ABSTRACT
Vice Admiral. He was one of a small group of naval aviators who developed the successful Navy fighter tactics contributing to the US air war victory in the Pacific. He led the fighter aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in the battle of the Coral Sea. Flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat during that battle and the F6F Hellcat later in the war, Flatley helped develop the fighter combat tactics that achieved US superiority over the more agile Japanese A6MS Zero fighter. He was much decorated for his combat successes during WW2. Following the end of that war, Flatley served in a series of aviationrelated staff and shore command assignments. In July 1952 he took command of the escort carrier USS Block Island, and in June 1952 he took command of the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain. He was head of the Special Weapons Plans Branch of the Office of the CNO, 1956-57, when he became Director Air Warfare Division. He was advanced to Rear Admiral in July 1957.
