Frank O’Beirne – Vice Admiral, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

Frank O’Beirne, 94, a retired Navy Vice Admiral whose last post was as commander of the Atlantic Fleet’s Navy air forces, died of multiple organ failure October 19, 1998 at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

Admiral O’Beirne, who lived in McLean, Virginia, was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and raised in Elgin, Illinois. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1926 and received a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.

He was a commanding officer of a patrol squadron in Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese attack in 1941. He later had several command and staff jobs, including assistant naval attache in London from 1948 to 1950. He was commander of the carrier Midway and had administrative posts with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired in 1963. After that, he was a consultant for North American Aviation Inc. and ARINC Research Corp.

His military honors included the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Air Medal. His hobbies included golf, genealogy and photography.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Grace Thomas O’Beirne of McLean; two children, Karen O’Beirne Taylor of Virginia Beach and retired Navy Capt. Frank O’Beirne of Connecticut; a sister; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, November 16, 1998.

Frank O’Beirne, Vice Admiral USN (Ret.), 94, whose last post was as Commander Naval Air Forces Atlantic, died on Oct. 19, 1998. Admiral O’Beirne, who lived in McLean, Virginia, was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, and raised in Elgin, Illinois.

He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1926 and received a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Michigan.

He flew with Colonel Charles Lindbergh as part of the Navy’s early aviation stunt team. He later commanded at Patrol Plan Squadron in Pearl Harbor at the time of the Japanese attack in 1941. He served as assistant Naval Attache in London from 1948-1950, and shortly thereafter as commanding officer of the carrier Midway. Upon selection to flag rank, Admiral O’Beirne commanded several carrier divisions, served with the joint chiefs of staff, and as commander of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project at Sandia Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. After retirement from COMNAVAIRLANT in 1963, he served as a consultant for North American Aviation and ARINC Research Corp. and enjoyed his various hobbies including photography, ham radio, golf and genealogy.

He leaves his wife of 71 years, Grace Thomas O’Beirne; and his two children, Karen O’Beirne Taylor of Virginia Beach and retired Navy Captain Frank O’Beirne Jr. of Connecticut; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Mildred Kuettner of Oshkosh, Wis. Services with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in December.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard