Paul D. Stroop oral history transcription

Stroop, Paul D., VADM, USN, 1904-1995. USNA 1926; USS Arkansas, 1926-1928; Member of U.S. Olympic gymnastic team, Amster­ dam, The Netherlands, 1928; Naval Aviator, Pensacola, 1928-1929; Torpedo Squadron 9, NAS, Norfolk, Va., 1929; Patrol Squadron 10, NAS, Norfolk, Va., 1932; Postgraduate work, USNA, 1932-1934; Bombing Squadron 5, USS Ranger, 1934-36; Senior Aviator, USS Portland, 1936- 1937; BuAer, 1937-1940; Staff of ADM A. Fitch, Patrol Wing 2, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1940; Flag Officer and Tactical Officer, CO, Carrier Division 1, San Diego, 1940; Staff, Carrier Task Force, USS Lexington, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1942; Planning Officer, Senior Naval Commander, Air Force, South Pacific, 1942-1943; CO, USS Mackinac, 1943-1944; Aviation Plans Officer, Staff of ADM E.J. King, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., Attended the Yalta, Quebec, Potsdam Con­ ferences, 1944-1945;A trip around the world to inform commands of outcome of the Yalta Con­ ference: Berlin-Naples-Abadan-New Delhi-Calcutta-Kunming (China)-Chungking­ Manila-Okinawa- lwoJima-Guam (with ADM Nimitz while he was waiting for the Hiroshima bomb to be dropped)-Pearl Harbor-Long Beach-Washington, D.C., 1945; CO, USS Croatan, 1945; Fleet Aviation Officer (later Chief of Staff, Operations), Fifth Fleet, Yokosuka,.Japan, 1945- 1946; Aviation Officer (later Assistant Chief of Staff) Operations, CINCPAC, Pearl Harbor, Ha­ waii, 1946-1948; XO, General Line School, Monterey, Calif., 1948-1950; Student, National War College, Washington, D.C., 1950-1951; CO, USS Princeton, 1951-1952; CO, USS Essex, 1952- 1953; CO, Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, Calif., 1953; Senior Member, Weapons Sys­ tems Evaluation Group, JCS, Navy Department, Washington, D.C., 1953-1955; Deputy Chief, Chief of BuOrd, 1955-1957; CO, Taiwan Patrol Force, Okinawa, Japan, 1957-1958; Bureau Chief, Chief of BuOrd (later Bureau of Naval Weapons) , Washington, D.C., 1952; CO, Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet, 1962-1965, and CO, First Fleet, Air PAC; Retired, 1970; Member, Advisors Board, Naval Ordnance Test Station {later Naval Weapons Center), China Lake; Member, Board of Consultants, Navy Laboratory, Naval Undersea Research and Development Center, San Diego.