin: shàng hǎi; Shanghainese IPA: /zɑ̃ hɛ/) is Chinas largest city and is situated on the banks of the Chang Jiang delta. ... August 18 is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Return to the U.S.

On 10 September 1945, Cunningham underwent a complete physical examination at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. He was found fit to return to duty. He ... On December 4, 1945, he received notice of his promotion to Captain, effective 20 June 1942. In January 1946, he began a period of retraining, beginning with refresher aviation training at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, also known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital, is considered the flagship of the United States Navys system of medical centers. ... Bethesda, the name of a pool in the New Testament, has been adopted as a name by many other places and things. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1945 (MCMVL) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... June 20 is the 171st day of the year (172nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 194 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Naval Air Station Pensacola, The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is a United States Navy base located in Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits. ...

In May 1946, Captain Cunningham returned to sea duty as the Commanding Officer of the USS Curtiss (AV-4). Cunningham's final duty was as Commanding Officer, Naval Technical Training Center, Memphis, Tennessee from 23 June 1947 until his retirement on 30 June 1950 at the rank of Rear Admiral. USS Curtiss (AV-4) was launched 20 April 1940 by New York Shipbuilding Corp. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ...

Retirement

After retirement, Rear Admiral Cunningham lived in Memphis, Tennessee. He wroted the book, Wake Island Command (1961), about the historic battle. He died on 3 March 1986 at age 86 and was buried in the Memphis National Cemetery. Flag Seal Nickname: The River City, The Bluff City, M-Town Location Location in Shelby County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Tennessee Shelby County Mayor W. W. Herenton (D) Geographical characteristics Area City 294. ... March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Bibliography

References

Categories: 1900 births | 1986 deaths | American World War II veterans | Naval aviators | Navy Cross recipients | People from Wisconsin | Prisoners of war | United States Naval Academy graduates | United States Navy officers 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ...

Contents

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