| Creed Cardwell Burlingame | |
| Nickname: | Burly[1] |
| Accessdate: | 22 December 2014--> |
| Birth Date: | 27 February 1905 |
| Birth Place: | Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Perry Point, Maryland, U.S.[2] |
| Placeofburial: | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Navy |
| Serviceyears: | 1927–1957 |
| Rank: | Rear Admiral |
| Commands: | Submarine Division 182 |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Awards: | Navy Cross (3) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit |
Creed Cardwell Burlingame (February 27, 1905 – October 21, 1985) was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He served as a submarine commander in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Burlingame was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on February 27, 1905, and grew up in the Midwest.
In June 1927, Burlingame graduated from the United States Naval Academy as an ensign and served aboard the battleship . Some of his classmates were William Brockman, Eugene Lindsey, and John Thatch.[3] He subsequently graduated from the Submarine School in New London, Connecticut, in 1930.[2] [4] He served as a submarine officer in service with the Asiatic fleet, and served aboard one of the few United States submarines stationed at the China station.[2] Submarine-related commands immediately prior to and during World War II included captain of the from 8 May 1936 to 1 January 1939, duty at Submarine Base New London from 1 July 1939 to 1 July 1940, captain of the from 31 August 1940 to 7 December 1941, commissioning and first commanding officer of the from 15 December 1941 to 20 July 1943, commander of Submarine Division One Hundred Eighty Two from 1 November 1943 to 15 July 1945, and acting commander of Submarine Squadron Eighteen from 17 December 1944 to 8 January 1945.[5]
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Burlingame was immediately transferred to the USS Silversides for its commissioning at Mare Island, California on 15 December 1941. It was his sixth submarine and third command. After a brief shakedown off the California coast, he sailed Silversides for Hawaii, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 4 April 1942 and left for his first combat patrol on 30 April.[1] He was promoted to commander on 10 September. Burlingame commanded Silversides for a total of five patrols, sinking eight enemy ships for a total 44,000 tons. While commanding the Silversides, the ship and crew received a presidential citation and Burlingame earned two Silver Stars and three Navy Crosses. As commander of the 182d Submarine Division in the Pacific, he was awarded the Legion of Merit.[2]
Following World War II, Burlingame served in various assignments, including command of from 15 September 1953 to 3 March 1955.[6] He retired in 1957, at the rank of rear admiral.[2]