Theodore H. Winters Jr.

Theodore H. Winters died from a stroke on April 25, 2008, in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

He began attending the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island in July 1953, graduating in February 1954. From 1959 to 1960, he served as the commanding officer of the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. Captain Winters retired from the Navy on July 1, 1961.

In January 1945, Winters was assigned to the training unit at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. He would stay there until the summer of 1947, when he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. Upon graduating in January 1948, he was attached to the USS Midway. From July 1949 to February 1951, Winters was assigned as a faculty member at the Naval Academy, followed by an assignment aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt.

By September 1944, VF-19 and other squadrons were flying combat missions over the Philippines in preparation for the invasion in October.  On September 12, Commander Winters shot down three Japanese planes. Winters claimed ace status and was awarded a second Silver Star by mid-October, shooting down three more enemy aircraft and probably downing a fourth.

Winters and his squadron returned to the United States by the end of November. In April 1943, VF-9 was attached to the USS Essex and set out for the Pacific. By August 1943, Winters was promoted to commander and was made the commanding officer of Fighting Squadron 19 (VF-19) aboard the USS Lexington.

From February to March 1942, Lieutenant Winters was assigned to the seaplane tender USS Matagorda. Afterwards, he was attached to Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9) as the executive officer aboard the USS Ranger.

In November 1942, Lieutenant Commander Winters took part in Operation Torch in French Morocco. In one day, he led three combat missions, destroying 14 Vichy French bombers on the ground at Rabat-Sale Airdrome, followed by destroying more enemy planes at Port Lyautey and then attacking an enemy position at El Hank.

Ensign Winters was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania for one year as a gunnery officer, followed by one year aboard the USS Hamilton as a gunnery and communications officer. In June 1937, Winters was sent to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida where he attended flight training. The following June, Lieutenant Junior Grade Winters graduated from the course and was designated as a Naval aviator. Winters was assigned to VB-5 aboard the USS Yorktown until June 1940. He then returned to Pensacola where he served as a flight instructor.

Theodore Hugh Winters Jr. (March 11, 1913 – April 25, 2008) was a highly decorated United States Navy captain. He was a flying ace credited with eight aerial victories and was awarded two Navy Crosses during the battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II.

Theodore H. Winters was born on March 11, 1913 in Society Hill, South Carolina. Upon graduating high school in 1931, Winters entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. On June 6, 1935, he graduated from the academy and was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy.