# Henry M. Mullinnix

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United States Navy admiral

Henry Maston Mullinnix Born (1892-07-04)July 4, 1892 Spencer, Indiana Died November 24, 1943(1943-11-24) (aged 51) off Makin Island Allegiance United States of America Branch United States Navy Service years 1916–1943 Rank Rear Admiral Commands USS Albemarle USS Saratoga Carrier Division 24 Task Group 52.3 Conflicts World War I World War II Battle of Makin † Awards Legion of Merit w/ Combat "V" Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Purple Heart Combat Action Ribbon

**Henry Maston Mullinnix** (July 4, 1892 – November 24, 1943) was a [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) [aviator](/source/Aviator) and [admiral](/source/Admiral_(United_States)) who served in [World War I](/source/World_War_I) and World War II. Mullinnix was killed in action while commanding a Navy escort carrier division and task force group when his flagship, the escort carrier [USS *Liscome Bay* (CVE-56)](/source/USS_Liscome_Bay_(CVE-56)), was sunk by a Japanese submarine near the [Gilbert Islands](/source/Gilbert_Islands) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II). He was the fourth of five US Navy admirals [killed in battle during WWII](/source/List_of_U.S._general_officers_and_flag_officers_killed_in_World_War_II), including: [Isaac C. Kidd](/source/Isaac_C._Kidd) (1941, [Attack on Pearl Harbor](/source/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor)); [Norman Scott](/source/Norman_Scott_(admiral)) and [Daniel J. Callaghan](/source/Daniel_J._Callaghan) (same day, 1942, [Naval Battle of Guadalcanal](/source/Naval_Battle_of_Guadalcanal)); and [Theodore E. Chandler](/source/Theodore_E._Chandler) (1945, [invasion of Lingayen Gulf](/source/Invasion_of_Lingayen_Gulf)).

## Biography

Mullinnix was born in [Spencer, Indiana](/source/Spencer%2C_Indiana) in 1892. He was president of his senior class at [Attica](/source/Attica%2C_Indiana) High School where his father was a Principal, graduating in 1909. He graduated first in his class from the [United States Naval Academy](/source/United_States_Naval_Academy) in 1916.[1] He served in the destroyer [*Balch* (DD-50)](/source/USS_Balch_(DD-50)), engaged in patrol and escort duty off [Ireland](/source/Ireland) during [World War I](/source/World_War_I). Following service in [*Gridley* (DD-92)](/source/USS_Gridley_(DD-92)) and [*Brooks* (DD-232)](/source/USS_Brooks), he completed work in [aeronautical engineering](/source/Aeronautical_engineering) at Annapolis and [MIT](/source/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology), receiving an M.S. degree in 1923. After flight training at [Naval Air Station Pensacola](/source/Naval_Air_Station_Pensacola), [Florida](/source/Florida), he was designated a [naval aviator](/source/United_States_Naval_Aviator) on January 11, 1924. He was one of those mainly responsible for developing the [air-cooled engine](/source/Air-cooled_engine) for naval aircraft. Besides various shore duty, he served in [*Saratoga* (CV-3)](/source/USS_Saratoga_(CV-3)), [*Wright* (AV-1)](/source/USS_Wright_(AV-1)), and commanded [*Albemarle* (AV-5)](/source/USS_Albemarle_(AV-5)), between 1924 and 1941. On November 13, 1942, he was promoted to [rear admiral](/source/Rear_admiral_(United_States)).

Mullinnix commanded *Saratoga* from April 1943, until August 22, when he was transferred to duty with a carrier division. On November 24, Rear Admiral Mullinnix was on board his flagship [*Liscome Bay* (CVE-56)](/source/USS_Liscome_Bay) (under the command of Captain [Irving Wiltsie](/source/Irving_Wiltsie)) commanding Carrier Division 24 and Task Group 52.3 (Air Support Group of Northern Attack Force (Makin)-Task Group 52) when the escort carrier/flagship which had just participated in the [Battle of Makin](/source/Battle_of_Makin) was [torpedoed](/source/Torpedo) by a Japanese submarine and sunk off [Makin Island](/source/Butaritari), in the [Gilbert Islands](/source/Gilbert_Islands_naval_order_of_battle).[1] Declared dead a year later, he was posthumously awarded the [Legion of Merit](/source/Legion_of_Merit):

For exceptional meritorious conduct...as Commander of a Carrier Air Support Group prior to and during the amphibious invasion of Japanese-held Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands from November 1 to 24, 1943. Displaying outstanding initiative and superior executive ability, Rear Admiral Mullinnix skillfully conducted anti-submarine and air combat patrols supporting our landing operations on this strongly defended island and, through his brilliant leadership, enabled escort carriers to carry out a well coordinated, aggressive attack against the enemy. Rear Admiral Mullinnix's tireless efforts, meticulous attention to detail and loyal devotion to the accomplishment of an extremely difficult and hazardous mission contributed materially to our subsequent capture of this strategic area.[2]

## Namesake

In 1957, the [destroyer](/source/Destroyer) [USS *Mullinnix* (DD-944)](/source/USS_Mullinnix) was named in his honor.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-uss-liscome-bay_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-uss-liscome-bay_1-1) [USS Liscome Bay: Hit By a Torpedo Near Makin Atoll During World War II](http://www.historynet.com/uss-liscome-bay-hit-by-a-torpedo-near-makin-atoll-during-world-war-ii.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Henry Maston Mullinnix"](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/research-guides/modern-biographical-files-ndl/modern-bios-m/mullinnix-henry-maston.html). *Naval History and Heritage Command*. March 20, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2021.

- *This article incorporates text from the [public domain](/source/Public_domain)*[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships](/source/Dictionary_of_American_Naval_Fighting_Ships)*. The entry can be found [here](http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m15/mullinnix.htm).*

## External links

- ["Henry M. Mullinnix"](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20549502). [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave). Retrieved 2009-05-18.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Henry M. Mullinnix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M._Mullinnix) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_M._Mullinnix?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.