Charles Welford Fox was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 5 December 1894. He enlisted in the Navy in February 1913 and subsequently served as a crewman on the destroyers Ammen and Jenkins. Appointed Acting Pay Clerk in October 1917, during the next year he served in France, at Naval Air Station Moutchick, and with the Northern Bombing Group at Pas de Calais. Shortly after the end of World War I, Fox became Supply Officer at the Naval Detention Camp at Deer Island, Massachusetts. Commissioned in the rank of Ensign in the Supply Corps in June 1919, he was assigned to shore stations in the U.S. and the Virgin Islands over the next three years.
In 1922 Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Fox was a student at the Supply Corps School of Application, after which he had duty at the Naval Aircraft Factory, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was Supply Officer for the Navy's team at the Schneider Cup races in England. Promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant in 1925, Lieutenant Commander in 1934 and Commander in 1939, Fox subsequently served in destroyers, at the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, and had several aviation-related assignments. He was stationed on board the heavy cruiser San Francisco in 1936-1938 and ashore at the Mare Island Navy Yard in 1938-1940. He was the aircraft carrier Enterprise's Supply Officer from mid-1940 until September 1942, seeing combat action on that ship after the U.S. entered World War II.
Captain Fox was Officer in Charge of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts' Aviation Supply Division during 1942-1944, then served at the Aviation Supply Office at Philadelphia. While holding the rank of Commodore, in April 1945 he took command of the Naval Supply Depot at Mechanicsville, Pennsylvania. In May 1945 Rear Admiral Fox was appointed Pay Director. In March 1948 became Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, in October 1949, Chief of that Bureau. Promoted to Vice Admiral in October 1951, he simultanously was moved up to be the Chief of Naval Material, a position he held until retirement at the beginning of August 1953. Active in business affairs after leaving active duty, Vice Admiral Fox died at Bethesda, Maryland, on 4 November 1975.
This page features our only views of Charles W. Fox.
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Photo #: 80-G-K-14364 (Color) Vice Admiral Charles W. Fox, USN (SC) Portrait photograph, taken circa January 1953, while he was serving as Chief of Naval Material. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 61KB; 585 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-K-14365 (Color) Vice Admiral Charles W. Fox, USN (SC) Portrait photograph, taken circa January 1953, while he was serving as Chief of Naval Material. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 65KB; 605 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 98130 Vice Admiral Charles W. Fox, USN (SC) Portrait photograph dated March 1953. He was serving as Chief of Naval Material at that time. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 56KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 54776 Vice Admiral Edwin D. Foster, USN (SC), Chief of Chief of Naval Material (left) Is congratulated by Secretary of the Navy Francis P. Matthews (right), 4 October 1949. Rear Admiral Charles W. Fox, USN (SC), the incoming Chief of the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, is in the center, holding his commission as Navy Paymaster General and Chief of the Bureau, dated 4 October 1949. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 25 October 2002