World War II Database

Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner was the commander of Task Force 62, consisted of fix submarines, twenty-three transports, and various supply ships, during the assault on Guadalcanal's would-be Henderson Field. He was administratively under the command of Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher, but was fairly autonomous in carrying out his own objectives. He was chosen by Admiral King for his cleverness.

He was born in Portland, Oregon, United States, in 1885, but joined the Naval Academy in 1904 after being appointed from California. Early in his career, he served aboard several ships, including being the captain of the destroyer Stewart and gunnery officer of the battleship California. He also served on land as well, acted as the ordnance officer at the Naval Gun Factory, in Washington DC, and later Director of the War Plans Division, also in Washington DC. He was an expert in both gunnery in aviation, but his subordinates lovingly gave him the nickname "Terrible" for his temper.

He was named Rear Admiral around the time the US entered WW2, after the Pearl Harbor attack. He was Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the US Navy until sent to the Pacific to head up the before-mentioned amphibious force at Guadalcanal. With his brilliance in execution of landing operations, he was named the commander of the amphibious operations against the Japanese Home Islands, though Japan surrendered before such a landing became necessary.

Turner stayed in the Navy for only a short time after the war before retiring in 1947. He returned to the west coast, to Monterey, California, where he would pass away in 1961.

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