CDR Don D. Adams USN

Foil: 13 Panel: 2 Column: 2 Line: 79

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Carol Elizabeth Adams

Don Dee Adams was born on August 22, 1917 in Corliss, WV. After graduating Nutall High School, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps helping to develop Watoga State Park and later the Bluestone Reservoir flood control project. He worked with the Appalachian Electric Company cutting right of way through the woods in preparation to bring electricity into the area for the first time.
Don joined "The Civilian Pilot Training Program" through Beckley College, learning how to fly from barnstorming pilot Carl Williams. After completing the program, Don joined the Navy, specifically to enter the Naval Aviation Cadet program in March 1941. He did his flight training in the Stearman and was ready to fit into the Navy's Primary Syllabus in about half the time that it took those that started from scratch. Following advance training at NAS Miami, Don received his wings of gold and commission as an ensign. He was assigned to the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8). When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Don received orders to Bombing Squadron Eight. Don immediately started training in the Curtis Helldiver (SBC-4); training consisted primarily of bombing, tactics and field carrier landings in preparation for qualification landings aboard ship. Upon reporting to San Diego in March 1942, the squadron traded the Helldivers for the newer SBD Dauntless Dive Bombers. Upon arrival at Alameda, California, a squadron of B-25s was hoisted aboard. These B-25s took part in LCOL Jimmy Doolittle's raid.
After intensive training in Hawaii for dive bombing, searches and carrier landings, the USS Hornet joined other carriers, Enterprise and Yorktown and proceeded toward Midway Island. Contact was made with the Japanese on June 4; the Battle of Midway lasted 3 days. Don flew four strikes during the battle. Three of four enemy carriers were sunk in minutes on June 4. On June 5, the Hornet and Enterprise launched dive bombers to seek out and destroy the remaining carrier, Hiryu, whose air group had disabled the Yorktown. Don flew with a group of twelve SDBs in search of the Hiryu but they were unable to locate the Hiryu, only a big oil slick -- the carrier had been sunk. Flying well beyond the safe combat radius but still loaded with bombs on return to the Hornet, Don tracked a destroyer target scoring a near miss but taking a lot of flak. With dangerously low fuel and pitch-darkness approaching, Don decided to ditch the plane into the ocean. Suddenly, a searchlight illuminated the sky, and Don made a straight-in approach to the Hornet, his first ever night carrier landing. He was indeed grateful to Admiral Spruance who at considerable danger to the task Force from possible Japanese submarines, had turned on the searchlight to save those in the air. The next morning Don's plane wouldn't start; the spark plugs had been destroyed by overheating. The Hornet returned to Pearl Harbor after eliminating the main threat -- the four aircraft carriers.
In August the Hornet departed for the South Pacific to support the Marines' invasion of Guadalcanal and searches for Japanese carrier forces into the area. In late October 1942, a Japanese task force was within striking distance. The Hornet was hit with 3 bombs, 2 torpedoes and 2 aircraft; Don had just moved out of the ready room when one of the planes hit. The ship had major damage, and the crew had to evacuate to the destroyer Russel. Enemy bombers attacked the Russel while the crew was standing on its crowded deck; but the firing ended short of where they were standing. All the crew came off the Hornet which was scuttled rather than allowing it to fall into enemy hands. The Russel headed towards Noumea, and then ultimately the men boarded the S.S. Rocham Beau transport for the 20-day return trip to San Francisco.
Returning to West Virginia, Don married Margaret Adams. Don expected orders to San Diego, and headed out that way until he received orders to NAS Miami Florida. New aircraft carriers were being built at a rapid pace, and there was a push to get aviation cadets through training and out to the fleet as replacement pilots and to man new squadrons being formed. After a few weeks as a flight instructor, Don was made a Landing Signal Officer (LSO) whose job was to teach aviation cadets the technique of carrier landings. During Don's two years in the Training Command as an LSO, there was never a serious accident while the student pilot was under his control.
On November 5, 1943, Don and Margaret became the parents of a baby girl, Dona Suzanne. In April 1944, Don was transferred to Lee Field, Green Cove Springs, Florida and then in December was transferred to North Island, San Diego. In his new duty station, Don was Commander Fleet Air West Coast, responsible for preparing the aircraft carriers and squadrons for combat as well as performing LSO duties training pilot to operate safely from the carriers. Don was nominated for the leading role in a pilot training film. The U.S. Naval Photographic Services Depot of Hollywood did the writing and directing while the command provided the aircraft, personnel and facilities to do the job. Filming was done in the desert near El Centro, Ream Field near San Diego, aboard the U.S. S. Ranger, CV-4 and at Paramount Studio in Hollywood. The project was completed successfully, and the film was well received.
Don and Margaret's second daughter, Roberta (Bobbie) Lynn was born at the Naval Air Station, North Island on September 8, 1945, six days after Japan formally surrendered. In late 1945, Don was aboard the Ranger training an LSO when an out of control plane caused them to jump out of the way resulting in Don dislocating his left ankle. In early 1946, Don received orders to the Hancock, CV-19 as the ship's LSO. While directing a torpedo plane (TBF) which got too low, the protective windscreen for LSOs collapsed, and the frame hit Don causing a serious concussion and resulting in a hospital stay before setting sail for the South Pacific. The Hancock proceeded to Guam doing routine flight operations; Don then received orders as executive officer to Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron Eleven, ending his 3 years of duty as an LSO. On May 4, 1947, their third daughter, Carol Elizabeth was born.
Don's next orders were to the General Line School at Monterey, California, whose curriculum was designed to expose officers who had attended public schools to military type subjects taught at the Naval Academy. In December 1948 orders were received to the Naval Ordinance Test Station at China Lake, California where he was an aide to the Commanding Officer, Admiral Switzer and had the opportunity to fly various types of aircraft used in ordinance testing. In 1950-1951, Don was involved in recommissioning the U.S.S. Jupiter as an aviation supply ship for its maiden voyage to Japan, loading aviation supplies for carriers operating off the coast of Korea. His next assignments included Commander Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet (COMPAIRPAC) at San Diego in 1951, Admin Officer to NAS Patuxent River, Maryland 1953, promoted to Commander in 1954 and then on to Naval War College at Newport Rhode Island. In 1955, Don received orders to Airborne Early Warning Squadron Eleven (VW-11) based at Patuxent River, Maryland and started training in the four-engine Lockheed Super Constellation, then switching to VW-2s, the radar equipped version. The VW-2s alternated deployments to Argentia, Newfoundland for six months at a time whose mission was to patrol the North Atlantic for possible foreign activity that might penetrate the area. Planes were kept in the air 24 hours a day regardless of the weather; Argentia is noted for bad weather. Don made on six-month deployment. In the meantime it was decided that a wing training unit was needed to supply pilots and other replacement personnel to the squadrons. Admiral "Jumping Joe" Clifton, now Wing Commander, selected Don to be Officer-In-Charge of the unit at Patuxent River.
On November 20, 1956 their fourth daughter, Jan Dee was born. In 1958, Don received orders to the Pentagon. He was assigned to the Personnel Division of the Deputy Chief of Operations for Air, where he dealt with the allocation of billets (positions) within the Naval Air Force. On February 15, their fifth daughter, Margaret Beatty was born.
Don's tour at the Pentagon lasted from 1958-1961, and he retired on May 31, 1961. He enjoyed a rewarding 20 years on active duty which included two wars, World War II and Korea, with many memorable experiences. He attained rand of Commander with a variety of duties that was probably above the norm. He received several combat decorations, the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, the Air Medal four times, plus a number of other campaign medals. He is proud of his Wings of Gold, and proud of his twenty years services as a Naval Officer and Aviator.
Thirty years after retiring, living once again in Coronado, California, Don saw an ad in the Retired Officer's Magazine. It read "Any Navy pilot who flew an SBD in a bombing raid on the Japanese destroyer Tanikaze during the Battle of Midway on June 5, 1942, please contact . . ." After answering the ad, he received communication from a representative of Masashi Shibata, the retired chairman of Nisshoku Corporation. Mr. Shibata had been a signalman on the Tanikaze during the Battle of Midway, and felt that his experience that day had changed his life and his entire outlook on the American people. The letter continued to say that he was hoping to meet any American pilots involved in that battle, and the "he considers military men honorable men who answer the call of their country and does not feel that their battle actions are of a personal nature".
Subsequently, Mr. and Mrs. Shibata came to San Diego, and Don and Margaret went to meet them at their hotel. Upon seeing Don, Mr. Shibata threw his arms around him and said "I met you forty-nine years ago as my enemy and now it is God's will that we meet as friends!" Later, through an interpreter, they discussed the bombing of the ship. Don was fascinated to learn that the zig zag maneuvers which saved the Tanikaze from the American bombs, had been called by signalman Shibata, who spent much of the battle leaning out the window of the bridge, shouting the position of the approaching planes to his captain. They shared dinners, met two other former Bombing 8 pilots, CDR Clayton Fisher and CAPT Roy Gee, and the Shibatas were given a guided tour of the aircraft carrier Ranger. They toasted Masashi Shibata for his skilled seamanship and heroic action; the Tanikaze won the battle that day. This was the beginning of a friendship between Don and Masashi which continued for many years. This included an all expense paid visit to Japan, touring many temples, museums and other tourist sites with the Shibatas. The Shibatas were very supportive when Margaret passed away in June 1997, and Don was very supportive when Masashi died in March 2000. Several years later in 2002, Mrs. Shibata came again to Coronado with her daughter and three grandchildren to pay respects to Don once more. With two of Don's daughters, one son-in-law and three granddaughters present, the bond between the two families was cemented, hopefully for generations to come.