PAUL J. RILEY, LT, USN
Paul Riley '37
Lucky Bag
From the 1937 Lucky Bag:
PAUL JAMES RILEY
Hot Springs, Arkansas
"Pat" "Commodore" "Alice" "Pablo"
When Pablo decided with characteristic deliberation to leave the Ozarks for the land of big guns and red-tape, he was as good as here. He has the foresight and determination to carry out any plans he makes. Rarely ruffled, he is enough of a stoic to take the grind without kicking, enough of an idealist to say, "It won't be like this a year from now." His companionship, like the proverbial wine, grows better with age. It is of lasting value because it is tempered with a sufficiently serious mind and spiced with a genuine Irish humor.
Water Polo 3. One Stripe.
PAUL JAMES RILEY
Hot Springs, Arkansas
"Pat" "Commodore" "Alice" "Pablo"
When Pablo decided with characteristic deliberation to leave the Ozarks for the land of big guns and red-tape, he was as good as here. He has the foresight and determination to carry out any plans he makes. Rarely ruffled, he is enough of a stoic to take the grind without kicking, enough of an idealist to say, "It won't be like this a year from now." His companionship, like the proverbial wine, grows better with age. It is of lasting value because it is tempered with a sufficiently serious mind and spiced with a genuine Irish humor.
Water Polo 3. One Stripe.
Biography & Loss
From Military Hall of Honor:
Paul was the son of Jason Daniel Riley "JD" and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Nealie Williams who were married on 19 April 1908 in Garland county, Arkansas. Paul's siblings included Mildred Laverne, James Whitcomb, and Sarah Edith Riley. Paul and James served in the Armed Forces during WWII. Paul, James and Sarah graduated from Hot Springs High School.
After obtaining his father's permission to join the US military, Paul enlisted in the Naval Reserve 12 Dec 1931 as an Apprentice Seaman (A.S.). Several years later, he received a nomination from Arkansas to the Naval Academy and entered on 26 Jun 1933. …
He began his mandatory sea duty tour on 29 June 1937 on board the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3). He detached from USS Saratoga in June 1939 and began (heavier-than-air) flight training under instruction at Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola later that month. He was temporarily transferred to NAS Miami in the early Spring of 1940 for advanced training for pilots who had orders to carrier based squadrons. He completed his flight training under instruction and was designated a naval aviator 22 May 1940. He was promoted on 03 Jun 1940 to Lieutenant Junior Grade (Ltjg.).
Later that month he detached from NAS Pensacola with orders to report to Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) for duty. He reported for temporary duty to the 11th Naval District in San Diego, CA while awaiting transportation to Pearl Harbor. The following month, on 22 July 1940, Ltjg Riley boarded the USS Neosho (AO-23), a Cimarron-class fleet oiler, as a passenger in San Diego, CA for further transfer (FFT) to the USS Enterprise (CV-6). On 28 July, he reported for duty with VT-6 on board the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6). He was promoted to Lieutenant on 6 Jan 1942.
The Enterprise was commissioned on 12 May 1938. Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) was commissioned on 01 July 1938. During 1938-1939, 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 attack on Gilbert and Marshall Islands on 01 Feb 1942. During this action VT-6 attacked enemy Japanese forces on Kwajalein. Lt Riley was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions against enemy Japanese forces on the Marshall Island group.
Enterprise also participated in the Wake Island raid 24 Feb 1942. On 4 March, Enterprise’s Air Group attacked enemy installations on the Marcus Islands 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 Riley and his radioman-gunner ARM2 Edwin John Mushinski launched their torpedo plane from Enterprise along with other members of VT-6 and Air Group 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 four returned to Enterprise. Lt Riley and Petty Officer Mushinski did not return. According to the USS Enterprise Battle of Midway after action report dated 8 Jun 1942, Lt Riley and ARM2 Mushinski were recorded as personnel losses in battle. Their remains were unrecoverable. They were missing in action on 04 Jun 1942 and presumed dead on 5 Jun 1943.
His sister was listed as next of kin. He has a memory marker in Arkansas and a second Find A Grave entry here.
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Paul James Riley (NSN: 0-78730), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane 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 Riley 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)
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Paul James Riley (NSN: 0-78730), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during the operations of United States forces against Marshall Islands on 1 February 1942. With utter disregard for his own safety, despite intense and sustained enemy anti-aircraft fire. Lieutenant Riley developed the attack of the section he was leading against an enemy light cruiser in a most efficient and tenacious manner, which resulted in the destruction of an enemy ship.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)
Action Date: February 1, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Battalion: Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Namesake
USS Riley (DE 579) was named for Paul; the ship was sponsored by his sister.
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.
September 1937
LCDR Irving Wiltsie '21 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
LT William Pye, Jr. '28 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 3)
LTjg George Bellinger '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 3)
LTjg Edwin Hurst '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
January 1938
LCDR Irving Wiltsie '21 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
LT William Pye, Jr. '28 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 3)
July 1938
LT William Pye, Jr. '28 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 3)
LT John Yoho '29 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
LTjg John Spiers '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 3)
LTjg James Reilly '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
LTjg George Nicol '34 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 3)
ENS David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
ENS William Hulson '36 (Aircraft, Battle Force)
January 1939
LT John Waldron '24 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 3)
LT John Yoho '29 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
LTjg John Spiers '32 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 3)
LTjg George Nicol '34 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 3)
LTjg David Taylor, Jr. '35 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 3)
ENS William Hulson '36 (Aircraft, Battle Force)
October 1939
LT Finley Hall '29
LT John Huntley '31
LTjg George Bellinger '32
LTjg Martin Koivisto '32
LTjg Daniel Gothie '32
LTjg Albert Major, Jr. '32
LTjg John McCormack, Jr. '33
LTjg Archibald Stone, Jr. '34
LTjg Wendell Froling '34
LT John Yoho '29 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
CAPT Paul Moret '30 (Training Squadron (VN) 3D8)
LTjg Robert Strickler '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg George Ottinger '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
June 1940
LT Finley Hall '29
LT Lance Massey '30
LT Charles Ostrom '30
LTjg George Bellinger '32
LTjg Martin Koivisto '32
LTjg Daniel Gothie '32
1LT Floyd Parks '34
LTjg Charles Ware '34
LTjg Jack Ferguson '35
LTjg Joel Davis, Jr. '35
LTjg Francis Maher, Jr. '35
LTjg John Powers '35
LTjg Robert Strickler '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LT William Townsend '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
LTjg Dewitt Shumway '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 1D8)
LTjg William Widhelm '32 (Training Squadron (VN) 5D8)
November 1940
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Edward Allen '31 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Ernest Wood, Jr. '38 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
April 1941
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Edward Allen '31 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg Hubert Harden '35 (USS Enterprise)
ENS John Kelley '38 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 6)
ENS Frank Quady '38 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 6)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
ENS William Williamson, Jr. '41 (USS Enterprise)
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
