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Clifton Albert Frederick (Ziggy) Sprague (8 January 1896 - 11 April 1955) was born in Dorchester MA and graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1918. He served in the USS Wheeling (PG 14) and helped put USS Tennessee (BB 43) in commission before being designated a Naval Aviator in 1921. As an aviator he served in carriers Lexington, Saratoga, and Yorktown. At the outbreak of war he commanded USS Tangier (AV 8) at Pearl Harbor and later commanded the new Wasp (CV 18) guiding her during raids on Wake and Marcus Island and the campaigns for Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.
In August 1944 he commanded Carrier Division 25, later serving also as Commander of Task Unit 77.4.3 at the Battle Off Samar. His small force of six escort (or "Jeep") carriers, three destroyers, and three destroyer-escorts - known as "Taffy 3" - stood up against the might of the Japanese Fleet and saved the lives of thousands of sailors and soldiers on the beaches of Leyte Island. For his "aggressiveness and courage" during that battle he was awarded the Navy Cross. Following the war he commanded Joint Task Group 1.1.2 for the Pacific atomic bomb tests, Naval Air Basic and Advanced Training at Corpus Christi TX, Carrier Division 6, and was Commandant of the 17th Naval District and the Alaskan Sea Frontier. He retired from the Navy in 1951.
Vice Admiral Sprague died at his home in San Diego in 1955. FFG 16 was named in his honor. (photo from FFG 16 Commissioning Booklet) |
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17 November 1980: At sea - aerial starboard bow view of Clifton Sprague underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-10713 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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17 November 1980: At sea - aerial port view of Clifton Sprague underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-10714 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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17 November 1980: At sea - aerial starboard view of Clifton Sprague underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-10712 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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10 February 1981: Bath ME - Elevated bow view of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Flatley (FFG 21), right, at 90 percent completion. The USS Clifton Sprague is moored on the left. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04476 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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10 February 1981: Bath ME - Elevated stern view of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Flatley (FFG 21), left, at 90 percent completion. The USS Clifton Sprague is moored on the right. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04477 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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10 April 1981: At sea - Aerial port beam view of the guided missile frigate USS Clifton Sprague, which is being used as a target for F-105 Delta Dart aircraft, during exercise Gangbuster XI. (US Navy photo DVID #DF-ST-82-06880 by A1C Sheryl D. Barnett, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 September 1982: At sea - Aerial port beam view of Clifton Sprague underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-11540, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 September 1982: At sea - Aerial starboard beam view of Clifton Sprague underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-11541, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 September 1982: At sea - Aerial bow view of Clifton Sprague underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-11542, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 September 1982: At sea - Aerial port quarter view of Clifton Sprague underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-11543, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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5 May 1983: On the Kennebec River ME - An aerial starboard bow view of the Clifton Sprague underway during overhaul sea trials. The ship's deck are covered by a thin layer of snow. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-07310 by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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undated image, probably after she was transferred to New York City for duty as a reserve training ship |
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undated, US Navy photo |
Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr. |
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USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) refuels TCG Gaziantep (F 490) (x-USS Clifton Sprague FFG 16 ), a Turkish warship that participated with Patuxent in Exercise Phoenix Express 2007. (Photo by Gillian Brigham from Sealift, the Magazine of MSC) |
Bill Gonyo |
Clifton Sprague Memoribilia
|
Commissioning
Booklet
Centerfold
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski
| Welcome Aboard
Pamphlet (Circa 1982)
.gif)
Courtesy of
Robert M. Cieri
| Welcome Aboard
Pamphlet (Circa 1985)
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Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski
| Clifton Sprague
Cocktail Napkin
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski
| Christmas Card from
Sprague CO
Inside of Card
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski
| Ship's Lighter
Courtesy of
Mike Smolinski
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