William Raborn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Raborn
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| 7th Director of Central Intelligence | |
| In office April 28, 1965 – June 30, 1966 |
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| President | Lyndon Johnson |
| Deputy | Richard Helms |
| Preceded by | John McCone |
| Succeeded by | Richard Helms |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Francis Raborn, Jr.
June 8, 1905 Decatur, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | March 6, 1990 (aged 84) McLean, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1928–1963 |
| Rank |  Vice Admiral |
| Commands | USS Bairoko USS Bennington |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star |
William Francis Raborn, Jr. (born June 8, 1905 – died March 6, 1990) was an important officer in the United States Navy. He is best known for leading a special project to create the Polaris missile system. Later, he served as the Director of Central Intelligence for the United States.
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William Raborn was born in Decatur, Texas. He studied at the U.S. Naval Academy and finished his training in 1928. After graduating, he joined the United States Navy.
Serving in World War II
During World War II, Raborn played a key role in training gunners for the Navy. He also served on aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean. On one occasion, while he was the executive officer (second-in-command) of the carrier USS Hancock (CV-19), the ship was attacked by a kamikaze plane. A kamikaze was a Japanese pilot who would crash their plane into an enemy ship on purpose.
The attack damaged the ship's deck, making it hard for planes to land. Raborn quickly organized repairs, and the deck was fixed in just four hours. This allowed the ship's planes, which had been flying during the attack, to land safely. For his brave actions, Raborn received the Silver Star medal. He later became the commander of two other aircraft carriers, the USS Bairoko (CVE-115) and the USS Bennington (CV-20).
The Polaris Missile Project
In 1955, Raborn was a rear admiral when he was given a very important job. He was put in charge of the Special Projects Office at the Bureau of Weapons. His mission was to develop a new type of missile that could be launched from a submarine. This was a huge challenge, as no one had ever done this before.
Building a New Weapon System
Raborn reported directly to top Navy leaders, including Admiral Arleigh Burke and the Secretary of the Navy Charles Thomas. He was told the new missile system, called Polaris, needed to be ready very quickly.
Under Raborn's leadership, the project moved forward at an amazing speed. The first submarine designed to carry these missiles, the USS George Washington (SSBN-598), was ready by the end of 1959. It successfully fired its first test missile in July 1960. Just a few months later, in November 1960, the submarine went on its first patrol, carrying the new missiles.
Raborn completed the Polaris project three years ahead of schedule! He was able to do this partly by using a special planning method called PERT. For his success, he was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1960 and received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He also won the Collier Trophy, a famous award for achievements in aviation and space.
Director of Central Intelligence
After his success with Polaris, Raborn retired from the Navy in 1965. However, his career in public service was not over. On April 28, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him as the seventh Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). This meant he would lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which is the main intelligence agency of the U.S. government.
Challenges at the CIA
Even though Raborn was a brilliant organizer from his Navy days, leading the CIA was a different kind of challenge. The CIA deals with gathering information about other countries and protecting national security. Some people felt that Raborn, despite his skills, did not fully understand the world of intelligence.
He served as DCI for only fourteen months, from April 1965 to June 1966. He resigned on June 30, 1966, and his deputy, Richard Helms, took over the role.
Later Life and Legacy
William Raborn passed away on March 6, 1990. He is buried in the United States Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.
Raborn was also recognized with the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement in 1962.
Images for kids
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Vice Admiral William F. Raborn Jr.
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Insignia for a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy
