| United States Navy Rear Admiral Aaron S. “Tip” Merrill (March 26, 1890 – February 28, 1961) receives the Navy Cross medal from United States Navy Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch (June 11, 1883 – May 22, 1978), in ceremonies held on the after deck of USS Montpelier (CL-57). Merrill led American naval forces during the Solomon Islands campaign, as well as the 1st American Admiral to solely use radar for fire control during wartime. USS Montpelier was Merrill’s flagship for Task Force 39 during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay took place at the end of the 1st day of the landings around Cape Torokina on November 1-2, 1943, as the Japanese sortied a large force from Rabaul in an effort to replicate the success they had achieved at Savo Island in August 1942, in response to Allied amphibious landings in the eastern Solomon Islands. Ultimately, the covering force of United States Navy warships was able to turn back the Japanese force, and the landings around Cape Torokina were successful. Merrill’s citation reads: “The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Task Force Thirty-Nine, during an engagement with Japanese naval forces at Empress Augusta Bay, off Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on the night of November 1-2, 1943. Employing daring tactics with gunfire and torpedoes, Rear Admiral Merrill disposed his ships with such skill that the ensuing battle resulted in the destruction of five hostile warships, including one cruiser and four destroyers. During the retirement from this action, his forces repulsed an air attack by sixty-seven Japanese planes, shooting down seventeen of them. Rear Admiral Merrill’s inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1925.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.68 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5780 x 3807 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 11, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Tulagi Harbor |
| State or Province | Guadalcanal |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-2432 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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