William H. P. Blandy

Infobox Military Person
name=William H. P. Blandy
lived= 28 June 1890 – 12 January 1954
placeofbirth= New York City
placeofdeath= St. Albans, New York


caption=Admiral William Henry Purnell Blandy
nickname=Spike
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Navy
serviceyears=1913-1950
rank= Admiral
commands=Atlantic Fleet
unit=
battles=World War I World War II
awards=
relations=
laterwork=

William Henry Purnell Blandy (28 June 1890 – 12 January 1954), known to friends as "Spike", [Blair, p.403 "et al.".] was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II.

Born in New York City 28 June 1890, Blandy graduated first in his class from the United States Naval Academy in 1913. He participated in the occupation of Veracruz, Mexico in 1914 and served on board the battleship "Florida" (BB-30) with the British Grand Fleet during World War I. During World War II he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance from 1941 to 1943; then Commander, Group 1, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet. After the war he commanded Joint Task Force 1 during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.

"I am not an atomic playboy" is a phrase attributed to Blandy while he was overseeing these tests.

Here is the complete quote:

"The bomb will not start a chain-reaction in the water converting it all to gas and letting the ships on all the oceans drop down to the bottom. It will not blow out the bottom of the sea and let all the water run down the hole. It will not destroy gravity. I am not an atomic playboy, as one of my critics labeled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim."

He commanded the 2nd Task Fleet and later served as Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet from 1947 to 1950.

Admiral Blandy retired in 1950. He died on 12 January 1954 at the U.S. Navy Hospital in St. Albans, New York, [ [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/whpbland.htm Arlingtoncemetery.net entry] ] and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Namesake

In 1956, the destroyer USS "Blandy" (DD-943) was named in his honor.

Notes

References

:DANFS

External links

* [http://ussblandy.org/history.htm USS "Blandy" DD 943 Association website]
*findagrave|6608797 Retrieved on 2008-01-29