How the American Fleet Came to Be Permanently Based in Hawaii
ADMIRAL JAMES O. RICHARDSON, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, U.S. FLEET (1940) Joint Congressional Investigation
[254] From 1936 to 1937 I commanded the destroyers of the scouting force. From 1937 to 1938 I was the Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, during which period the China incident started and during which period the attack on the Panay occurred.
From 1938 to 1939 I was the Chief of what was then called the Bureau of Navigation, now known as the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
From 1939, the summer, until 1940 I was commander of the battle force. From 1940 to 1941 I was commander in chief of the United States Fleet. At that time the United States Fleet comprised all combatant ships in commission that were not assigned to the Asiatic Fleet or not operating directly under the Chief of Naval Operations.
I reported for duty as commander of battle force on June 24, 1939. On January 6, 1940, I relieved Admiral Claude C. Bloch as commander in chief of United States Fleet. On the 5th of January 1941 I received a secret dispatch in a code held only by the Chief of Naval Operations and myself informing me that I would be detached on the 1st of February.
On February 1, 1941, I was relieved by Admiral Husband E. Kimmel. At that time the fleet was reorganized, and Admiral Kimmel became commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet and another officer became commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet.
I departed from Honolulu on February 14, 1941, and on March 25, 1941, I reported for duty as a member of the General Board.
MR. MITCHELL. At that time when you were commander of the United States Fleet was there a separate command known as the commander of the Pacific Fleet?
ADMIRAL RICHARDSON. There was not.
Source: Pearl Harbor Attack, volume 1.