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James Henry Flatley Jr. (1906 - 21 July 1958) was born in Green Bay WI, graduated the US Naval Academy with the class of 1929 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1931. Early aviation assignments were with patrol squadrons, but in December 1941 he was flying Brewster F2A's with VF-2. He participated in the Battle of Coral Sea as XO of VF-42, winning the Navy Cross for this action. He then returned to the USA to form VF-10, know as the "Grim Reapers" and becoming "Reaper Leader." There were successes at Guadalcanal, and then a tour as Commander Air Group Five (CAG-5) on board USS Yorktown (CV 10), during which he helped introduce Grumman’s F6F Hellcat to combat in August 1943. Flatley--with John S. Thach and Butch O'Hare--was instrumental in communicating tactical advice throughout naval aviation and changing the perception that the supposedly inferior F4F Wildcat fighter was actually superior to the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero when properly utilized. At age 36 Flatley never flew combat again, moving into a training / administrative role.
Flatley remained in the Navy after the war and became a key figure with the Navy's postwar air-training program. After commanding the carrier USS Block Island (CVE 106) for a year, Flatley became deeply involved with assessing Naval Aviation's disastrous safety record and ultimately helped develop the Naval Aviation Safety Center, today's Naval Safety Center. He next commanded Naval Air Station Norfolk VA, followed by the carrier USS Lake Champlain (CV 39). Flatley had a distinguished career in the Navy, finally rising to the rank of Vice Admiral. Vice Admiral Flatley died on 21 July 1958. FFG 21 was named in his honor. |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - The bow of the USS Flatley (FFG 21) towers over guest speaker Rear Admiral Kleber S. Masterson Jr., assistant deputy commander, Surface Warfare and Anti-air Warfare Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command, during the launching ceremony for the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04274 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - John F. Sullivan Jr., president of Bath Iron Works, speaks during the launching ceremony for the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate Flatley. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04280 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - Participants in the launching of Flatley are, left to right: Capt. C. L. Mull, S. Mull, G. Sullivan, John F. Sullivan Jr., President Bath Iron Works; N. Flatley, Dorothy Flatley, sponsor; Adm. G. Anderson Jr., Radm. Robert Carius, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Radm. Kleber Masterson Jr., Naval Sea Systems Command. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04275 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - Dorothy M. Flatley, sponsor, breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow of Flatley as John F. Sullivan, president of Bath Iron Works, looks on. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04278 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - Shipyard workers watch as Flatley slides down the ways at the conclusion of its launching ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04273 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - Dorothy M. Flatley, sponsor, left, John F. Sullivan Jr., president, Bath Iron Works, and Mrs. Nancy G. Flatley stand in front of the ways that Flatley recently slid down. The Flatley is in the background. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04276 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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15 May 1980: Bath ME - Tug boats maneuver Flatley into docking position immediately after its launching. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04272 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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17 November 1980: Bath ME - An elevated bow view of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Jack Williams (FFG 24), left, at 70 percent completion. To the right is Flatley under construction. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04545 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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17 November 1980: Bath ME - An elevated stern view of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Jack Williams (FFG 24), right, at 70 percent completion. Flatley is under construction at left. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04546 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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10 February 1981: Bath ME - Elevated bow view of Flatley, right, at 90 percent completion. The USS Clifton Sprague is moored on the left. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04476, photo by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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10 February 1981: Bath ME - Elevated stern view of Flatley, left, at 90 percent completion. The USS Clifton Sprague is moored on the right. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04477, photo by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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18 March 1981: Bath ME - An aerial port side view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04259 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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18 March 1981: Bath ME - An aerial starboard bow view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04264 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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18 March 1981: Bath ME - A starboard quarter view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04268 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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18 March 1981: Bath ME - An aerial port quarter view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04265 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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18 March 1981: Bath ME - A starboard bow view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04270 by Bath Iron Works, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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20 June 1981: Bath ME - The crew of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Flatley (FFG 21) stands in formation on the pier during its commissioning ceremony. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04488, photo by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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20 June 1981: Bath ME - The crew mans the rail as a guest speaker addresses the guests attending the commissioning ceremony . (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04489, photo by Bath Iron Works Corp., from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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undated, US Navy photo |
Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr. |
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11 August 1984: At sea - A RIM-66 Standard missile on a Mark 13 Mod 4 launcher aboard Flatley. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-03478 by PH1 Jeff Hilton, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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11 August 1984: At sea - The battleship USS Iowa (BB-61) refuels Flatley during an underway replenishment. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-02485 by PHAA David Carreras, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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11 August 1984: At sea - The battleship Iowa replenishes Flatley while underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-87-01865 by PHAA David Carreras, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 April 1985: At sea - An aerial port quarter view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68), foreground, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) underway. Flatley leads the way. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-01439 by PH3 Maxwell, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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1 April 1985: At sea - A port beam view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68), foreground, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) underway. Flatley leads the way. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-01440 by PH3 Maxwell, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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25 June 1990: Staten Island NY - Pennants and bunting decorate the guided missile frigate Flatley and the guided missile cruiser USS Dale (CG 19), docked at the pier during the New York Naval Station's opening day ceremonies. Aircraft fly in formation overhead in honor of the event. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10056 by PHC Ed Bailey, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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25 June 1990: Staten Island NY - Vadm Joseph S. Donnell III, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, other flag officers and distinguished guests listen from the speakers platform as Capt. Charles H. Gnerlich, Commander, Naval Station, New York, speaks during the station's opening day ceremonies. The Flatley and the guided missile cruiser USS Dale (CG 19), two of several ships in port during the event, are moored to the pier in the background. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10055 by PHC Ed Bailey, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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25 June 1990: Staten Island NY - Vadm Joseph S. Donnell III, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, other flag officers and distinguished guests honor the flag during the opening day ceremonies at the naval station. Flatley, one of several ships in port for the event, is moored in the background. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10047 by PHC Ed Bailey, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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25 June 1990: Staten Island NY - Flatley is moored at a pier on the New York Naval Station's opening day. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10041 by PHC Ed Bailey, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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4 January 1992: Mayport FL - The destroyer USS Spruance (DD 963), left, and Flatley lie tied up at the naval station. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04769 by OS2 John Bouvia, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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February 1996: Pascagoula MS - USS Antrim (FFG 20), USS Stephen Groves (FFG 29), and Flatley tied up at the Naval Station. (Photo taken by Doug Bremenkamp of Gulfport MS) |
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| The Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik (ex-Flatley) as seen during NATO's STANAVFORMED port visit to Barcelona, Spain on 10 February 2001. Inboard of Gemlik is the Spanish guided missile frigate Andalucia (F-72) and USS Deyo (DD 989) can be seen in the background. |
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| 5 June 2003: The Turkish frigate TCG <Gemlik (ex-Flatley) underway. She is following SPS Victoria (F82), a Spanish frigate based on the Oliver Hazard Perry class design. (Photo Courtesy of NATO) |
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