Education
Born in Northampton, Massachusetts, Adams was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from the state"s second Congressional district in 1931, and graduated in 1935 with an appointment to the rank of ensign.
Born in Northampton, Massachusetts, Adams was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from the state"s second Congressional district in 1931, and graduated in 1935 with an appointment to the rank of ensign.
Adams was assigned to sea duty on battleships, serving aboard the United States Ship West Virginia in June and July 1935, immediately reassigned to the United States Ship Tennessee until January 2, 1938. He was then accepted to flight school at National Academy of Sciences, USA Pensacola, where he earned his flight wings on January 17, 1939. Soon promoted to Lieutenant (jg), Adams was assigned to aircraft carrier duty, first aboard the United States Ship Saratoga (CV-3) for one month (April–May 1939) and then with the Fifth Bomb Squadron (VB 5) aboard the United States Ship Yorktown (CV-5), from May 13, 1939 to the end of his career.
While with Yorktown, Adams flew Northrop British Telecom-1s, later transitioning with the rest of the squadron to the SBD Dauntless aircraft, flying escort for North Atlantic convoys until the United States. entered the war.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Yorktown was sent to the Pacific theater. Adams took part in raids in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.
He led raids on land and sea targets in and around Jaluit on February 1, 1942, against shipping off New Guinea on March 10, and on the island of Tulagi on May 4. He participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7 and 8.
The six Japanese aircraft carriers that had played a crucial role in the attack on Pearl Harbor became a primary focus of United States. naval efforts in the ensuing Pacific campaign.
Four of these ships were part of a battle group involved in the Battle of Midway. Three were set ablaze in that battle on June 4, 1942. The fourth, the Hiryū, remained unscathed.
At about 2:40 P.M. local time on June 5, Adams and his wingman, Lieutenant
Harlan Dickson, spotted her and her battle group, consisting of two battleships, three heavy cruisers and four destroyers. Under fire from a Zero fighter, Adams radioed the ships" location (31°15" North, 179°05" West, moving north at approximately 20 knots).
Because of this, the United States. battle group was able to put the Hiryū out of action, and inflict major damage on the rest of the battle group. On June 6, Adams spotted the Japanese destroyer Tanikaze and attacked.
His plane disappeared in the clouds and was never seen again, presumed downed by anti-aircraft fire from the destroyer.
Also killed in the attack was Adams"s radioman Joseph Karrol. The United States. Navy destroyer United States Ship Adams (Doctor of Medicine-27), which saw duty in the latter part of World World War II, was named in his honor and christened by his widow, Mistress Maude Ryan Adams.