Alan B. Banister

Alan Boyd Banister
Born(1905-02-04)February 4, 1905
Grant, Oklahoma, US
DiedNovember 1, 1963(1963-11-01) (aged 58)
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, US[1]
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch United States Navy
Years of service1928-1958
Rank Rear Admiral
CommandsUSS R-2 (SS-79)[2]
USS Sawfish
Submarine Division 361
Submarine Division 31
Submarine Squadron 4
Submarine Flotilla 1
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards Navy Cross (2)
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy
Spouse(s)Cynthia Pruden Harts

Alan Boyd Banister (February 4, 1905 – November 1, 1963) was a decorated submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.[3][4]

Although Bannister was born in 1905 in what is now Oklahoma, his family had a long history in Virginia.[5] One of his ancestors was John Banister of Virginia, one of the commissioners responsible for the United States Articles of Confederation of 1776.

He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1928.[1] After his commissioning he attended the Navy's submarine school. In 1938 he took command of the USS R-2.[5]

In June 1938 he married the former Cynthia Harts in her hometown of Madison, Connecticut.[5][6] His wife came from a military family, her father and two brothers rising to the rank of Brigadier General.[7][8] The couple had a son and three daughters.[1]

During World War II Banister commanded the submarine USS Sawfish.[1] By the end of the war he was leading groups of submarines. According to his obituary in The New York Times he earned multiple decorations, including two Navy Crosses.

After the war his commands included Commander, Submarine Squadron Four in Key West and Commander, Submarines, Atlantic Fleet.[1][9][10]

  1. ^ a b c d e Cite error: The named reference nytimes1963-11-02 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Submarine Commanders". www.fleetorganization.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-16. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  3. ^ "Alan Boyd Banister". history.navy.mil. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  4. ^ "Alan Banister - Recipient - Military Times Hall Of Valor". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference nytimes1938-02-28 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference nytimes1938-06-12 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference nytimes1941-12-30 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference nytimes1961-04-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference nytimes1952-07-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference kwestc1952-09-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).