Quick Facts
Biography
Rear Admiral William Onahan Gallery (22 June 1904 – 15 November 1981 ) was a United States Navy admiral — one of three brothers who became United States Navy admirals. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he was a naval aviator who served with distinction in combat during World War II.
Biography
William Onahan Gallery was born on 22 June 1904 in Chicago, Illinois. Gallery entered the United States Naval Academy in 1921, the second of three brothers who would graduate from the Naval Academy.
He received his commission as a United States Navy ensign in 1925. He served aboard the battleship USS New Mexico from 1925 to 1927, followed by duty aboard the USS Farragut from 1927 to 1930.
In 1930, Gallery reported for flight training in Pensacola, Florida. After nine months of training, he was awarded his wings as a naval aviator and assigned to Patrol Squadron 6 until 1933. He then transferred as an aviator to the USS Omaha, where he served until 1935.
From 1935 to 1937, he served at the Aeronautical Engineering Laboratory in Washington, D.C. Then from 1937 to 1939, he served in Fighter Squadron 6 on the USS Enterprise. His last assignment before World War II at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California.
In 1941, at the start of World War II, Gallery served on the staff of Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid where he participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz; and then was based at Guadalcanal where he served in combat with the First Escort Carrier Task Group.
Gallery then joined the PBY night raider ("Black Cats") on the USS Half Moon. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his method of destroying Japanese night raiders.
On return to the States, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and took command of the USS Chicago. He followed this command with duty at Eglin Air Force Base; after which he was commanding officer of the USS Siboney, then the Naval Air Station Guantanamo, Cuba. This was followed by an assignment as Deputy Chief of Naval Operation (Air), then command of the USS Princeton in 1950.
Rear Admiral William Gallery retired from the United States Navy in June 1955. He died in 1981 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.
The USS Gallery is named in honor of the three Gallery admirals — William, Phillip, and Daniel.