Alan B. Banister

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Alan Boyd Banister
Navy Cross (2)
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Spouse(s)Cynthia Pruden Harts

Alan Boyd Banister (February 4, 1905 – November 1, 1963) was a decorated submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.[3][4]

Although Bannister was born in 1905 in what is now Oklahoma, his family had a long history in Virginia.[5] One of his ancestors was John Banister of Virginia, one of the commissioners responsible for the United States Articles of Confederation of 1776.

He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1928.[1] After his commissioning he attended the Navy's submarine school. In 1938 he took command of the USS R-2.[5]

In June 1938 he married the former Cynthia Harts in her hometown of

Brigadier General.[7][8] The couple had a son and three daughters.[1]

During World War II Banister commanded the submarine USS Sawfish.[1] By the end of the war he was leading groups of submarines. According to his obituary in The New York Times he earned multiple decorations, including two Navy Crosses.

After the war his commands included Commander, Submarine Squadron Four in Key West and Commander, Submarines, Atlantic Fleet.[1][9][10]

World War II

After the

Tilefish, forming the Wilkin's Wildcats wolf pack. Alerted by Ultra intercepts to the presence of the Japanese submarine I-29, returning from Germany carrying a cargo of technical materials, the wolf pack set an ambush on 26 July . Banister fired four torpedoes at I-29, which exploded from three hits.[11] He was awarded the Navy Cross for his attack on a Japanese tanker and the sinking of I-29.[3]

On the eighth war patrol of Sawfish from 9 September to 8 November, Banister led a wolf pack that included Sawfish,

Formosa Strait. He rescued a navy pilot who had been adrift for four and a half days on 16 October. The wolf pack ran into several Japanese convoys transporting supplies and reinforcements to the Philippines between 23 and 26 October. On the night of 23 October he sank the converted seaplane tender Kimikawa Maru, while Drum and Icefish accounted for three freighters in the next three days.[12] Banister was awarded a second Navy Cross for his leadership of the wolf pack, credited with sinking eight Japanese ships totaling more than 56,000 tons, and the rescue of the aviator.[3]

After Sawfish returned from her eighth war patrol, Banister was assigned to various submarines of Submarine Force,

Chivo in May 1945.[3]

Postwar

Banister transferred to command Submarine Division 31 aboard

Office of the Chief of Naval Operations on 7 December 1955 and was acting Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for the Naval Reserve between July 1956 and June 1957. His final post was as chief of staff and aide to the Commander of Naval Base Portsmouth before retiring on 1 July 1958 with a graveyard promotion to rear admiral. Banister died in Boston on 1 November 1963.[3]

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e "Alan B. Banister, 58, Rear Admiral, dies".
    Portsmouth, N.H.
    1963-11-02. p. 19. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  2. ^ "Submarine Commanders". www.fleetorganization.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Alan Boyd Banister". history.navy.mil. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  4. ^ "Alan Banister - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  5. ^ a b c "Troth announced of Cynthia Harts; Madison, Conn., Girl Engaged to Lieut. Alan B. Banister of the U. S. Navy". The New York Times. Asheville, North Carolina. 1938-02-28. p. 20.
  6. ^ "Cynthia Harts Married: She Becomes Bride of Lieut. Alan B. Banister, U. S. Navy". The New York Times. Madison, Connecticut. 1938-06-12. p. 33.
  7. ^ "Notes about Social Activities: New York". The New York Times. 1941-12-30. p. 16.
  8. ^ "William Harts, General, was 94; Military Aide to Wilson at 1918-19 Peace Conference". Madison, Connecticut. 1961-04-23. p. 86.
  9. ^ "Banister Heads Submarine Base". The New York Times. Groton, Connecticut. 1952-07-23. p. 3.
  10. ^ "Atlantic Fleet Sub Commander visiting here". The Key West Citizen. 1952-09-23. p. 8.
  11. ^ Blair 1975, p. 652.
  12. ^ Blair 1975, pp. 705, 721, 744.

Bibliography

  • Blair, Clay (1975). Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan. Vol. 2. J. B. Lippincott.
    OCLC 925162497
    .
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