ARTHUR V. ELY, LT, USN

Arthur Ely '35

Date of birth: March 8, 1912

Date of death: June 4, 1942

Age: 30

Lucky Bag

From the 1935 Lucky Bag:

ARTHUR VINCENT ELY

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Brother Eli" "Doc" "Art"

CAMERA!" "Action!" "No, not stiff—move!" Photography isn't all Doc does, but you would never guess from his clear snaps that his earlier days were spent in the Smoky City. Short, dark, smiling and tempered like a piece of good steel. Not a reputed snake, but certain women wilt beneath his slow but progressive action. Maybe that's from his gift of gab for he is certainly the proverbial breeze shooter. But not always, for he couldn't be and still contribute class support the way he has in cross country, gym and swimming. There are a few major motives back of Doc's actions—the Navy, the O. A. O., and his desire for success, all of which we hope may be his.

Gym Team 4, Numerals. Class Gym Team 3, 2, Numerals. Cross Country 2, Numerals. Glee Club 2. Trident Society 1. 1 P.O.

ARTHUR VINCENT ELY

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

"Brother Eli" "Doc" "Art"

CAMERA!" "Action!" "No, not stiff—move!" Photography isn't all Doc does, but you would never guess from his clear snaps that his earlier days were spent in the Smoky City. Short, dark, smiling and tempered like a piece of good steel. Not a reputed snake, but certain women wilt beneath his slow but progressive action. Maybe that's from his gift of gab for he is certainly the proverbial breeze shooter. But not always, for he couldn't be and still contribute class support the way he has in cross country, gym and swimming. There are a few major motives back of Doc's actions—the Navy, the O. A. O., and his desire for success, all of which we hope may be his.

Gym Team 4, Numerals. Class Gym Team 3, 2, Numerals. Cross Country 2, Numerals. Glee Club 2. Trident Society 1. 1 P.O.

Loss

Arthur was killed in action on June 4, 1942 when his aircraft failed to return from a strike on the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway.

Other Information

From Military Hall of Honor:

Arthur Vincent was the son of Dr George William Ely and Florence Isabella Renz who married on 27 July 1903. Arthur's siblings were Louise A., Ruth A., and George Edmund Ely. Dr George Ely enlisted in the Regular Army in Pittsburgh, PA on 01 Mar 1900. He was the Acting Assistant Surgeon, US Army, during the Filipino-American War and was in-country Philippines for over a year. He was discharged in Pittsburgh, PA 17 July 1901.
Arthur Vincent Ely married Ann Elizabeth Galvin, the daughter of Dr. Augustus Hughes and Mary Ellen (Teevan) Galvin, 28 May 1938 in St Charles' Church, North Hollywood, CA. She was born in Salem, MA and graduated from the University of California. She began her career teaching physical education at Marymount College from 1933 until 1938 when she married Lt. Arthur V. Ely. After his death at the Battle of Midway in 1942, she returned to teaching and the rearing of her two small daughters Patricia Ann and Jeannette Louise. She taught grammar school until her retirement in 1972.
Arthur and Ann were the parents of two children - Patricia Ann, who was born in Pensacola, FL on 02 Mar 1939 and died in Portland, OR on 25 Jan 2007 and Jeanette Louise Ely born in North Hollywood, CA on 22 Nov 1940. Ann remained a widow for the rest of her life. She died in Clackamas County, OR on 18 April 1977 at the age of 66 yrs.
Arthur was born in Pittsburgh, PA and graduated from Peabody high school in May 1930. He attended Carnegie Tech for a year during which he took the Naval Academy entrance exam and passed. He received a US Naval Academy appointment from Pennsylvania. He entered the Naval Academy on 09 July 1931. His classmates called him "Brother Eli," "Doc," and "Art." Comments by some of his classmates written about "Doc" in the Lucky Bag year book of 1935: "Camera!" "Action!" "No, not stiff-- move!" Photography isn't all Doc does, but you would never guess from his clear snaps that his earlier days were spent in the Smoky City. Short, dark, smiling and tempered like a piece of good steel. Not a reputed snake, but certain women wilt beneath his slow but progressive action. Maybe that's from his gift of gab for he is certainly the proverbial breeze shooter. But not always, for he couldn't be and still contribute class support the way he has in cross country, gym and swimming.
There are a few major motives back of Doc's actions -- the Navy, the O.A.O., and his desire for success, all of which we hope may be his. Extracurricular activities: Gym Team 4, Class Gym team 3, 2, Cross Country, 2, Glee Club 2. Trident Society, 1.
Doc graduated from the Naval Academy on 06 Jun 1935 with a commission as an Ensign, USN. He also held a special qualification as a German language interpreter. For his required sea duty tour after graduation, Doc reported on board the heavy cruiser, USS Houston (CA-30) on 28 Jun 1935. Nearly three years later in May 1938 Ens. Ely detached from Houston and transferred to the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Pensacola, FL. Shortly after arriving in Pensacola, Ens. Ely was promoted to Lt (jg) on 06 Jun 1938. He began flight training under instruction on 27 Jun 1938. He received his designation as a naval aviator (heavier-than-air) about February 1939 (the 01 July 1939 Officers' Registry documents his status as a naval aviator.) however, he continued advanced training for those pilots with orders to squadrons assigned to aircraft carriers. Ltjg Ely was detached from NAS Pensacola and transferred to Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) on 27 July 1939. Ltjg Ely was stationed in San Diego, CA at the time of the 1940 US Federal census. Ely was promoted to Lieutenant on 01 Jan 1942. Later that year Lt Ely became executive officer of VT-6.
The Enterprise was commissioned on 12 May 1938. VT-6 was commissioned on 01 July 1938. During 1939, Enterprise and her embarked squadrons conducted shake down cruises and workup exercises at various times. While the ship was inport the squadrons were temporarily based ashore at their assigned airfields. In Sep 1939, Enterprise became part of the Hawaiian Detachment of the U.S. Fleet whose homeport was Pearl Harbor. In Jan 1940 Enterprise was engaged in exercises in Hawaiian waters. In early Feb, she steamed for Puget Sound Navy Shipyard for an overhaul after making a brief port call in San Diego. In late May, Enterprise, her overhaul completed, returned to San Diego for about a month. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 2 July 1940. Enterprise conducted exercises from August to early Nov in the Hawaiian area. Then on 09 Nov she steamed to San Diego until 2 Dec when she got underway for the Puget Sound Navy Shipyard in Bremerton, WA.
Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 21 Jan 1941. During 1941 Enterprise made 13 round trips between Hawaii and San Diego from April - Nov conducting exercise cycles and squadron work-ups. During those months she also shuttled Army Air Force P-39s and P-40s, as well as, Navy aircraft from US West Coast ports to Pearl Harbor and beyond. On 28 Nov 1941, Enterprise, now operating in a war-time steaming condition, left San Diego with a cargo of Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211) aircraft and pilots destined for Wake Island. The Marine pilots and their planes flew from Enterprise to Wake Island on 02 Dec 1941. Enterprise was scheduled to arrive back in Pearl Harbor on 06 Dec, but was delayed due to inclement weather. Fortunately, she wasn't inport on the morning of 07 Dec, but arrived later that evening.
In the first five months of 1942, Enterprise and her Air Group participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and Wake Island operations in Feb 1942. According to a Report After Battle narrative submitted by VT-6 on 2 Feb 1942, Lt Ely, pilot of 6-T-4, along with eight other torpedo bombers, each carrying 3-500 lb bombs, launched at 0510 on 01 Feb 1942 to attack combatant ships, and shore facilities on Kwajalein Island by horizontal bombing profiles.
After returning to Enterprise, the nine aircraft of VT-6 launched again about 0935 to attack the air field and surface ships at Wotje Island and Atoll. During both attacks VT-6 bombers were met with intense anti-aircraft fire from numerous locations. Lt Ely originally received a CINCPAC Letter of Commendation for his actions on 01 Feb 1942. However, in Dec 1946 SECNAV approved an upgrade of the LOC to the Navy Air Medal for meritorious achievement during these attacks. The LOC and ribbon were returned to the Navy.
In March Enterprise attacked Marcus Island and on 18 April she supported the Doolittle raid. In early May, Enterprise and the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) were dispatched to the South Pacific to assist the aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) who were engaged in the battle of the Coral Sea. However, before the ships arrived on-scene the battle of the Coral Sea was over. After participating in additional operations in the Central Pacific, Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 May and began intensive preparations to meet an expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island. Enterprise got underway from Pearl Harbor on 28 May 1942, and with USS Hornet (CV-8), steamed toward a point Northeast of Midway called "Point Luck." USS Yorktown (CV-5) followed a short time later.
Early on the morning of 4 Jun 1942, pilot Lt Arthur Vincent Ely, Executive Officer of VT-6, and his radioman-gunner RM3 Arthur R. Lindgren launched their torpedo plane from Enterprise along with other aircraft of VT-6 and Air Wing Six to attack the Japanese Striking Force that was near Midway. Separated from their covering fighter protection, VT-6, comprised of 14 torpedo planes, pressed their attack even though overwhelmed by superior numbers of Japanese fighter aircraft. One by one the planes of VT-6 were shot down. Of the 14 planes only 4 returned to Enterprise. Lt Ely and Petty Officer Lindgren did not return.

His Find A Grave page is here.

His wife was listed as next of kin.

Photographs

From Military Hall of Honor

Navy Cross

From Hall of Valor:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Arthur Vincent Ely (NSN: 0-75039), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Executive Officer of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Participating in a vigorous and intensive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant Ely pressed home his attack with relentless determination in the face of a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The unprecedented conditions under which his squadron launched its offensive were so exceptional that it is highly improbably the occasion may ever recur where other pilots of the service will be called upon to demonstrate an equal degree of gallantry and fortitude. His extreme disregard of personal safety contributed materially to the success of our forces and his loyal conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)
Action Date: 4-Jun-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)

Namesake

USS Ely (DE 309) was named for Art; the ship was sponsored by his widow. Ely was launched but never completed. There's a photo of Ann, Art's widow, christening the vessel at the above link and another that looks to be from the same day at Find A Grave.

Navy Directories & Officer Registers

The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.

The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.

The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.

Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.