A'DAK SUFI
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9.APRIL 1962 (
cWWiWfJER ALASKAN SEA FRONTIER & COMMANDANT SEVENTEENTH NAVAL DISTRICT
CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONIES WERE HELD 30 MARCH 1962 AT NAVSTA KODIAK
At Change of Command ceremonies held 30 March 1962 at the U.S. Naval Station,
Kodiak, Rear Admiral Fred E. Bakutis, USN relieved Rear Admiral Henry H. Caldwell,
USN who will report for new duties as Commander, Fleet Air, Quonset at Q'uonset Pt.
Rhode Island,
Rear Admiral Bakutis was born in Massachusetts in 1912, attending high school
in that state prior to entering the Naval Academy in 1931* Graduated and commiss
ioned Ensign in 1935, his selection for the rank of Fear Admiral was approved by
the President on 14 July 1961,
After graduation, he served on board the USS CHESTER until January 1938 when he
entered flight training at Pensacola, Fla, Designated naval aviator in January
1939, he was assigned to Scouting Squadron THREE 0n the USS SARATOGA. In September
^1941, he reported to Annapolis for post-graduate training in Aeronautical Engineer
ing, At the outbreak of WWII, he was ordered to the Naval Aircraft Factory,Phila
delphia, Pa., where he served from March until September 1942.
He served as executive officer of Fighting Squadron 16 aboard the USS LEXINGTON
from October 1942-1943, then commanded Fighting Squadron 20 aboard the USS ENTER -
PRISE in Pacific combat until February 1945. Following a two-year tour in the Navy
Department, he reported to the USS TARAWA in June 1947 as Commander, Carrier Air
jroup ONE; from June 1948 to February 1949, he commanded Carrier Air Group FIVE on
the USS VALLEY FORGE.
From February 1949 to June 1952, he served for a short period on the staffs of
Commander Fleet Air West Coast & Commander Air Force, Pacific, and as a student &
staff member of the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. In June 1952, he rejoined the
Valley Forge for a year's tour as executive officer, followed by 2 years on the
'staff of Commander Air Force Pacific and 1 year in the Office of Deptuty Chief of
Naval Operations.
During the period'1956 to.1960 he commanded the USS GARDINERS BAY, served on the
staff of CINCPACFLT and as CO of the USS HANCOCK, In October 1960, he again report
ed for duty to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and in July of 1961 was
assigned as Deputy Chief, Joint Alternate Command Element at Fort Ritchie, Md. He
served in that capacity until detached in March 1962 to proceed to Kodiak, where
ne relieved Rear Admiral Caldwell as Commander Alaskan Sea Frontier and Commandant
Seventeenth Naval District on 30 March 1962.
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