Fletcher commanded Cruiser Division Six and was at sea when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Kimmel placed him on a shortlist of possible successors, selected him for the Wake relief force, and regarded him as a first choice for task-force command. Fletcher learned carrier operations while commanding Task Force 17 around Yorktown despite coming from the surface fleet. His ability and comparatively quiet public profile invite comparison with James Somerville, although he was less familiar with carrier command than Brown or Halsey.
Chapter · 55:39-58:53
Frank Jack Fletcher learns carrier warfare on the job
Kimmel regarded Fletcher as a first-choice task-force commander even though the surface officer had to learn carrier operations during the opening Pacific campaigns.