Captain D.A. (“Duke”) Campbell, U.S.N. passed away at the age of 96 on October 22, 2010. He joined the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1937. Upon graduation from flight training in Pensacola in 1938, he joined Patrol Squadron 1 in San Diego. Duke was selected for transfer to the regular Navy in 1940.
Captain Campbell was a highly-decorated pilot during World War II, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, an OBE (Order of the British Empire), and several Commendations from the U.S. Navy. He received the prestigious Order of Merit signed by French President Charles de Gaulle.
He was Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Air Station (NAS) at Alameda, CA. As the Commanding Officer of NAS Alameda, he inaugurated a series of community-oriented service collaborations between the Navy and the City of Alameda, including working closely with the Mayor and other civic organizations, for which he was presented with the official Seal of the City of Alameda in gratitude for his pioneering efforts.
I believe this was the same Duke Campbell who was with Patrol Wind 10 in the Philippines at the outbreak of the war in December of 1941…
Yes, the same person. At the Captain’s college alma mater, I have prepared a Military Honor Roll and spent the past couple days assembling his service contributions. Much of it appears in his obit. Happy to share my draft; still looking for additional information.