Admiral Royal Ingersoll

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Orginal Service coat named to Ingersoll and dated 1938. 

Admiral Ingersoll was designated Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Fleet, hoisting his flag in the Augusta. He was advanced to the rank of Admiral the following 1 July. Having organized the movements of the thousands of ships across the Atlantic in order to have men and supplies on hand at the precise hour for the North African landings in November 1942, to him fell the responsibility of planning the composition of the naval escort forces which ensured the troop convoys' safe arrival, and the old Navy tradition of 'having never lost a troop ship' remained true.

Following the African invasion, the Atlantic Fleet was employed in running troop convoys, transporting stores, munitions and fuel of every character to the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean. As a side issue, it ran the convoys on the coast of Brazil, and continuously waged the anti-submarine war which had been a matter of primary concern since the outbreak of hostilities. Admiral Ingersoll is generally credited with defeating the U-boat menace and with solving the vast Atlantic logistics problem. In addition he had the responsibility of defense of the Western Hemisphere by our Naval forces, and of changes in the disposition of air and surface forces stationed at various points in North and South America.

Uniforms of Admiral Ballentine, Admiral Uniforms have been updated from Rear Admiral to Vice Admiral, Captians uniform named to Ballentine as a Lt. Commander. Orginal medals awarded to Admiral Ballentine.  

     Quite a few officers simply withered under Ernest King demeanor. (KIng during WWII would become Chief of Naval Operations and one of only 4 men to obtain the rank of Fleet Admiral).   Admiral King was a force few could withstand, but those that did usually earned King's begrudging respect. When a torpedo plane missed the Lexington's flight deck and landed on the starboard gun gallery one afternoon, its pilot faced the inevitable summons to the bridge. John Ballentine the ill fated pilots squadron commander made it to the bridge fist. 

"Ballentine", King barked, " What is wrong with your Pilots?" 

"Nothing" Ballentine replied. "Your ship is not into the wind, and until it is, I will not let any more of my pilots land."

After Ballentine stormed off the bridge, King adjusted Lexington directly into the wind and recovery operations continued. 

King remembered Ballentine. Later, when King returned to sea duty wearing his admiral stars, he specifically requested that Ballentine become his operations officer.