Commander Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II)
Commander Carrier Division 24

^{U.S. Navy photograph}

Rear Admiral Felix B. Stump, U.S. Navy

	Navy Cross (2)
	Silver Star
	Legion of Merit (3)
	Combat Action Ribbon
	Presidential Unit Citation
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
	World War II Victory Medal
	National Defense Service Medal
	Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
	Philippine Liberation Medal
Award Criteria

Short biography of
Admiral Felix Budwell Stump, U.S. Navy

A native of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Felix Budwell Stump was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1913.  He graduated and was commissioned an Ensign in March 1917.

He served in the gunboat YORKTOWN (PG-1) and as Navigator in the cruiser CINCINNATI (C-7) during World War 1 in the Atlantic.  After the war he served in the pre-dreadnaught battleship ALABAMA (BB-8).

Shortly thereafter Stump attended flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola in 1920-1921 followed by postgraduate instruction in Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

From 1923 to 1925 he was a Naval Flight Officer in Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2) "Doer Birds" of the experimental carrier USS LANGLEY (CV-1).

Commanded Cruiser Scouting Wing in 1928-1929 and served on the Staff of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Fleet in 1930-1931.

Stump was Commanding Officer of USS SARATOGA (CV-3)'s Scout-Bombing Squadron 2 (VSB-2) in 1936-1937.  From 1938 to 1939 he served as Navigator of LEXINGTON (CV-2).

Promoted to Commander in 1940, he served as Executive Officer of USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6).

At the outbreak of World War 2 Stump was Commanding Officer of USS LANGLEY (CV-1) in Manila Bay, Philippines.  In January 1942 he was transferred to the Staff of the Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet for which he was awarded the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1942 he served as Air Officer for Commander Western Sea Frontier, was promoted to Captain, and took command of the new carrier USS LEXINGTON (CV-16) in late 1942.  LEXINGTON participated in operations against Kwajalein, Gilbert and Marshall Island Campaign, and air strikes on Truk.

In 1944 Stump was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Task Unit 52.11.2 and Carrier Division 24 embarked on the escort carrier USS Corregidor (CVE-58) for operations against Saipan.

Stump commanded Carrier Division 24 of Task Unit 77.4.2 (Taffy II) at Leyte Gulf and Samar embarked in NATOMA BAY (CVE-62) in October 1944.  For this action he was awarded the Navy Cross.  In late 1944 Stump kept his flag in Carrier Division 24 and NATOMA BAY (CVE-62) during action at Visayan, Philippines.  In early 1945 he supported the operations at Lingayan, Philippines.

He completed the war as Commander Carrier Division 24 embarked in MARCUS ISLAND (CVE-77) in 1945 at Okinawa.  For this action he was awarded a second Navy Cross.

In May 1945 he served as Chief of Naval Air Technical Training Command and kept that post until December 1948.  From December 1948 to 1951 Stump served as Commander of Naval Air Forces Atlantic Fleet during which time he was promoted to Vice Admiral.  In March 1951 Stump assumed command of the U.S. Second Fleet.  He held that post until June 1953.

From July 10, 1953 to January 14, 1958, now promoted to full Admiral, he served as Commander U.S. Pacific Command until his retirement, effective August 1, 1958.

After his retirement, he was appointed to the position of Vice Chairman of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Admiral Stump died in Maryland on June 13, 1972.

^{Source:  Robert Jon Cox independent research}

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