Arnold Jay Isbell, USN
| Born | 22 Sep 1899 | Quimby, Iowa, USA | |
| Died | 19 Mar 1945 | (45) | USS Franklin |
 Captain Arnold J. Isbell | Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Arnold Jay Isbell, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Card (CVE 11) | T/Capt. | Escort carrier | 17 Apr 1943 | 9 Mar 1944 |
Career information
Captain Arnold J. Isbell was born in Iowa, 1899. He was a graduate of the US Naval Academy, Annapolis in 1920 and earned his aviators wings at the Pensacola naval flight school. He was a specialist in aviation ordnance engineering and served in various naval aviation assignments prior to WWII. In September 1940 he was appointed Commanding Officer of VP-54 squadron and helped survey and select the USN air bases in Newfoundland.
In 1942-1943 he served as Commanding Officer of NAS Sitka, Alaska. In April 1943 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the escort carrier USS Card. Under Captain Isbell's command the Card Task Groups were responsible for the sinkings of U-117, U-664, U-525, U-847, U-460, U-422, U-402, U-584, U-405, and U-645.
He was relieved of command of Card in July 1944 by Captain Rufus C. Young and entered the Pacific war where he was to take command of the fast attack carrier USS Yorktown.
Captain Isbell was killed in April 1945 in the Japanese air attack on the aircraft carrier USS Franklin while on a temporary duty assignment awaiting to assume command of Yorktown.
Events related to this officer
Escort carrier USS Card (CVE 11)
7 Aug 1943 (position 39.42, -38.21)
German U-boat U-117 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 39?42'N, 38?21'W, by depth charges and a Fido homing torpedo from five Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Card.
U-117 was resupplying U-66 at the time of her loss. U-66 managed to escape.
9 Aug 1943 (position 40.12, -37.29)
German U-boat U-664 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 40°12'N, 37°29'W, by depth charges from 2 Avenger aircraft (VC-1) of the US escort carrier USS Card.
11 Aug 1943 (position 41.29, -38.55)
German U-boat U-525 was sunk in the North Atlantic north-west of the Azores, in position 41°29'N, 38°55'W, by depth charges and aerial torpedoed from an Avenger and a Wildcat aircraft (VC-1) of the American escort carrier USS Card.
27 Aug 1943 (position 28.19, -37.58)
German U-boat U-847 was sunk in the Sargasso Sea, in position 28°19'N, 37°58'W, by air-launched (Fido) torpedoes from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-1) of the American escort carrier USS Card.
4 Oct 1943 (position 43.18, -28.58)
German U-boat U-460 was sunk
in the North Atlantic North of the Azores, in position 43°18'N, 28°58'W, by depth charges from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-9) of the American escort carrier USS Card.
4 Oct 1943 (position 45.13, -28.58)
German U-boat U-422 was sunk North of the Azores, in position 45°13'N, 28°58'W, by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the American escort carrier USS Card.
13 Oct 1943 (position 48.56, -29.41)
German U-boat U-402 was sunk in the middle of the North Atlantic, in position 48°56'N, 29°41'W, by an acoustic torpedo (Fido) from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-9) of the American escort carrier USS Card
31 Oct 1943 (position 49.14, -31.55)
German U-boat U-584 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 49°14'N, 31°55'W, by a Fido homing torpedo from 3 Avenger aircraft (VC-9) of the US escort carrier USS Card.
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