Early Life and Education
In Nauvoo, Illinois, a little Mississippi River village, Edwin Thomas Layton was born on April 7, 1903. Layton’s intelligence and leadership were evident early on. He graduated with honors from the US Naval Academy in 1924 to join the Navy. Layton attended the US Naval War College after graduating, improving his strategic and analytical talents for his job.
Military Career and Contributions
After 30 years in the Navy, Layton became a rear admiral. He made his greatest accomplishments as an intelligence officer during World War II. Layton was a naval attaché in the American Embassy in Tokyo from 1937 until 1940 before the war. He met Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and studied Japanese language and culture in this role.
Role in World War II
Layton was Pacific Fleet Fleet Intelligence Officer during important World War II periods. His foresight into Japanese military objectives was crucial. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor confirmed Layton’s fears, despite colleagues’ skepticism. Layton’s intelligence work helped decrypt Japanese codes and strategy, clinching the Battle of Midway.
Post-War Career
After WWII, Layton held high-profile intelligence jobs. He worked for the Pacific Fleet commander and then the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His naval intelligence legacy shaped military plans and actions after he departed in 1959. In 1971, the Edwin T. Layton Chair of Naval Intelligence was established in his honor.
Literary Work
Following his military career, Layton wrote “And I Was There: Pearl Harbor and Midway Breaking the Secrets,” released posthumously in 1985. This memoir provides an insider’s view of naval intelligence during World War II and aims to show the critical role intelligence played in Pearl Harbor and Midway without scapegoating.
Personal Life
Layton married and had children, including historian Edwin T. Layton Jr. Layton died at 81 at Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, on April 12, 1984.
Legacy and Recognition
For his military intelligence work, Rear Admiral Edwin Layton received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. Strategic leadership and insights shaped the Pacific Theater during World War II, creating a pattern for US Navy intelligence operations.
FAQ
Was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto met by Edwin Layton?
Layton visited Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto multiple times as a naval attaché in the American Embassy in Tokyo from 1937 to 1940, learning about Japanese military plans and leadership.
What is Edwin Layton’s book about?
In 1985’s “And I Was There: Pearl Harbor and Midway Breaking the Secrets,” Layton analyzes naval intelligence’s role in World War II, particularly in Pearl Harbor and Midway.
What became to Edwin Layton after WWII?
After WWII, Layton worked for the Pacific Fleet commander and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After retiring in 1959, he founded Northrop Corporation’s Japan branch.
Where did Edwin Layton learn Japanese culture and language?
Layton studied Japanese language and culture as a naval attaché at the American Embassy in Tokyo from 1937 until 1940. This encounter shaped his WWII intelligence work.
What service awards did Edwin Layton receive?
Edwin Layton got the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his naval intelligence and planning work.
Who was Edwin Layton’s “Midway” wife?
In “Midway,” Dagne Layton plays Edwin Layton’s wife. This film depicts his personal and professional struggles throughout World War II.
