William Henry Purnell "Spike"
- Blandy, William Henry Purnell "Spike"
U.S. Navy Admiral, “Operation Crossroads” Atomic-bomb tests on the Island Bikini Atoll.
- 28-06-1890, New York City.
- USA.
- 12-01-1954, age 63, in St. Albans, New York.
Arlington Cemetery, Virginia USA. Section 2-Grave 4964 A R.
Blandy, William Henry Purnell "Spike"
William Blandy, born on 28-06-1890 in New York City, known to friends as " Spike ", was an Admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Blandy was most known for overseeing the atomic bomb tests at bikini Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Blandy served on board the battleship Florida with the British Grand Fleet during World War I. During World War II he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance from 1941 to 1943, then Commander, Group 1, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet and commanded the pre-invasion bombardment group during the campaign for Iwo Jima. One of Blandy’s pronouncements is : I am not an atomic playboy, as one of my critics labeled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim. As said after the war he commanded Joint Task Force 1, during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.
Blandy served on board the battleship Florida with the British Grand Fleet during World War I. During World War II he was Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance from 1941 to 1943, then Commander, Group 1, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet and commanded the pre-invasion bombardment group during the campaign for Iwo Jima. One of Blandy’s pronouncements is : I am not an atomic playboy, as one of my critics labeled me, exploding these bombs to satisfy my personal whim. As said after the war he commanded Joint Task Force 1, during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.
Admiral Blandy retired in 1950 and died on 12-01-1954, at the age of 63, at the U.S. Navy Hospital in St. Albans, New York and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Section 2. Close by the graves the Generals Robert Carney (see Carney), Frederic Bell (see Bell) and Clovis Byers (see Beyers). 
