Vice Adm. Gerald Bogan
The Library and Archives received an important collection of early naval aviator and World War II carrier Commander, Vice Admiral Gerald Bogan. The collection was donated to the San Diego Air and Space Museum by the late Harold Fisher, step son of Adm. Bogan, as part of his estate. The collection was processed by our new volunteer Bob Johnston. We are glad to have Bob, a former Convair employee, join our team of Volunteers. Bob first assignment was to process this expansive collection and he did a great job. (He has also helped one of our staff members plan his honeymoon to Maui! Thanks Bob, from Nelson!) Of interest in the collection are early pictures of the Shaw of Iran, Mohammad-Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, who visited San Diego in 1949. The collection has some newspaper articles about the Shaw and also some hand written notes by Adm. Bogan praising the merits of the Shah.
Bio of Gerald Bogan
Gerald F. Bogan, Vice Admiral, U.S.N., was a distinguished veteran of 38 years of naval service. In 1950, at the time of his retirement, Admiral Bogan was Commander, First Fleet. Before his final assignment, he had served as Commander, First Task Fleet, Pacific, as Commander, Air Force, Atlantic, as Commander, Fleet Air, Alameda, and as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Saratoga.
Admiral Bogan was born 27 July 1894, Mackinac Island, Michigan. He was a 1916 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and, among his many decorations, was awarded the Navy Cross for heroic action during World War II. He was elected to the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor in 1992, National Museum of Naval Aviation.
Admiral Bogan was one of the earliest naval aviators, earning his wings at Pensacola in 1924. In 1925, he was assigned to VF Squadron One in San Diego, California, serving on board the carrier Langley, first as executive officer, then, in 1926, as commanding officer. Later, Admiral Bogan served as the first commanding officer of the Miami, Florida Naval Air station. He commanded air squadrons on the carriers Langley, Lexington and Saratoga, commanding the Saratoga at the outbreak of World War II.
As a task force commander in the Pacific, he was awarded two Legions of Merit, as well as the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism and distinguished service” during an engagement in Philippine waters on 25 November 1944, in which all carriers in his force had been damaged by heavy enemy aerial attacks. In 1945, he commanded Carrier Division 4 and Task Group 39.2. Admiral Bogan passed away in La Jolla, California on 3 June 1973, survived by his widow, Katherine, and a step-son, Harold A. Fisher of San Diego.
- The Shah of Iran in San Diego- From the Bogan Collection
Before his final assignment, he had served as Commander, First Task Fleet, Pacific, as Commander, Air Force, Atlantic, as Commander, Fleet Air, Alameda, and as Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Saratoga.
Offered for sale in the Museum’s store, The Convair Advanced Designs book by Robert Bradley covers the predesign, proposals, and designs studies conducted by the San Diego Division of Convair during the period of 1923 to the mid 1960s. Included are the seaplanes and bomber projects and program accomplished at the Division. The source material for this book was found in the extensive historical archival material in the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s Archives. General Dynamics/Convair donated the material to SDASM when it closed its San Diego Division.
The Library and Archives is pleased to announce that our latest book Wheels to Wings: San Diego’s Ford Building have arrived and will soon be available to purchase at the Museum Book Store and Admission Counter. Also, you can still order it online. Make sure to get this limited edition print and learn the fascinating story of the last Ford Building.
SDASM Library & Archives 