Wright, Carleton Herbert (1892-?)

Naval Historical Center #NH 84588.

Cropped by author.

"Bosco" Wright was an ordnance specialist who had assembled mines for the North Sea barrage during the First World War. He commanded the cruiser screen of Task Force 11 (Saratoga) at the battle of the Eastern Solomons.

Wright was the losing commander at the Battle of Tassafaronga, where he had assumed command of Kinkaid's cruiser-destroyer force just two days before. Although Wright adopted Kinkaid's operational plan, he had little opportunity to become acquainted with his ships' captains and no opportunity to exercise with his new command, and the outcome of the battle reflected this. Spruance believe that, since Wright was brand new to the command and was relying on another officer's plan, his acceptance of responsibility for the debacle was an indication of "high military character" (Morison 1949).

Carleton was the commandant of 12 Naval District in San Francisco when the Port Chicago disaster and subsequent mutiny took place, and he appointed the Court of Inquiry that investigated the disaster. He also reviewed (and in some cases reduced) the sentences of the sailors convicted of mutiny.

Service record

References

Lundstrom (2006)

Morison (1949)

Naval Historical Center (accessed 2008-2-13)
Pettibone (2006)

Purnell (1944-7-24; accessed 2012-2-23)
Tuohy (2007)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2008-2010, 2012 by Kent G. Budge.  Index

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