Elliott Buckmaster

Elliott Buckmaster (October 19, 1889 – October 10, 1976) was a United States Navy officer, later promoted to flag rank, and naval aviator during World War I and World War II. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Dr. Augustus Harper Buckmaster (1859–1941) and the former Helen Gardner Elliott Masters (1858–1910), Buckmaster was raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, from the age of twelve. Appointed from Virginia to the United States Naval Academy in 1908, Buckmaster graduated with the Class of 1912. Assigned to the USS New Jersey at the occupation of Veracruz in 1914, Buckmaster was credited with rescuing a wounded sailor and bringing him to safety. Buckmaster was promoted through the ranks until 1934 when, with the rank of commander, he would commission USS Farragut as her first commanding officer. Following command of Farragut, Commander Buckmaster applied for flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola. Upon graduation in 1936 at age 47, Buckmaster performed duties in aviation until ordered in 1938 to USS Lexington as her executive officer. Serving in this capacity until 1939, he was then promoted to Captain and ordered to Naval Air Station Ford Island as Commanding Officer, serving in this capacity until January 1941. On February 5, 1941, Captain Buckmaster assumed command of USS Yorktown at Naval Air Station Ford Island. He was Commanding Officer of Yorktown at the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. Later he served as Commander, Western Carolines Operating Area, where he spearheaded shore based operations in the rescue of 317 survivors of USS Indianapolis after her loss to enemy action. Buckmaster was criticised by some historians for what was deemed the premature abandonment of Yorktown after she was struck by two torpedoes at the Battle of Midway. Buckmaster, consulting with his executive officer, Dixie Kiefer, and the Ship's Chief Engineer Officer John F. Delaney, Jr., all concluded that without power, the undoing of the very superficial repairs made at Pearl Harbor