Wonderful 1920's USN Pilot Wing in Gilt Brass by Pasquale, Originally Worn by Eventual Rear Admiral Richard Waynick Ruble

ARTIFACT:

What we have here is a Wonderful 1920's USN Pilot Wing in Gilt Brass by Pasquale, Originally Worn by Eventual Rear Admiral Richard Waynick Ruble.

On the back of the wing, above the centrally placed Maker Mark, PASQUALE .S.F., the eventual Admiral scratched in his last name: RUBLE.

CAPTAIN RICHARD WAYNICK RUBLE was born February 28, 1902, in Ouray, Colorado.

Upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, in 1923, he was commissioned Ensign and assigned to the battleship U.S.S. PENNSYLVANIA.

On 7 April 1928 he qualified as Naval Aviator # 3404, and made his first carrier landings aboard the Navy's first aircraft carrier, U.S.S. LANGLEY.

He served two years as a pilot in Fighting Squadron Three in U.S.S. LEXINGTON, which was later sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

After a tour of duty as Flight Instructor at Pensacola, Florida, Captain Ruble was selected for post graduate instruction, and received the degree of Master of Science, Aeronautic Engineering, from Massachusetts Institution of Technology.

From 1933 to 1935 he was a test pilot at Naval Air Station, Anacostia.

His next assignment was aboard the U.S.S. SARATOGA as an Air Department Officer.

In 1936 he served a tour of duty at Fleet Air Base, Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone, as Assembly and Repair Officer.

From 1937-1939 Captain Ruble commanded the aircraft tender, U.S.S. LAPWING, operating in Pacific, Alaskan, Caribbean and Atlantic waters.

From 1939 to 1941, he commanded the Naval Air Station, Boston (Squantum), Massachusetts.

In June 1941 Captain Ruble joined the aircraft carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE CV-6 at Pearl Harbor as Navigator, and served in that capacity during all the engagements of that historic ship in the early years of the war, earning a Silver Star as navigator of the carrier during the Doolittle Raid and the battles of Midway, Eastern Solomons, and Santa Cruz.

He was later ordered as Executive Officer of the U.S.S. HORNET, but before he could report on board that carrier, he saw her mortally wounded by torpedoes and bombs in the Battle of Santa Cruz.

Reassignment then took him to the staff of Commander Carrier Division One on U.S.S. SARATOGA as Operations Officer.

In May 1943 he was promoted to Captain and several months later ordered to Washington, D. C., for duty with the joint chiefs of staff.

In October 1945, becoming the first Commanding Officer of U.S.S. RENDOVA CVE-114, Captain Ruble brings to that ship a wealth of ship, air and battle experience.

In1946-1947, Ruble was assigned to the USS Shangri-La (CVA-38), and in 1947-1949, he was assigned to the USS Valley Forge (CV-45).

In 1950 at the outbreak of the Korean War, The Escort Carrier Task Group (TG 96.8) was commanded by Commander, Carrier Division 15, Rear Admiral Richard W. Ruble.

Ruble Retired as Vice Admiral on 1 August 1955.

Award Citations:

Silver Star

World War II

Service: United States Navy

Rank: Commander

Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)

Action Date: August 24 & October 26, 1942

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Commander Richard Waynick Ruble (NSN: 0-58209), United States Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity in action with the enemy while serving as Navigation Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6) throughout all of the engagements since the beginning of the war, and particularly in the Stewart Island engagement on 24 August 1942, and the action against Japanese naval forces near Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942, in both of which battles that vessel was heavily attacked by large numbers of enemy aircraft. Commander Ruble’s cool, deliberate, and able assistance to the Captain on the bridge, given with complete disregard for his own personal safety, contributed immeasurably to the success of his ship in these engagements. His display of exceptional courage and ability under fire was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Silver Star

Korean War

Service: United States Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Action Date: September 15 – 21, 1950

Headquarters, EIGHTH U.S. Army, General Orders No. 49 (October 27, 1950)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star (Army Award) to Rear Admiral Richard Waynick Ruble (NSN: 0-58209), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commander, Carrier Division FIFTEEN, Joint Task Force SEVEN, United Nations Command, in the Inchon-Seoul operation during the period 15 September to 21 September 1950. His actions contributed materially to the success of this operation and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service.

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Korean War

Service: United States Navy

Rank: Rear Admiral

Division: Carrier Division 15

Action Date: August 2, 1950 – January 1, 1951

Board Serial 175 (February 26, 1951)

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Rear Admiral Richard Waynick Ruble (NSN: 0-58209), United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander Carrier Division FIFTEEN, in operations against enemy aggressor forces in the Korean Area from 2 August 1950 to 1 January 1951, inclusive. Directing the operations of this Task Group with tireless effort and exceptional skill, Rear Admiral Ruble successfully established for his unit a reputation for reliability in all phases of effort with particular emphasis on furnishing invaluable close air support to ground troops. As commander of escort carriers during the amphibious assault on Inchon, Korea, on 15 September 1950, he planned effectively in the conduct of operations which would insure the continual availability of close air support vital to the ground troops of the United States TENTH Corps. A leader of outstanding ability, judgment and aggressiveness, Rear Admiral Ruble, by his competent and forceful execution of his assigned duties, made a major contribution to the successful accomplishment of the TENTH Corps’ mission in the Inchon-Seoul area, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

VINTAGE: 1920s.

SIZE: 7/8" in height x 2-3/4” in width.

CONSTRUCTION / MATERIALS: Gilt Brass

ATTACHMENT: Horizontal pin with tongue type catch.

MARKINGS: RUBLE / PASQUALE, S. F.

ITEM NOTES:

This is from a US Air Force collection which we will be listing more of over the next coming months. P05/26 MDJJK13 LBHGEX06/02/26

CONDITION:

8 (Excellent-): The wing shows minor to moderate wear, overall, it is in excellent condition.

GUARANTEE:

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.