Papers (1947, 1959-1965, 1981) consisting of correspondence, communications, orders, photographs, biographical sketches, and clippings.
Captain Robert Wilks (Duke) Windsor, Jr., USNA Class of 1941, served during World War II in the USS McLANAHAN and the USS COLORADO. After flight training he saw action as a naval aviator in the Pacific Theatre. Subsequently Windsor served in the Korean Conflict and in Vietnam. He was commanding officer of the USS CURRITUCK (1962-1963) and the USS INDEPENDENCE (1964-1965) and was chief of staff, Commander Second Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic prior to retirement in 1967.
Official communiques in the collection reflect Captain Windsor's service in the USS CURRITUCK (1962-1963), operational training flights (1963), and command of the USS INDEPENDENCE (1964). Included are a North Vietnamese report (1965) on the shooting down of aircraft from the USS INDEPENDENCE, commendations for rescuing a Japanese fishing boat (1962), participation in peacetime amphibious exercises (1964), and participation in a NATO Exercise Teamwork (1965); and the records of Windsor's appointment to captain (1959).
Correspondence includes an exchange between Windsor and Rear Admiral W. I. Martin concerning the findings of the McKechnie Board on the support of the Naval Air Reserves (1962). Other correspondence addresses the need for an extended tour of duty for the commanding officer and offers congratulations from Rear Admiral R. H. Speck (1964) and General W. C. Westmoreland (1965) on the performance of the USS INDEPENDENCE.
Miscellaneous items include several biographical sketches of Captain Windsor, a roster of officers on the USS KEARSARGE (1947), a copy of the USS CURRITUCK news letter The Wild Goose (1963), and an issue of The Hook (1981). Newspaper clippings concern the operations of the USS INDEPENDENCE, primarily off the coast of Vietnam. Photographs include President Eisenhower's visit to the USS SARATOGA (1957-1958?).
For related materials see O.H. 107.
Gift of Capt. Robert W. Windsor, Jr., USN (Ret)
Processed by J. Layne, June 1988
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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