Ching.

This is coolbert:

"We realized then and it should not be forgotten now, that our entire superiority was due almost entirely to our possession of radar. Certainly we have no edge on the japs in experience, skill, training, or performance of personnel."

Here is a rather significant but generally unheralded American naval officer from the era of World War Two [WW2].

Willis Lee.




Affectionately called "Ching". Commander of U.S. naval forces during the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal [1942]. Kept his cool and prevailed over an enemy that hitherto had gotten the best of a variety of allied commanders, Dutch, American, British, Australian!

Lee, aboard the battleship USS Washington, composed, alert, aware, etc., RESPONSIBLE FOR VICTORY OVER THE JAPANESE DURING A NIGHTTIME SURFACE NAVAL BATTLE! The defeated Japanese Navy from that point forward NEVER AGAIN during WW2 gaining a measure of ascendancy over allied forces!!

"Willis Augustus "Ching" Lee, Jr. (May 11, 1888 – August 25, 1945) was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Lee commanded the American ships during the second night of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 14–15, 1942) . . . The victory . . . marked a turning point in both the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Pacific War itself."

Also a man, Willis Lee, a skilled marksman and accomplished Olympic athlete of the highest order!!

"Lee was also a skilled sport shooter, and won 7 medals in the 1920 Olympics shooting events, tied with teammate Lloyd Spooner for the most anyone had ever received in a single games. Their record stood for 60 years."

Lee, in addition, a graduate of the US Naval Academy [Annapolis], a man with a solid background in mathematics, science, engineering, able to understand and put to good use the latest technological advancements of the era, the SG radar and the TBS radio. That combination of SG surface search radar and the ship-to-ship voice VHF TBS radio giving U.S. commanders a significant edge over the well-trained night fighting Japanese surface naval task forces.

"The SG radar, along with the TBS radio, was certainly the equipment that prevented the U.S. Navy from being swept aside during the fierce night battles fought in the dark waters of the Solomons Islands chain."

Merely possessing the SG radar and TBS radio did NOT guarantee victory in the night surface naval battles of WW2. That proper combination of fighting ability and the advantage gained through the use of superior technology did enable "Ching" Lee to succeed where others had failed.

coolbert.