Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885 – February 20, 1966) was a fleet admiral of the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, for U.S. naval forces and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, for U.S. and Allied air, land, and sea forces in the Pacific Ocean theater of operations. According to the U.S. Navy historical summary, he was the greatest of the Navy's admirals. (Hebrew: צ'סטר ויליאם נIMITZ, Japanese: チェスター・ニミッツ, French: Chester Nimitz, German: Chester William Nimitz). Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, to a German immigrant family. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1907. He was an early advocate of naval aviation and oversaw the development of the aircraft carrier fleet. He was the leading U.S. Navy authority on submarines, as he had served on several of the early submarines of that service. He was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay aboard the battleship USS Missouri on September 2, 1945. He was the last surviving World War I U.S. Navy ace, as he downed a enemy zeppelin.
American naval officer (1885–1966)
Chester William Nimitz was a fleet admiral in the United States Navy. He played a major role in the naval history of World War II as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet, and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas, commanding Allied air, land, and sea forces during World War II.