Florez, de, Luis

Date of birth:: March 4th, 1889 (New York City/New York, United States)
Date of death:: December 5th, 1962 (Connecticut, United States)
Buried on:: Arlington National Cemetery
Plot: 1. Grave: 416 ES.
Nationality:: American

Biography

De Florez worked in the U.S. Navy aviation section as a career officer in the First World War. He also worked on the development of refinery technology.

He was called to active duty in April 1940 and, after a refresher training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, became a Naval Aviator on June 29th 1940. De Florez clocked months of service on board a carrier before his transfer to the Navy's Special Devices Desk, where he championed the use of "synthetic training devices". For the remainder of the war, he stood at the helm of the Navy 's development of such devices to increase readiness. He also worked on the development of antisubmarine devices. De Florez has been credited with over sixty inventions.

He was awarded the Silver and Gold Medals of the Spanish Red Cross in recognition of his equipping ambulances and supplying medical aid to the Government of Spain.

Promotions:
February 13th, 1934: Lieutenant Commander
July 13th, 1940: Commander
November 14th, 1942: Captain
November 2nd, 1945: Rear Admiral

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Scientific American Prize for Aircraft Improvement

Rank:: Lieutenant Commander
Awarded on:: 1934

Robert J. Collier Trophy

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Rear Admiral
Unit:: Special Devices Desk, Engineering Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: 1944

"For his contribution to the safe and rapid training of combat pilots and crews through the development of inexpensive synthetic devices."

Annually awarded for:
"The greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving the performance, efficiency, and safety of air or space vehicles, the value of which has been thoroughly demonstrated by actual use during the preceding year."

Legion of Merit - US Military

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Rear Admiral
Unit:: Special Devices Desk, Engineering Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: June 1945

Distinguished Service Medal - Navy/USMC

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Rear Admiral
Unit:: Special Devices Desk, Engineering Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: January 1946

"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States. By the exercise of extraordinary genius, resourcefulness and professional skill, Admiral DeFlorez was in large measure responsible for the creation and development of the unique art of synthetic training perfected during World War II to provide special devices and methods for the safe and rapid training of pilots and aircrewmen. From the inception of an idea through the complicated phases of invention, research and construction to the final aspects of production, distribution and maintenance, he rendered distinguished service toward realizing the highest potential in training methods, not only for naval aviation but for submarine officers and fire control parties engaged in combat patrol."

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 346

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Rear Admiral
Awarded on:: August 1959

"For extraordinary achievement while participating in numerous aircraft flights throughout his naval career. Responsible for the original conception, design and flight-testing of aircraft instrumentation which included the first bubble sextant and the first complete audio flight reference, Rear Admiral DeFlorez made many major contributions to the development of cockpit instrumentation and controls, air speed indicators and night lighting. In the forefront of naval aviation as inventor, designer and pilot, he was recognized for his imagination and inventive skill in this field by the Scientific American Prize for Aircraft Improvement in 1934, and the Collier Trophy in 1943."

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Rear Admiral

In 1941, [then] Commander de Florez visited the United Kingdom and wrote what would become an influential report on British aircraft simulator techniques. It influenced the establishing of the Special Devices Division of the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics (what would later become the NAWCTSD).

Details: Honorary