Engineering:Andrew McKee
Andrew McKee | |
|---|---|
 McKee while a commodore in the US Navy | |
| Born | February 17, 1896 Lawrenceburg, Kentucky[1] |
| Died | January 24, 1976 (aged 79) New York City[2] |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1917–1947[2] |
| Rank | Rear Admiral[2] |
| Commands held | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard[2] |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Bronze Star |
| Relations | great-grandson of Admiral James F. Schenck[1] |
| Other work | Research and design engineer for the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics corporation |
Rear Admiral Andrew I. McKee (February 17, 1896 – January 24, 1976) was a pioneer in modern submarine design and development. The destroyer Engineering:USS Schenck was named for his maternal great-grandfather, Admiral James F. Schenck.[1] McKee graduated from the United States Naval Academy at the top of his class in navigation and was commissioned an ensign in March 1917.[3] He served with USS Huntington until he severely injured both legs in a fall from the mast in August 1917.[3] He was declared unfit for sea duty, and assigned first to the Naval Academy as a navigation and physics instructor, and then as the supervisory naval constructor at Bethlehem Steel Corporation Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, pending admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).[3] In 1921 he received a master's degree in naval architecture from MIT, and was assigned to the Navy Construction Corps.[3]
McKee was assigned to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard following graduation, and then transferred to the New London, Connecticut, submarine base in 1924.[3] McKee became ship type assistant of submarine design for the Navy Bureau of Construction and Repair in Washington from 1926 to 1930, where he directed the design of Engineering:USS Dolphin from which evolved the successful fleet submarines of World War II.[4] McKee served as new construction superintendent at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from 1930 to 1934 and as hull superintendent at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard from 1934 to 1938.[5] In the latter post, he oversaw introduction of the all-welded pressure hull techniques pioneered while building Engineering:USS Sturgeon.[5]
Captain McKee worked in submarine planning, design and construction as the Design Superintendent of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from 1938 to 1945, and was awarded a Legion of Merit for his service there.[6] His accomplishments at Portsmouth included receipt of a Letter of Commendation from the Secretary of the Navy for participation in the rescue and salvage of Engineering:USS Squalus in 1939, receipt of the Linnard Foundation award in 1940, and implementation the pressure hull improvements allowing Balao-class submarines to safely dive to 600 feet (180 m), rather than the nominal 300-foot (91 m) depth limitation for Gato-class submarines.[7]
In 1945, he joined the staff of Commander Service Force, Pacific Fleet, as senior assistant fleet maintenance officer aboard Engineering:USS Mount McKinley.[6] Mount McKinley was anchored at Kerama Retto, where Captain McKee was given primary responsibility for inspecting ships damaged during the Battle of Okinawa, and deciding which ones should be repaired.[6] He was awarded a Bronze Star, and also a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for this assignment.[6]
Captain McKee was promoted to commodore and took command of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard following VJ-Day.[2] He retired from active duty of July 1, 1947, and was advanced to rear admiral on the basis of his combat decorations.[2] Following retirement, McKee worked as a research and design engineer for the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics corporation in Connecticut until 1961 and as a senior technical advisor until 1974.[2] He was awarded the David W. Taylor Medal of the Society of Naval Architects and Engineers in 1956.[2]
He died unexpectedly on January 24, 1976, during surgery in New York City.[2]
Namesake
The submarine tender Engineering:USS McKee (AS-41) is named for him.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 p.49
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 p.57
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 p. 50
- ↑ Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 pp.51–52
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 p.53
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 p.56
- ↑ Alden, John D., CDR USN "Andrew Irwin McKee, Naval Constructor" United States Naval Institute Proceedings June 1979 pp.53–56
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