John Smith Thach (1905 - 1981)

Born 19 Apr 1905 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Died 15 Apr 1981 at age 75 in Coronado, San Diego, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Military and War Project WikiTree [send private message]

John Thach participated in World War II. Join: Military and War Project Discuss: Military_and_War

Biography

John Thach is Notable.

John Thach served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1927
Unit(s): USS Saratoga (CV-3)
Service ended: May 1967

Rear Admiral John Thach served in the United States Navy in the Korean War
Service started: 1927
Unit(s): USS Sicily (CVE-118)
Service ended: 1967

John Smith Thach, nicknamed "Jimmie", was one of the most influential naval aviators of the mid-20th century. He is credited with the creation of the Thach Weave, one of the most significant tactical advances in aerial combat.^[1][2]

Jimmie Thach was born on April 19, 1905 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas. His parents were James H. Thach and Jo Bocage (Smith) Thach, both teachers. He grew up in Fordyce, Dallas County, Arkansas. Following in the footsteps of his brother James, who also rose to the rank of admiral, he attended the United States Naval Academy. After graduating the academy, he served on battleship Mississippi and then the California, before transferring to the new aviation area in 1929. He spent the next decade as a test pilot and instructor. Where he established a reputation as an expert in aerial gunnery.^[1][2]

In early 1940, he was placed in command of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3). His wingman, who Thach taught, Edward O'Hara, would later become a recipient of the Medal of Honor. At the United States Navy fleet gunnery competition, eight of the 16 VF-3 pilots under his command qualified for the gunnery "E" award for excellence.^[1][2]

It was later, during this period, that Thach developed the fighter combat tactic known as "Thach Weave". This tactic enabled American fighters to hold their own against the more maneuverable Mistsubishi A6M Zero during World War II.^[1][2]

In the early part of World War II, Thach flew the VF-3 on the USS Saratoga and the USS Yorktown. In 1942, he was on the USS Yorktown during the Battle of Midway. During the battle that ensued, Thach used his namesake maneuver in its first combat usage. Outnumbered and out maneuvered, he managed to shoot down three Zeros, and his wingman accounted for another.^[1][2]

After the Battle of Midway, Thach was assigned to teach other pilots combat tactics in Jacksonville, Florida. Later, Commander Thach became operations officer to Vice Admiral John S. McCain Sr. commander of the Fast Carrier Task Force. Thach was also present at the formal Japanese surrender aboard the battleship USS Missouri on September 2, 1945 in Tokyo Bay.^[1][2]

At the end of World War II, Thach had become a flying ace, having been credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft.

He was promoted to Captain, and after the war became heavily involved in the political battle to preserve the aircraft carrier as part of the U.S. Navy during postwar reductions. When the Korean War started, he was in command of the carrier Sicily. He later commanded the Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Mediterranean.^[1][2]

In 1955, he was promoted to rear admiral and became one of the Navy's top antisubmarine warfare experts and advocates for nuclear power. Today, in recognition of his career, the Admiral Thach Award is presented annually to the most outstanding antisubmarine warfare squadron.^[1][2]

He later moved to the Pentagon as deputy chief of naval operations for air. During his tour, he was vital in the adoption of the A-7 Corsair II for carriers. He retired from the service in 1967 as the commander in chief of U.S. Naval forces in Europe.^[2]

Thach died in Coronado, California on April 5, 1981. He was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.^[3] After his death, the guided missile frigate USS Thach was commissioned and named in his honor in 1984.^[1][2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Wikipedia Contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, last edited on 25 Mar 2023. "John Smith Thach." Accessed 9 Apr 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9} Smith, William M., Fayetteville, Arkansas, last updated on 3 Mar 2023. "John Smith (Jimmie) Thach (1905–1981)." Accessed 9 Apr 2023.
3. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49610226/john-smith-thach: accessed 9 April 2023), memorial page for ADM John Smith -Jimmy- Thach (19 Apr 1905–15 Apr 1981), Find A Grave: Memorial #49610226, citing Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.