USS SLC...Officer...Lionel A. Arthur, Gunnery Officer

Lionel A. Arthur passed away in 1973

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May 15, 2007

My late uncle, Capt. Lionel A Arthur USN, served as a gunnery officer on board the Salt Lake City after graduating from the Naval Academy in 1932. He served aboard the SLC from 1932-1934, during which time the ship joined the Pacific Fleet. After leaving the Salt Lake City he went to Pensacola and became a Naval Aviator in the same class as Bull Halsey. He flew fighters from the Lexington in the late 30's and was Landing Signals Officer on Yorktown at Coral Sea and Midway. He later was "Air Boss" on the Core in the Battle of the Atlantic and the same position on the Tarawa at the end of the war.

He met my aunt while the ship was in Long Beach. He also dated Ginger Rogers at that time. His nick name at the Naval Academy was "Bat Eye" which was carried on as his call sign as a Naval Aviator.

My uncle passed away in 1973 in the US Virgin Islands where he was S. O. P. St Thomas attached to the Admirals Staff in Puerto Rico.

I served many years in the Marine Corps including a tour aboard an amphibian and have always had a soft spot for Salt Lake City and her demise at Bikini.

David Arthur