RICHARD G. CROMMELIN, LCDR, USN
Richard Crommelin '38
Lucky Bag
From the 1938 Lucky Bag:
RICHARD GUNTER CROMMELIN
Montgomery, Alabama
Dick
Richard was the fourth brother to leave the piney hills on the banks of the Alabama to get his first taste of salt from Maryland's mighty Severn. He knew rather more of what was in store for him than the average candidate, but will still maintain in his stronger moments that he took the right road back there. "Wiggy" prides himself on having cosmopolitan tendencies and with justification. Plugged to be a swimmer, succeeded in being a super-snake, and if he had maintained his course in civilian life would probably have turned out to be a first-class lawyer. Ambitious, friendly, well liked, though a home-lover by instinct, we predict that, in spite of it, he will go far in this man's Navy.
Ring Committee; Track 2, 1; Batt. Water Polo 4; Swimming 3; Ensign.
RICHARD GUNTER CROMMELIN
Montgomery, Alabama
Dick
Richard was the fourth brother to leave the piney hills on the banks of the Alabama to get his first taste of salt from Maryland's mighty Severn. He knew rather more of what was in store for him than the average candidate, but will still maintain in his stronger moments that he took the right road back there. "Wiggy" prides himself on having cosmopolitan tendencies and with justification. Plugged to be a swimmer, succeeded in being a super-snake, and if he had maintained his course in civilian life would probably have turned out to be a first-class lawyer. Ambitious, friendly, well liked, though a home-lover by instinct, we predict that, in spite of it, he will go far in this man's Navy.
Ring Committee; Track 2, 1; Batt. Water Polo 4; Swimming 3; Ensign.
Loss
Richard was lost on July 14, 1945 when his aircraft collided with another near the Caroline Islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. He was commanding officer of Fighting Squadron (VF) 88, operating from USS Yorktown (CV 10).
Other Information
From Find A Grave:
Richard "Dick" Crommelin
One of the distinguished and only group of five brothers to graduate from the U S Naval Academy, Richard Gunter "Dick" Crommelin (b. January 8, 1917) was a member of the Class of 1938. He was designated a Naval Aviator after flight training at Pensacola and had a highly decorated career in naval aviation. As a LTJG in his first squadron in the air group of USS Yorktown (CV-5) he was credited with shooting down two of six Japanese Zero fighter planes during the May 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea. He was shot down and "ditched" in the ocean. As did his oldest brother John, he fought in the Battle of Midway, defending Yorktown (CV-5) against Japanese air attack, although she was lost three days later. He was awarded the Navy Cross with gold star in lieu of a second award for extraordinary heroism in both crucial battles. Later in the war, he was promoted to LCDR and assigned to command Fighting Squadron 88 (VF-88) embarked in the second USS Yorktown (CV-10). Richard was killed in a mid-air collision with another American aircraft on July 14,1945 ["during strikes on Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping"]. Posthumously, he was awarded the Legion of Merit and Distinguished Flying Cross in recognition of his combat record.
Four of the five Crommelins were renowned as Naval Aviators; the fifth, a surface warfare officer was the only one to attain flag rank. A Perry class guided missile frigate, USS Crommelin (FFG-37), was named in their honor.
Note: Find A Grave has incorrect location of loss.
Dick has a memory marker in Alabama. His wife was listed as next of kin.
Wartime Service
Dick is mentioned repeatedly in The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway by John B. Lundstrom.
He was piloting a captured Japanese Zero fighter at San Diego Naval Air Station in February 1945 when the pilot of a SB2C Helldiver didn't see Dick as he taxied for takeoff. The Zero was destroyed; Dick was apparently unhurt.
From naval aviation historian Richard Leonard via email on February 9, 2018:
Dick Crommelin was only assigned to VF-3 from 28 May 1942 to 18 June 1942. His nominal squadron was Yorktown’s VF-42. Sixteen pilots were transferred VO-TAD from VF-42 to VF-3 for the Midway deployment. Of no historical value whatsoever, Dick Crommelin and my father (who was also in VF-42) shared a cabin on Yorktown (CV-5) from June 1941 to the Battle of Midway.
Career
From naval aviation historian Richard Leonard via email on February 9, 2018:
- NAS Pensacola attached for HTA flight training, 6/24/1940
- NAS Pensacola designated NA # 6977, 12/16/1940
- Date of rank LTJG from 1 Jul 1941 USN Register, 6/2/1941
- VF-42 USS Yorktown (CV-5) NX, 5/7/1942
- VF-3 USS Yorktown (CV-5) NX, 6/4/1942
- Date of rank LT from 1 Jul 1942 USN Register, 6/15/1942
- NAOTC NAS Jacksonville, 6/24/1943
- VF-88 (1st CO) NAS Atlantic City, 1/1/1944
- Date of rank LCDR from 1 Jul 1944 USN Register, 3/1/1944
- VF-88 (1st CO) NAS Atlantic City, 3/1/1944
- VF-88 (1st CO) NAS Hilo, 5/1/1945
- VF-88 (1st CO) USS Yorktown (CV-10) KIFA midair off Hokkaido BNR, 7/14/1945
Photographs
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Richard Gunter Crommelin (NSN: 0-81127), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FORTY-TWO (VF-42), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Air Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. As leader of a section of the combat air patrol on 7 May, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Crommelin conducted a determined and decisive attack against an enemy Japanese four-engine patrol plane which resulted in the destruction of that plane, thereby preventing the detection of our forces by the enemy. His aggressive spirit of fearlessness in facing great odds to make eight successive attacks against six enemy fighters attacking our surface forces and harassing our anti-Torpedo Plane patrol resulted in the destruction of two enemy fighters and severe damage to several others. His conduct in these engagements was characterized by unusual leadership, prompt and sound judgment in the accomplishment of his mission and a complete disregard for his own personal safety.
Action Date: May 7 & 8, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Company: Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Richard Gunter Crommelin (NSN: 0-81127), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THREE (VF-3), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Through his courage, skill and perseverance Lieutenant Crommelin played an important part in the disruption of a bombing attack directed against the U.S.S. YORKTOWN by a formation of eighteen Japanese dive bombers with fighter escort. Intercepting and vigorously attacking the fighters, he personally shot one down in flames and damaged another, thus helping prevent further damage to the other friendly craft engaged in breaking up the dive-bombing attack. The outstanding courage and determined skill displayed by Lieutenant Crommelin were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 4-Jun-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
Legion of Merit
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Lieutenant Commander Richard Gunter Crommelin (NSN: 0-81127), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron EIGHTY-EIGHT (VF-88) during the period from 15 August 1944, the date of its commissioning, until 14 July 1945. Throughout the period of organization and training of his squadron he pressed forward its preparation for combat duty with unflagging zeal and unerring foresight. His inspiring leadership consistently maintained the training and combat efficiency of his squadron at a high level, and as the senior squadron commander, his outstanding professional skill, initiative and judgment enabled him to render invaluable service to the Group as a whole. His performance of duty and outstanding service were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: August 15, 1944 - July 14, 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Fighting Squadron 88 (VF-88)
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Richard Gunter Crommelin (NSN: 0-81127), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
Action Date: World War II
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
Namesake
USS Crommelin (FFG 37) was named for Richard and his brothers.
Related Articles
Charles Crommelin '31 was his brother.
Donald Lovelace '28, Edward O'Hare '37, and Howard Clark '38 were also present with Fighting Squadron (VF) 3 during the time he was TAD to the squadron.
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.
July 1938
January 1939
October 1939
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
CDR William Sample '19
LT William Pennewill '29
LT Finley Hall '29
LT John Yoho '29
LT Lance Massey '30
LT George Bellinger '32
LT Martin Koivisto '32
LT John Spiers '32
LT Daniel Gothie '32
LT Dewitt Shumway '32
LT Albert Major, Jr. '32
LTjg John Phillips, Jr. '33
ENS Frank Peterson '33
LTjg Charles Brewer '34
LTjg Walker Ethridge '34
CAPT Floyd Parks '34
LTjg Charles Ware '34
LTjg Frank Whitaker '34
LTjg Philip Torrey, Jr. '34
LTjg George Nicol '34
LTjg Victor Gadrow '35
LTjg Richard Stephenson '35
LTjg Allan Edmands '35
LTjg Roy Krogh '36
LTjg Porter Maxwell '36
LTjg Richard Hughes '37
LTjg Frank Henderson, Jr. '37
LTjg John Thomas '37
LTjg John Boal '37
ENS Harry Howell '38
ENS Eric Allen, Jr. '38
ENS James Ginn '38
ENS Oswald Zink '38
ENS Frank Case, Jr. '38
ENS Howard Fischer '38
ENS Edmundo Gandia '38
ENS Charles Reimann '38
ENS Howard Clark '38
ENS Roy Hale, Jr. '38
ENS Leonard Thornhill '38
ENS Osborne Wiseman '38
ENS Curtis Howard '38
ENS Jep Jonson '38
ENS Roy Green, Jr. '38
ENS Marion Dufilho '38
2LT James Owens '38
ENS William Brady '38
ENS Charles Anderson '38
ENS Carl Holmstrom '38
ENS Charles King '38
2LT John Maclaughlin, Jr. '38
ENS William Tate, Jr. '38
2LT Douglas Keeler '38
ENS Harry Bass '38
ENS John Kelley '38
ENS John Erickson '38
ENS William Lamberson '38
ENS Donald Smith '38
ENS Frank Quady '38
ENS Robert Seibels, Jr. '38
ENS Alphonse Minvielle '38
April 1941
LT William Widhelm '32 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 4)
LTjg Walter Bayless '36 (USS Ranger)
ENS Walter Sharer '38 (USS Ranger)
ENS Lemuel Cooke '39 (USS Ranger)
ENS William Beck, Jr. '40 (USS Ranger)
Memorial Hall Error?
Richard is not listed on the killed in action panel in the front of Memorial Hall. While not an obvious error, inclusion on the panel for crashes like this (incidental to combat flights) has been inconsistent across WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
