Frederick L. Ashworth Oral History, 2016: Finding Aid

Biographical Chronology of Frederick L. Ashworth

1912

• Born on January 24 in Beverly, Massachusetts, son of Fred and Minnie Ashworth.

1928

• In June, graduates from Beverly High School.
• In September, admitted to Dartmouth College.

1929

• In August, admitted to the United States Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1933.

1933

• In June, graduates from the United States Naval Academy and is commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy.
• In June, attached to U.S.S. West Virginia (Battleship: BB-48) of the Pacific Fleet as Division Officer and Assistant Navigator.

1935

• In June, detached from U.S.S. West Virginia.
• On June 14, marries Nathalie Louis Bliss.
• In June, attached to Pensacola Naval Air Station for flight training.

1936

• On June 1, promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade).
• In July, designated Naval Aviator 4249.
• In August, assigned to flight duty in the Pacific with Scouting Squadron Two (VS-2) and Scouting Squadron Three (VS-3).

1937

• In June, assigned to Utility Squadron One (VJ-1) with duty as Fleet Air Photographic Officer.

1939

• In July, assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School at Annapolis for study in Aviation Ordnance Engineering.

1940

• On November 23, promoted to Lieutenant.

1942

• In June, attached to Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11) as Commanding Officer in the Pacific.
• On October 1, promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant Commander.

1943

• In September, attached to the Central Pacific Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet as Staff Aviation Officer.

1944

• On January 1, promoted to the temporary rank of Commander.
• In June, attached to Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren as Senior Naval Aviator.
• In November, assigned to the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos as Assistant for Head of Engineering.

1945

• On August 9, serves as weaponeer aboard the B-29 Bockscar for the atomic bomb attack on Nagasaki, Japan.
• In September, assigned to the Staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Special Weapons as Chief of Staff to the Technical Deputy Commander for Operation Crossroads (Task Group 1.1, Joint Task Force One).

1946

• In December, assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for duty with the Military Liaison Committee to the Atomic Energy Commission and the Atomic Energy Committee of the Research and Development Board.

1948

• In September, stationed at Naval Air Station Moffett Field as Executive Officer of Composite Squadron Five (VC-5).

1950

• In January, stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River as Commanding Officer of Composite Squadron Six (VC-6).

1951

• In January, attached to U.S.S. Midway (Aircraft carrier: CV-41) at Executive Officer.

1952

• On January 1, promoted to Captain.
• In January, attached to the Atomic Energy Commission in the Division of Military Applications.

1954

• In June, assumes command of U.S.S. Corson (Seaplane tender: AVP-37) in the Pacific.

1955

• In June, assumes command of Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake.

1957

• In October, assumes command of U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt (Aircraft Carrier: CV-42).

1958

• In August, attached to the United States Naval Academy as Commandant of Midshipmen.
• In August, selected for promotion to Rear Admiral.
• In September, assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Chief of the Atomic Energy Division.

1960

• In June, assumes command of Antisubmarine Carrier Division Eighteen, Atlantic Fleet.

1961

• In February, appointed Assistant Chief of Research and Development in the Bureau of Naval Weapons.

1963

• In June, assumes command of Carrier Division One, Pacific Fleet.

1964

• In March, reports for duty with the U.S. European Command as Deputy Chief of Staff.

1966

• In May, promoted to Vice Admiral.
• In May, assumes command of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

1967

• In May, reports for duty as Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

1968

• In September, retires with the rank of Vice Admiral to Mercer Island, Washington.

1972

• In August, moves to Sante Fe, New Mexico.

1990

• In March, divorces Nathalie L. Ashworth.
• On May 15, marries Evelyn Bell.

2005

• On December 3, dies in Phoenix, Arizona and is interred at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Description of Contents

The Frederick L. Ashworth Oral History, also titled Frederick L. Ashworth, United States Navy: An Autobiography, comprising a 556-page PDF on a single compact disc, was originally produced in 2000-2001 and published electronically in 2016. The oral history, conducted by Paul Stillwell, covers Ashworth's entire life, with a focus on his career in the United States Navy from 1929 to 1968, including his duties as a Naval Aviator, his work with the Manhattan Project, duties as weaponeer for the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, work with the Atomic Energy Commission, and his command of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

The Ashworth Oral History is arranged chronologically into twenty-nine. Following a dedication by Ashworth, a preface by Frederick L. Ashworth, Jr., a biographical chronology, and a foreword by Ashworth, the oral history as conducted by Paul Stillwell is presented in twenty-seven chapters. The final two chapters on, beginning with Ashworth's retirement, were written independently of the oral history interviews. Following the oral history and autobiographical chapters are six appendixes of supporting documents. Scattered throughout the work are digitized photographs, citations, and other supporting documents.

Arrangement

The Frederick L. Ashworth Oral History is arranged chronologically into the following twenty-nine chapters and six appendixes:

• Dedication
• The Question
• Significant Dates and Events
• Foreword
• Chapter 1 The Early Years
• Chapter 2 United States Naval Academy
• Chapter 3 Introspection
• Chapter 4 U.S.S. West Virginia, BB-48, Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 5 Flight Training
• Chapter 6 Scouting Squadron Two/Three (VS-2/VS-3), Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 7 Utility Squadron One (VJ-1), Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 8 Postgraduate School, United States Naval Academy
• Chapter 9 To War, Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11), Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 10 Central Pacific Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 11 Manhattan Project
• Chapter 12 Manhattan Project - Nagasaki Attack
• Chapter 13 Nagasaki Mission - A Critique
• Chapter 14 Post-War Washington
• Chapter 15 Composite Squadron Five (VC-5), Composite Squadron Six (VC-6)
• Chapter 16 U.S.S. Midway, CVB-41, Atlantic Fleet
• Chapter 17 Atomic Energy Commission
• Chapter 18 U.S.S. Corson, AVP-37, Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 19 Naval Ordnance Test Center, China Lake, California
• Chapter 20 U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt, CVA-42, Atlantic Fleet
• Chapter 21 U.S. Naval Academy - Short Tour, Office of Chief Of Naval Operations, Atomic Energy Commission
• Chapter 22 Antisubmarine Warfare - Carrier Division 18, Atlantic Fleet
• Chapter 23 Bureau of Naval Weapons, Washington, D.C.
• Chapter 24 Attack Carrier Division One (CarDiv 1), Pacific Fleet
• Chapter 25 U.S. European Command, Paris, France
• Chapter 26 United States Sixth Fleet, Mediterranean
• Chapter 27 U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia
• Chapter 28 Retirement
• Chapter 29 The Final Chapter: Frederick Lincoln Ashworth January 24, 1912 - December 3, 2005
• Appendix A Congressional Record, February 24, 1966
• Appendix B Letter from Wenham Historical Association re: Minnie E. Ashworth
• Appendix C Speech - Dedication of "The Duke of Albuquerque"
• Appendix D History of Project A by N.F. Ramsey
• Appendix E Navy Day Speech "The Watch That Never Ends"
• Appendix F Nagasaki Attack Strike Reports
• Index

Access and Use

Access

Access is unrestricted.

Copyright and Permission

The Frederick L. Ashworth Oral History is the physical property of Nimitz Library. Copyright belongs to the authors or creators of the works, or their legal representatives. For further information, consult the Head, Special Collections & Archives.

It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure written permission to publish, reprint, or reproduce material from Special Collections & Archives. The researcher assumes responsibility for infringement of copyright or literary or publication rights. Please contact the Head, Special Collections & Archives for permission to publish and for further information.

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition

Gift of Frederick L. Ashworth, Jr. in January 2016. Accession No. 21-12.

Related Materials

Location of Copies or Alternate Formats

The Frederick L. Ashworth Oral History is available electronically in its entirety. In addition to following the links in the Container List, the materials can be accessed through Trireme: The U.S. Navy’s Higher Education Digital Archives Preservation System at: https://trireme.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_4fcb9398-5fcc-4062-8296-255ae7eefcc8/

Related Archival Material

Additional material in this repository pertaining to Frederick L. Ashworth can be found in his Midshipman Personnel Jacket (sealed until 2030) and his Alumni Jacket.

Materials Cataloged Separately

No materials have been removed from this collection and cataloged separately.

Processing and Other Information

Preferred Citation

Frederick L. Ashworth Oral History, MS 30

Special Collections & Archives Department

Nimitz Library

United States Naval Academy

Selected Bibliography

The following sources were consulted during preparation of the biographical note:

United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel. Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1933-1958.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by David D'Onofrio in December 2021. Finding aid written by David D'Onofrio in December 2021.

Subject Headings

Name and Subject Terms

• Ashworth, Frederick L., 1912-2005
• Atomic bomb -- United States -- History
• Corson (Seaplane tender : AVP-37)
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (Attack aircraft carrier : CVA-42)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Manhattan Project (U.S.) -- History
• Midway (Aircraft carrier : CV-41)
• Nagasaki-shi (Japan) -- History -- Bombardment, 1945
• Naval Ordnance Test Station (China Lake, Calif.)
• Nuclear weapons -- United States -- History
• Torpedoes
• United States. Navy. Fleet, 6th
• West Virginia (Battleship : BB-48)
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations

Genre Terms

• Manuscripts
• Oral histories (literary works)

Additional Creator/Author

• Ashworth, Frederick L., 1941-
• Stillwell, Paul, 1944-