Richardson served with the Scouting Force, assisted CNO William Leahy, helped coordinate the Washington side of the Amelia Earhart search, and handled fallout from the USS Panay incident. With Major General Stanley Embick, he compiled the updated War Plan Orange for a conflict with Japan. The plan was presented as the Navy's fullest and most current prewar study of that conflict. His strategic reputation and expertise on Japan then made him commander of the Battle Force and, in January 1940, commander-in-chief of the United States Fleet.
Chapter · 40:03-44:31
War Plan Orange and command of the United States Fleet
Senior staff and fleet assignments culminated in Richardson's 1938-39 revision of War Plan Orange and appointment as the Navy's leading seagoing commander.