Albert William Tweedy, Jr.

Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps (Reserve)

Navy Cross & Purple Heart

Albert Jr was the son of Albert William and Rosalie Minturn (Mayer) Tweedy. They were married 02 Feb 1918 in Newport, RI just two months before his unit was to deploy to France in WWI. Albert Jr's siblings were Robert Minturn, John Mayer, and Lloyd Fraser Tweedy. Albert Sr graduated from Poughkeepsie (NY) High school in 1909 as did his wife, Rosalie, who was also a graduate of Vassar College in NY. Mr. Tweedy completed studies for a law degree at New York University while working for banking firms in New York City. He was a WWI wounded veteran who served in France with the 305th Infantry as a Captain. He also served in the 107th Infantry, formerly the famous 70th Regiment of New York City. He became associated with the Boston banking firm after the war. He rose in the Boston Guaranty Trust Co. to become assistant vice-president. In 1924, he became head of the Chicago office of the Guaranty Trust. He returned to Boston in the late 1920s and later promoted to vice president of the company in Boston. During World War II Tweedy was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Massachusetts State Guards serving for a time as the Commanding Officer. From 1942 to 1950, he was a Selectman of Hingham.

Albert Jr., attended public schools in Winnetka, IL and Hingham, MA before attending Thayer Academy in Braintree, MA. In June 1938, Tweedy graduated from Thayer Academy. He was the President of his class. In Sept 1938, Albert, along with 249 other freshman, entered the prestigious Williams College located in Williamstown in the Berkshires of Northwestern Massachusetts. According to the 01 April 1940 US census Albert had completed a year of college (1938-1939). Albert Jr was about to complete his second (Sophomore) in May of 1940. (I can find no record of Albert being in the US Marines before 1940.)

Albert enlisted at the Platoon Leaders Unit, First Reserve District, Marine Base NY, Boston, MA in the US Marine Corps on 12 Jun 1940. He was advanced in rank to Private First Class (PFC) on that same date. On 26 June 1940, he received orders to the Eastern Platoon Leadership Class (EPLC). On 7 July 1940, PFC Tweedy reported to active duty under instruction at the EPLC at the Marine Base, Quantico, VA. He completed that course on 16 Aug 1940 and was relieved from active duty on 17 Aug and sent home to inactive status. After returning home he reported to the Platoon Leaders Unit, First Reserve District, MB, Boston on 18 Aug 1940 to continue drilling.

On 16 Oct 1940, PFC Tweedy received orders to report for active duty under instruction on 15 Nov 1940 for elimination flight training (E-base), and he was to be designated a student naval aviation pilot (SNAP) at the Marine Corps Reserve Aviation Unit, Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Boston (Squantum), MA. He began E-base training on 16 Nov at MCRAU, NRAB, Squantum, MA. A month later on 17 Dec 1940 he successfully completed the E-base that included a short solo flight. He was released from active duty and transferred to the 1st Reserve District, awaiting further instructions. Future address: 768 Main Street, Hingham, MA.

PFC Tweedy was honorably discharged from enlisted status to accept an appointment as an Aviation Cadet in early March 1941. He was assigned to Aviation Cadet Class 164-C formed in early March at Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola, FL. On 01 April 1941, he was a student naval aviator at NAS Pensacola. Throughout the summer and early fall of 1941 Aviation Cadet Tweedy continued his flight instruction at Pensacola. He was transferred to NAS Miami, FL in Sept for additional training. On 14 Oct 1941, with his flight training completed, Aviation Cadet Tweedy accepted a commission as a 2d Lieutenant, USMCR (AVC) with a date of rank of 18 Aug 1941. Also on 14 Oct 1941, he received his designation as a Naval Aviator effective on 16 Sept 1941. The next day, 15 Oct, he received orders to report for duty to the Second Marine Air Wing, Second Marine Division, FMF, NAS, San Diego. After several months of training with his new command, 2d Lt Tweedy was among a group of new pilots who received orders on 24 Jan 1942 to report to MarAirGroup 21, 2d MarAirWing, FMF, Ewa, Oahu, T.H.

On 25 Jan the group sailed from San Diego via the USS President Hayes enroute to Pearl Harbor. Hayes arrived about 01 Feb 1942. On 24 Mar 1942, Lt Tweedy along with Marine Corps Reserve Lts John C. Musselman, Ellwood Q. Lindsay, Charles M. Kune, Bruce H. Ek, Ray A. Corry Jr., John M. Butler and Robert J. "R" Bear embarked on board the seaplane tender USS Curtis (AV-4) in Pearl Harbor. She steamed to Midway Island arriving on 28 Mar where her passengers disembarked to report to the Commanding Officer, Marine Air Group Twenty-Two (MarAirGroup 22) for duty.

Tweedy was assigned to duty with Scout-Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241). He was assigned the additional duty as the assistant Squadron Communications Officer, and on 11 April, he was assigned another additional duty as assistant squadron flight officer. In late May the squadron received some new SBD-2 Douglas Dauntless dive bombers. Lt Tweedy and his gunner, Sergeant Elza Raymond, were assigned to fly one of them. He would lead the fourth section of Major Henderson's First Division. Tweedy's wingman was 2nd Lt Bruno Hagedorn.

Early in the morning of 4 Jun 1942 Lt Tweedy in company with the rest of his squadron, took off from Midway enroute to attack the Japanese Strike Force approaching the Island atoll. No sooner had they made initial sighting of the enemy surface force when they were swarmed by overwhelming numbers of Japanese fighter aircraft. Lt Tweedy dived his bomber toward the Hiryu and released his bomb before he was shot down. His remains were unrecoverable. He was listed as missing in action on 04 Jun 1942 and presumed dead on 5 Jun 1943.

He was (posthumously) awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

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Navy Cross Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Albert W. Tweedy, Jr., Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-ONE, Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO, Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. During the initial attack upon an enemy aircraft carrier, Second Lieutenant Tweedy, in the face of withering fire from Japanese fighter guns and anti-aircraft batteries, dived his plane to a perilously low altitude before releasing his bomb. Since he failed to return to his base and is missing in action, there can be no doubt, under conditions attendant to the Battle of Midway, that he gave up his life in the defense of his country. His cool courage and conscientious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Approved by the Secretary of the Navy on November 10, 1942

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Presidential Unit Citation:

"For conspicuous courage and heroism in combat at Midway Island during June 1942. Outnumbered five to one, Marine Aircraft Group 22 boldly intercepted a heavily escorted enemy bombing force, disrupting their attack and preventing serious damage to island installations. Operating with half of their dive-bomber's obsolete and in poor mechanical conditions, which necessitated vulnerable glide bombing tactics, they succeeded in inflicting heavy damage on Japanese surface units of a large enemy task force. The skill and gallant perseverance of flight and ground personnel of Marine Aircraft Group 22, fighting under tremendously adverse and dangerous conditions were essential factors in the unyielding defense of Midway."

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USS Tweedy (DE-532) was a John C. Butler class destroyer escort named in his honor. She was launched in the Boston Navy Yard on 07 Oct 1943 and sponsored by Mrs Albert William Tweedy, Lt Tweedy's mother. Commissioned on 12 Feb 1944. Most of Tweedy's service was as a training ship off the US Atlantic coast. She was decommissioned a total of three times; the last being the final time on 01 Aug 1962. She was returned to reserve training ship status until May 1969. On 29 May, she arrived at Orange, TX for inactivation and on 30 Jun 1969 her name was stricken from the Navy list. In May 1970 she was sunk as a target off Florida.

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Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) – 06 July 1942, Mon – p. 1

Sailor Missing, Known in City

Tweedy’s Parents Notified by Navy

Boston – Lieut. Albert William Tweedy Jr., U.S. Navy, son of former Poughkeepsians, is listed in Navy casualty lists as “missing” in the Midway battle of June 19. Attached to the flying corps, he disappeared in the height of the battle in the Pacific, his family has been notified officially at their home in Hingham, Mass.

[Original article edited for content]

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Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, New York) – 14 Oct 1943, Thu – Page 8

Posthumous Award Given Young Marine

Washington – (AP) – A Marine corps lieutenant, Albert William Tweedy Jr., 22, native of Yonkers, N.Y., whose mother, Mrs. Albert W. Tweedy, resides in Hingham, Mass., has been awarded posthumously the Navy cross for “extraordinary heroism as a pilot,” in action against the Japanese in the Battle of Midway, the Marine corps public relations office said today. A destroyer escort vessel, named in honor of the youthful flier who has been reported missing in action since June 4, 1942, was sponsored by his mother, at the Boston Navy yard a week ago. Lieutenant Tweedy, according to the citation accompanying the award “dived his plane to a perilously low altitude in the face of withering fire from fighter guns and anti-aircraft batteries before releasing his bomb during the initial attack upon an aircraft carrier.” Awards to the young pilot include, besides the Navy cross, the Purple Heart, American Defense Service medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign medal.

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His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of Albert W. Tweedy, Jr., who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED Naval Air Station, Midway, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt

President of the United States

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Combat Action Ribbon (CR) note:

None of the Navy/Marine flight crews in the Battle of Midway were eligible for or were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019, Appendix 2C.1.c (3) Amplifying Guidance). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded in connection with aerial flight, . . . “ The CR was established in 1969 and made retroactive to 07 Dec 1941. According to the Awards Manual, when deemed appropriate, the award for aerial combat is the Air Medal.

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[Bio#218 composed by Gerry Lawton [GML470)]

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