Ships
- USS Lexington (CV-2) Captain from 13 April 1937 · Relieved on 18 June 1938
Leigh Noyes was born on 15 December 1885 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1906. In World War I he was flag secretary and fleet communication officer of the Atlantic Fleet and won the Navy Cross. Russia awarded him the Order of Saint Stanislaus, 3rd Class, for rescuing Russian refugees from a sinking boat in the Black Sea.
In 1934 he commanded the cruiser Richmond. In 1937 he completed flight training and took command of Lexington, then became chief of staff to Aircraft, Battle Force. In 1939, as a rear admiral, he became Director of Naval Communications in Washington. After Pearl Harbor he was accused of failing to pass along the "bomb plot" intercept of 9 October 1941, which showed the Japanese consulate in Honolulu reporting ship berths in the harbor.
In March 1942 he went to Hawaii as Halsey's shore administrator. When Halsey fell ill before Midway, Noyes was expected to take his place, but Halsey recommended Spruance instead. In June 1942 Noyes took Task Force 18, with his flag in Wasp, and covered the Guadalcanal landings in August. His force was away refueling during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. When a Japanese submarine sank Wasp on 14 September 1942, he was criticized for the course that exposed her. After a brief tour commanding Naval Air Force, Pacific Fleet, he never again held a sea command.
From 1945 to 1946 he was president of the Board of Inspection and Survey. He retired in 1946, was advanced to vice admiral on the retired list in 1950, and died on 24 March 1961. No reliable source found on his birthplace or early life.