Guide to the Richard W. Bates papers, 1915-1973

Naval War College (U.S.). Naval Historical Collection
686 Cushing Road
Newport, RI 02841-1207
Tel: 401-841-2435
E-mail: nhc@usnwc.edu
Website: https://usnwcarchives.org/

Published in 2011

Collection Overview

Title:	Richard W. Bates papers
Date range:	1915-1973
Creator:	Bates, Richard W., 1892-1973
Extent:	20 boxes
Abstract:	The personal papers of Rear Admiral Richard W. Bates (1892-1973) cover the years 1915-1973. He was a commanding officer on many ships in the Navy. His collection consists of correspondence, subject files, writings, speeches, and miscellaneous items. The papers are arranged in four series based on an established file system. They mainly encompass Bates career as a Naval Officer, family, and social life in Newport, as well as other aspects of his career including published and unpublished writings, notes, photographs, slide presentations, and reports.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	Naval War College (U.S.). Naval Historical Collection
Collection number:	MSC-028

Scope & content

This collection documents the many correspondences throughout Rear Admiral Richard W. Bates Naval career. In addition, some of the materials deal with naval business while others relate to his personal matters. The papers are arranged in four series based on an established file system. In addition to the correspondence, the collection also contains Subject Files regarding such things as Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, Pacific Fleet, and Navy official communications; Speeches and Writings that span 1942-1967; and; Miscellany, 1915-1973 which consists of newspaper clippings, citations, invitations and member scrolls.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• United States Naval Academy
• Naval War College (U.S.)--Presidents
• Naval War College (U.S.)--History
• Naval War College (U.S.). Foundation

Subject Topics

• World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--Pacific Ocean
• Naval education--United States
• Torpedo-boats

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series, with Series 1, Correspondence, being the most voluminous.

• Series I. Correspondence
• Series II. Subject Files
• Series III. Speeches and Writings
• Series IV. Miscellany

Biographical Note

Rear Admiral Richard W. Bates was born in San Francisco, California, on January 16, 1892, to Henry Lester and Helen Rixon Bates. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from the Third District, California, in 1911 and graduated in the Class of 1915. His first duty assignment was on board the USS YORKTOWN (GBT-1) stationed in Central American waters. From YORKTOWN he went to the USS CINCINNATI (C-7), operating on the east coast of South America, where he served as Executive Officer until 1918. He was Executive Officer in the USS SPROSTON (DD-173), 1919-1920.

In 1920 Bates attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Annapolis, Maryland. The following year found him at Columbia University, studying electrical propulsion of ships. Awarded a Master of Science degree in June 1922, he continued instruction in electrical engineering at General Electric, Schenectady, New York, and Westinghouse Electric, East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This was followed by duty as the Electrical Officer in the USS MARYLAND (BB-46), 1922-1925; assistant in engineering at the Post Graduate School, 1925-1927, and Engineering Officer in the USS RICHMOND (CL-9), 1927-1930.

In the decade before Americaa's entry into the Second World War, Rear Admiral Bates saw duty with the Hydrographic Office, Honolulu and as Commander of the Naval Station, Honolulu; Commanding Officer of the destroyer, USS BUCHANAN (DD-131), the oil tanker, RAMAPO (AO-12), the destroyers USS LONG (DD-209), and USS CLARK (DD-361), flagship of Destroyer Squadron Three, Battle Force.

When the war broke out, Bates was a student at the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. He continued at the College as a member of the staff until 1943 when he took command of the cruiser USS MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36). Under his command the ship engaged in the bombardment of Wake Island, participated in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands and sank the Japanese light cruiser KATORI off Truk in April 1944.

During May-August 1944, Bates was on the staff of the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet. In September he served with the Commander Cruiser Division Four as Chief of Staff of the Bombardment, Fire Support and associated groups of the Seventh Fleet during the Philippine Islands campaign. December found him Chief of Staff and Aide to Commander Battleship Division Two and involved in the Lingayen-Luzon and Okinawa operations. This was followed in May 1945 by his appointment as Commander of the Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron, Pacific Fleet and in December of the same year with appointment as Chief of Staff to Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier.

Bates returned to the Naval War College in 1946 as Head of the Department of Research and Analysis which was tasked with studying Second World War naval battles. Retired in 1949, he remained with the College, continuing his battle analyses in charge of what now had become the World War II Battle Evaluation Group. Although the work was not completed, the project was terminated in 1958.

In 1969 Bates was appointed Vice President of the newly formed Naval War College Foundation, Inc., a private, non-profit association founded to support College programs not covered by appropriated funding. He was elected president in 1972, serving in that capacity until his death on December 27, 1973.

Chronology

Date		Event
1911		Appointed to U.S. Naval Academy from Third District, California
1815		Graduated from USNA and commissioned Ensign, USN. USS OHIO (BB-12) and USS MARYLAND (ACR-8)
1916		USS YORKTOWN (GBT-1).
1919		USS CINCINNATI, (C-7), Executive Officer. CUBA (Cuban gunboat), Gunnery Instructor
1919-1920		USS SPROSTON (DD-173), Executive Officer
1920		Promoted to Lieutenant
1920-1921		Post Graduate School, Annapolis, MD, student
1922		Columbia University, student
1922		General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY. Westinghouse Electric, East Pittsburgh, PA
1922-1925		USS MARYLAND (BB-46), Electrical Officer
1925-1927		Post Graduate School, Annapolis, MD, staff
1927		USS RICHMOND (CL-9), Engineer Officer
1930-1932		Naval Station, Honolulu, Hawaii, Officer in Charge, Hydrographic Office; Aide to Commandant Fourteenth Naval District; Permanent Senior Patrol Officer
1932-1933		USS BUCHANAN (DD-131), Commanding Officer
1933-1934		USS RAMAPO (ATO-12), Commanding Officer and Executive Officer
1934-1935		USS LONG (DD-201), Commanding Officer
1935-1938		Bureau of Engineering, Washington, DC
1938-1940		USS CLARK (DD-361), Commanding Officer
1940-1941		Naval War College, Senior Class
1941		Promoted to Captain. Naval War College, Head, Department of Strategy
1943		USS MINNEAPOLIS, Commanding Officer. Promoted to Commodore
1944		Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, staff. Bombardment, Fire Support & Associated Groups, Seventh Fleet, Chief of Staff
1944-1945		Commander, Battle Division Two, Chief of Staff and Aide
1945		Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, Pacific Fleet, Commander
1945-1946		Commander Philippine Sea Frontier, Chief of Staff
1946-1946		Naval War College, staff
1947		Reverted to rank of Captain
1949		Retired. Promoted to Rear Admiral on retired list
1949-1958		World War II Battle Evaluation Group, Naval War College, Newport, RI
1969-1973		Naval War College Foundation, Inc., Vice President and President
1973		Died, Newport, RI, December 27

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	Access is open to all researchers, unless otherwise specified.
Use of the materials:	Material in this collection is in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.
Preferred citation:	Author, “Title,” Page or Date. Richard W. Bates papers, MSC-028, Box number, Folder number. Naval Historical Collection, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
Contact information:	Naval War College (U.S.). Naval Historical Collection 686 Cushing Road Newport, RI 02841-1207 Tel: 401-841-2435 E-mail: nhc@usnwc.edu Website: https://usnwcarchives.org/

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	The personal papers of Rear Admiral Richard W. Bates were acquired in 1974 through the Naval War College Foundation by the term of Bates' will.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Evelyn M. Cherpak, Ph. D.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Carrie Anne Perez 2011 March 22, updated by Le Yang on 2011 July 26.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Inventory

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