Beakley, Wallace M.

Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy.

Beakley, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was designated a naval aviator in November 1926. He served on USS Utah, destroyer Mahan, and with squadrons attached to USS Langley, seaplane tender Wright, and cruisers Trenton and Marblehead. From 1935-1937, he was assigned to USS Lexington. In July 1941, he assumed command of Fighting Squadron 5 on USS Yorktown. Fighting Squadron 5 was transferred to USS Wasp in January 1942, with Beakley subsequently serving as Air Group Commander, Air Officer, and Executive Officer of that carrier. From November 1942-1943, he was Assistant Operations Officer for Commander Air Force Pacific Fleet, and then served as Air Officer on the staff of Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet until August 1945. He served on the Joint Staff from 1947-1949, commanded USS Midway, and in 1950 became Assistant Director for Aviation for the Chief of Naval Operations. Beakley was Commander Seventh Fleet, 1957-1958, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Operations and Readiness until 1961. He became Deputy Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet in September 1961, and was Commandant First Naval District from 1963 until his retirement in January 1964.