Miles Rutherford Browning (1897 - 1954)

Born 10 Apr 1897 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Cathalene Isabella (Parker) Crane — married 20 May 1922 (to before 1929) in San Diego, California

Husband of Marie Héloïse (Barbin) Browning — married 5 Jun 1931 in Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Husband of Katherine Jane (Eynon) Browning — married 30 Mar 1943 in Arlington, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Sep 1954 at age 57 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kurt Potter [send private message]

Biography

Miles Browning was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Miles Browning was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Chief of Staff and Rear Admiral Miles Browning served in the United States Navy in World War II
Service started: 1914
Unit(s): USS Enterprise (CV-6)
Service ended: 1947

Miles Browning is Notable.

Miles Browning was born on 10 Apr 1897 in New Jersey to parents Oren Fogle Browning Jr. and Sarah Louise Smith. He was married three times. During World War II, Miles Browning served as a distinguished US Navy officer and significantly contributed to the victory at the Battle of Midway on 4-6 Jun 1942. He was a graduate of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, Class of 1917.

During World War I he served on various battleships and was an observer on a French cruiser through the end of the war. Following the war, he served on various battleships and destroyers. In 1924 he reported for flight training and was assigned to the USS Langley (CV-1) and served on a variety of other ships. As an early naval aviator, Browning pioneered the development of progressive aircraft carrier combat operations concepts and doctrines that would dominate the actions of the fleet carrier forces in World War II.

Before the outbreak of war in December 1941, Browning served closely with FAdm. William Halsey in a variety of key leadership roles, to include air tactical officer, commander of the carrier air wing aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10), and eventually as Chief of Staff to Halsey aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6).

After America’s entry into the war, he continued to serve as FAdm. Halsey’s Chief of Staff and helped lead island raids in the early days of the war and was there in support of the Doolittle Raid that bombed Japan in 1942. In the days before the Battle of Midway, Adm. Halsey was hospitalized and Browning continued in his role as Chief of Staff under the new Task Force 16 Commander, Adm. Raymond Spruance. In the historic Battle of Midway in 1942, Browning’s doctrines of timing air strikes against vulnerable enemy carriers were credited as a major influence in the victory and brought about by the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers.

Acting again as Chief of Staff for a recuperated FAdm. Halsey, he provided leadership, advice and council that directly contributed to the victory at the Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942. In July 1943 he become the commanding officer of the new USS Hornet (CV-12) and participated in various raids and the Allied invasions of New Guinea and Jayapura.

In 1944 Browning was assigned to the Navy Command and General Staff College in Kansas for the remainder of the war. He retired from the US Navy in 1947 and was retroactively promoted to Rear Admiral (upper half, two stars).

Genealogy and Famous Cousins of Miles Browning

• Miles Browning is the grandfather of Chevy Chase, celebrated American actor and comedian.
• Miles Browning is the grandson of Major James Kearny Smith (1839-1897) who served the Union Army during the American Civil War, where he was twice wounded and once a prisoner of war.
• Miles Browning is the 3rd great-grandson of Staff Officer and Chief Physician Dr. Charles McKnight Jr. (1750-1791) whose service was revered during the Revolutionary War; he served in both the Continental Army and the Flying Camp Battalions of the Pennsylvania Militia.
• Miles Browning is the 3rd great-grandson of Ensign Jacob Barnitz Esq. who served during the Revolutionary War at the Battles of Brooklyn, Harlem Heights, and Fort Washington. His life spared by a British officer while severely wounded, was imprisoned and later lost a leg to amputation. 1st Battalion of York County Pennsylvania Militia and and Flying Camp Battalion.
• Miles Browning is the 3rd great-grandson of Capt. Joshua Kenyon Esq. (1739-1803), who served in the Rhode Island Line of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Possible or remote affiliation with the Culper Spy Ring.
• Miles Browning is the 31st great-grandson of King Charlemagne (0748-0814); 29th great-grandson of Ælfred the Great (0849-0899); 24th great-grandson of William the Conqueror (1027-1087); and many others.
• Miles Browning is the 5th cousin 2X removed to Caroline Astor, who was a prominent New York City Socialite during the 1800s and the first decade of the 1900s.
• Miles Browning is a blood-cousin to at least 31 US Presidents, which the closest being his 6th cousin 1X removed Pres. William Howard Taft (1857-1930). Miles is also a cousin to at least 87 US Founding Fathers.
• Miles Browning is the 8th cousin 1x removed to Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965).
• Miles Browning is the 8th cousin 1X removed to Adm. Raymond Spruance (1886-1969).
• Miles Browning is the 13th cousin 3x removed to King Charles III (Windsor) Mountbatten-Windsor KG.

Sources

• Hall of Valor Project [1] shows the citations for his Navy Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star.
• Wikipedia for Adm. Browning [2] explores the various issues with credit and blame during the Battle of Midway. It also notes the impact of his three marriages on his naval career. Noted also is Browning's esoteric leadership style.
• Find a Grave Index [3]
• Marriage License for Marie Barbin in 1931 [4]
• Marriage License for Katherine Jane E. Hughes in 1943 [5]
• Famous Kin website [6] and Wikipedia [7] state that RAdm Browning is the grandfather of celebrated actor and comedian Chevy Chase.