{{Short description|United States Navy admiral (1934–2025)}} thumb|Rear Adm. Flatley in 1985 '''James Henry Flatley III''' (January 9, 1934 – December 12, 2025) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy. A naval aviator, fighter pilot and test pilot, he was the son of Vice Admiral James H. Flatley.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newseacadets.com/uploads/images/UNIT%20HISTORY.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301124027/http://www.newseacadets.com/uploads/images/UNIT%20HISTORY.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Flatley was born in San Diego on January 9, 1934.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/97th-congress/849 |title=PN849 |date=November 19, 1981 |website=U.S. Congress |accessdate=April 28, 2019}}</ref> He was a 1956 graduate of the United States Naval Academy.<ref name=epnaa>{{cite web |url=http://www.epnaao.com/BIOS_files/REGULARS/Flatley-%20James%20H.pdf |title=James H. Flatley III, Rear Admiral, USN (Ret.) |date=April 17, 2007 |website=Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association |accessdate=April 29, 2019}}</ref> He later received an MBA from Auburn University.<ref name=nwccu>{{cite web |url=http://newwestminstercollege.ca/2-2/ |title=Rear Admiral James H. Flatley III, BS, MBA, DFC, LM, SS, DSM |website=New Westminster College of Caucasus University |accessdate=April 29, 2019 |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802003200/http://newwestminstercollege.ca/2-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career== [[File:Lockheed KC-130F Hercules aboard USS Forrestal (CVA-59) on 30 October 1963 (higher res).jpg|thumb|upright|Flatley's KC-130F Hercules aboard the USS ''Forrestal'' (1963). The aircraft is now displayed at the National Museum of Naval Aviation.]] While a lieutenant at the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, Flatley and his fellow crew members, LCDR Walter W. "Smokey" Stovall and Aviation Machinist's Mate (Jet). V 1st Class Ed Brennan, made history when they completed 21 full-stop landings and takeoffs in a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Forrestal|CV-59|6}}; it was the largest plane, with the heaviest load, ever to successfully land on a carrier. Flatley later commanded the aircraft carrier {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|6}}. While serving as the commanding officer of the {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|6}} in 1980, he completed his 1,500th arrested landing in an F-4 Phantom. He retired in 1987.<ref name=epnaa/>
In a June 2017 tribute article, Flatley discussed his history in the field of aviation and reflected on his and the Flatley family's legacy, estimating that the "extended Flatley family has accumulated more than 6,100 incident/accident-free arrested carrier landings."<ref>[https://www.moultrienews.com/news/tales-of-valor---a-special-kind-of-family/article_3e5671c6-5a86-11e7-9ce6-b7fe8f12bd52.html Lucas, Jake (2017). "Tales of Valor - A special kind of family." ''Moultrie News'' (June 28, 2017).] Retrieved October 26, 2019.</ref>
==Personal life and death== Flatley was married to Nancy Monica Christie of Norfolk, Virginia. They had six children. Their two oldest sons, James H. Flatley IV and Joseph F. Flatley, are navy fighter pilots and their youngest daughter, Kara, is a lieutenant in the Supply Corps and is married to Richard Brophy, a navy fighter pilot. Her sister, Mary, is married to Rex Kiteley, a navy flight surgeon. RADM Flatley's father was James H. Flatley, the {{USS|Yorktown|CV-10|6}}{{'s}} first air group commander and World War II fighter ace and the Pacific theater namesake for carrier aviations Safety Award – The Flatley Award.
He later resided in Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife. Flatley died on December 12, 2025, at the age of 91.<ref>{{cite web |title=RADM James Henry Flatley III USN (Ret.) |url=https://obits.jhenrystuhr.com/james-flatley-iii-usn-ret |website=J. Henry Stuhr Funeral Chapels and Cremation Services |access-date=19 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Remembering Admiral James H. Flatley III for his lifetime of service |url=https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/remembering-admiral-james-h-flatley-iii-for-his-lifetime-of-service/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_WCBD |access-date=19 December 2025 |publisher=News 2 Now |date=19 December 2025}}</ref>
==Awards== Awards he received during his career include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.<ref name=nwccu/> He has also been inducted into the U.S. Naval Aviation Carrier Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scaaonline.com/content/rear-admiral-james-h-flatley-iii-ret |title=Rear Admiral James H. Flatley, III (Ret) - South Carolina Aviation Association |accessdate=June 13, 2011 }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{YouTube|1frJ2V8LTEs|Here's How a Fighter Pilot Landed a Cargo Plane on a Carrier}} - interview with Jim Flatley
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flatley, James H., 03}} Category:1934 births Category:2025 deaths Category:United States Naval Academy alumni Category:United States Naval Aviators Category:Recipients of the Air Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Category:Auburn University alumni Category:Recipients of the Silver Star Category:United States Navy rear admirals (upper half)