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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS San Clemente (AG-79)
ex
USS Wright (AV-1) (1926 - 1945)
USS Wright (AZ-1) (1921 - 1926)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - India - Romeo - November
NIRN
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet clasp)
Second Row - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal


Wright Class Aircraft Tender:
  • Laid down in 1920 under USSB contract (hull 680) as a Hog Island type "B" cargo vessel at American International Shipbuilding Corp, Hog Island, PA., for $1,885,411.52, as SS Skaneateles
  • Re-named Wright, 20 April 1920
  • Launched, 28 April 1920
  • Fitted out by Tiejten and Lang Dry Dock Co., Hoboken N.J., as a Lighter-than-Air Aircraft Tender
  • Commissioned USS Wright (AZ-1), 16 December 1921, CAPT. Alfred W. Johnson, in command
  • Reclassified Heavier-than-Air Aircraft Tender (AV-1), 2 December 1926
  • During World War II USS Wright was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Treasury-Bougainville operation
    Supporting air actions, 27 October 1943 to 1 May 1944
    Western New Guinea operations
    22 June to 16 July 1944

  • Reclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG-79), 1 October 1944
  • Renamed USS San Clemente (AG-79), 1 February 1945
  • Following World War II USS San Clemente was assigned to Occupation duty and China service for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal

    China Service Medal (extended)
    11 to 12 April 19466 January to 8 April 1946

  • Decommissioned, 21 June 1946, at New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1946
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 12 September 1946, Hudson River Group, Jones Point, N.Y.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 20 July 1948, to Patapsco Scrap Corp. along with USS Melville (AD-2) and USS Wassuc (CMc-3), contract PDX-452, for $332,124.00
  • USS Wright (AV-1) earned two battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 12,142 t.(fl)
    Length 448'
    Beam 58' 3"
    Draft 23' (mean)
    Speed 15 kts. (max.)
    San Clemente Complement includes Troops
    Officers - 156
    Enlisted - 683
    Largest Boom Capacity 20 t.
    San Clemente Armament
    six single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    one twin 40mm AA gun mount
    two machine guns
    Fuel Capacities
    NSFO - 7,400 Bbls
    Diesel - 1,470 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one General Electric turbine
    six Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 200psi sat
    double General Electric Main Reduction Gear
    three turbo-drive Ship's Service Generators, 200Kw 120V D.C.
    single propeller, 3,000shp

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    USS Wright (AZ-1)
    Wright 73k
    Namesake

    Orville Wright was born on August 19 , 1871 on 7 Hawthorn Street in Dayton, Ohio. He was the fourth child of Bishop Milton Wright and Susan Catharine Wright. Orville grew up in an atmosphere that was loving, and that nurtured all types of expression. The two libraries in the Wright house were especially encouraging of academic pursuits. Orville was the more mischievous of the two brothers, had a healthy childhood, and wasn't inclined to excessive study. He was also "a champion bicyclist and so the brothers went into the bicycle business, which gave full vent to their mechanical aptitude." His adventurous nature and drive to succeed combined with his brother Wilbur's research skills to achieve what is considered by many to be the greatest, most influential accomplishment of the 20th century. Their feat changed the way we live our lives, the way we see the world and "revolutionized both peace and war." Following Wilbur's death in 1912, Orville carried their legacy alone towards an exciting future. However, the hot new arena of aviation business proved volatile, and Orville sold the Wright company in 1916. He also stayed active in the public eye, promoting aeronautics, inventing, and the historic first flight that he made. April 29, 1936: Orville Wright was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences. January 30 1948: Orville Wright died in Dayton, Ohio, at the age of 76, thus ending his 28 years as a member of the NACA. NASA was created from NACA 10 years after Orville's death. In his lifetime, the speed of the airplane had been increased from 0 mph to almost 1,000 mph. Digital ID: ppmsc 06102 Source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
    Bill Gonyo
    Wright 104k USS Wright (AZ-1) probably shown arriving on 31 October 1920 under tow at her conversion shipyard in Hoboken, N.J., from her builder's yard at Hog Island, Pa. She grounded in attempting to enter her slip (possibly shown here) and was floated and tied up temporarily to other vessels. She is a standard Hog Island Type B transport (EFC Design 1024) with many items in the after part of the ship, including both goalpost masts, not installed. Photographed by Todd Shipyards Corp., owner of the Hoboken yard.
    US National Archives RG-19-LCM. 80-G-1017222 or 19-N-7909 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Wright
    09410154
    60k Panorama view of U.S. Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA., looking out into the Delaware River, circa 1921. Visible ships include (left to right):
    Lighter-than-Air Aircraft Tender USS Wright (AZ-1);
    Submarine Tender USS Fulton (AS-1);
    Collier USS Saturn (AG-4);
    Cargo Ship USS Gold Star (AK-12);
    Oiler USS Kaweah (AO-15);
    Stores Ship USS Yukon (AF-9)
    and the Destroyer Tender USS Dobbin (AD-3).
    U.S Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # S-574-I
    Robert Hurst
    Wright 185k USS Wright (AZ-1) in drydock in January 1922 at New York Navy Yard after conversion to a heavier-than-air aircraft tender. The sides of the kite balloon well are clearly visible below the balloon platform, which covers the entire after portion of the ship. The 100-foot long well is covered with pieces of canvas. The ship's armament, which included two 5"/51 guns on the stern under the balloon platform, has not yet been mounted.
    US National Archives, RG-19-N box 1, Photo # 19-N-7882 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Wright 184k USS Wright (AZ-1) in drydock in January 1922 at New York Navy Yard after conversion to a heavier-than-air aircraft tender. The superstructure was modified and the forward well filled in to allow the ship to tend seaplanes as well as kite balloons. Note the Williamsburg Bridge is in the background.
    US National Archives, RG-19-N box 1, Photo # 19-N-7883 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    Wright
    09410150
    235k Lowering a kite balloon into USS Wright (AZ-1) balloon well after a flight. The empty observers' basket is already near the bottom of the well and numerous crewmen are manning lines to guide the balloon into the well.
    Photo # None. Courtesy of Shipscribe
    Robert Hurst
    Wright 54k USS Wright (AZ-1), port broadside view, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Submitted by Elaine C. Witty, Charpentier, photo from the collection of Gerald M. Charpentier
    Wright 18k USS Wright (AZ-1) passing through Gatun Locks in the Panama Canal, circa 1923.
    US navy photo.
    Tommy Trampp
    Wright 54k USS Wright (AZ-1) with USS Sandpiper (AM-51) alongside at the time of Fleet Problem I in the Panama area circa February 1923. The photo was probably taken from one of Wright's F5L seaplanes and shows another F5L anchored in the distance. Wright no longer operated kite balloons but was still classified AZ-1 and retained her balloon platform and well aft. Sandpiper was one of three minesweepers assigned in 1919 to duty supporting aviation; she and eight sisters were reclassified to small seaplane tenders (AVP-1 class, q.v.) in 1936.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo # NH 100449, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green
    USS Wright (AV-1)
    Wright
    09410151
    112k USS Wright (AZ-1 or AV-1) in her original configuration as a lighter-than-air aircraft tender (AZ), although by the time this photograph was taken (circa 1923-1925) she may have been reclassified as a heavier-than-air aircraft tender (AV). The raised balloon platform covers the entire after third of the ship.
    U.S. National Archives, RG-19-N box 1. Photo # 19-N-11829.
    Robert Hurst
    Wright 30k USS Wright (AV-1) underway, date and location unknown  
    Wright 87k USS Wright (AV-1) moored, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.
    Jim Kurrasch
    Battleship Iowa Pacific Battleship Center
    Wright 56k USS Wright (AV-1) bow and stern photos of USS Wright (AV-1) moored, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    Wright 52k
    Wright 204k USS Wright (AV-1) arriving at Boston, 22 December 1927, with pontoons to assist in raising USS S-4 (SS-109) Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection
    Wright
    09410152
    82k USS Wright (AV-1) taken in February 1926, very soon after completion of her conversion from a lighter-than-air aircraft tender (AZ) to a heavier-than-air aircraft tender (AV). The balloon well and nearly all of the balloon platform have been removed, leaving the ship with clear deck space both fore and aft for tending seaplanes. The surviving bit of the balloon platform probably held the winches for the kingposts just aft of the superstructure.
    U.S. National Archives, RG-19-N box 1. Photo # No. 19-N-11827.
    Robert Hurst
    Wright 255k LCDR Charles Graham McCord, USN, USS Wright (AV-1), February 12, 1928. LCDR McCord was first an engineer and then Air Exec. Art Kaufmann for his grandfather LCDR Charles Graham McCord.
    Wright 30k USS Wright (AV-1) underway, date and location unknown  
    Wright 62k USS Wright (AV-1), starboard aerial view
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-463531, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    Ray Meiser
    Langley" 71k USS Holland (AS-3) anchored in San Diego Bay, with USS Wright (AV-1) and USS Langley (CV-1) moored pierside at NAS North Island in the background, circa 1931-32.
    Photo by Teddy Krueger, USS Holland.
    Rick Larson, MMCM(SS) Ret.
    Wright 209k USS Wright (AV-1) transiting the Panama Canal circa 1930s. Note the two seaplanes on deck on the stern.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # None, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Robert Hurst
    Wright
    09410133
    185k USS Wright (AV-1) underway, 5 February 1930, location unknown.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-466339, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    Rick Davis
    Wright 175k USS Nautilus (SS-168), USS Langley (CV-1) and USS Wright (AV-1) at Pearl Harbor, circa 1934.
    US Navy photo, courtesy PigBoats.com
    Ric Hedman
    Wright
    09410146
    163k USS Wright (AV-1) underway at Pearl Harbor, 10 February 1934.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-410353 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    Wright
    09410147
    161k USS Wright (AV-1) underway in the Hawaiian Islands, 26 February 1934.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-452858 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    Wright
    09410148
    190k USS Wright (AV-1) underway off Maui, Territory of Hawaii, circa 1933 - 1939.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-452858 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    Wright 55k USS Wright (AV-1) anchored at Sitka, AK., circa 26 July to 5 August 1936. Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    Courtesy James Card QMC USN
    Wright 58k USS Wright (AV-1) tending a seaplane at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa 5 February to 23 February 1937. Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    Courtesy James Card QMC USN
    Wright 67k USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, circa 1936 to 1938. James D. Card QMC for his Grandfather Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    Wright 33k USS Wright (AV-1) and USS Ranger (CV-4) moored at NAS North Island in San Diego bay, circa 1936-38. Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    Courtesy James Card QMC USN.
    Wright 36k USS Wright (AV-1), at anchor, overhead view, date and location unknown. Bill Koonts AT2 VP56 1953-56
    Wright 60k USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, date and location unknown.
    Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    Courtesy James Card QMC USN.
    Wright 14k USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, date and location unknown. Russ Padden
    Wright 37k USS Wright (AV-1) underway, circa 1937, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Wright 574k USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, 15 April 1939 in Narragansett Bay.
    Photo Caption reads;
    "WAITS WAR GAMES
    THE AIRCRAFT TENDER U.S.S. WRIGHT AT ANCHOR APRIL 15 IN NARRAGANSETT BAY OFF THE RHODE ISLAND COAST WHERE PLANES OF THE ARMY AND SHIPS AND PLANES OF THE NAVY AND THE COAST GUARD WILL COOPERATE NEXT WEEK.TO "DEFEND" THE INDUSTRIAL EAST FROM A THEORETICAL ATTACK."
    ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
    4-15-39 11:30PES LKM JO.
    From the Michael Strout collection of AP photos, courtesy Jonathan Eno
    Wright 128k USS Wright (AV-1) at anchor, probably at Pearl Harbor in early 1942. She has received two additional 3"/50 anti-aircraft guns (for a total of four) forward plus some 20mm guns.
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-28172, a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Robert Hurst
    Wright
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4348-43, 6/13/43
    91k USS Wright (AV-1) at Moore Dry Dock Co., Oakland, CA., while conducting inclining experiments, 13 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4348-43, 6/13/43 (aft plan view)
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4346-43, 6/13/43 (amidships plan view)
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5000-43, 6/13/43 (aft plan view)
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5001-43, 6/13/43 (amidships plan view)
    Darryl Baker
    Wright
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4346-43, 6/13/43
    125k
    Wright
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5000-43, 6/13/43
    124k
    Wright
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5001-43, 6/13/43
    174k
    Wright
    88k USS Wright (AV-1) off Alameda, Calif., 13 July 1943, after receiving wartime alterations at Moore Drydock Co., Oakland, CA. She departed Moore Drydock Co., 11 July 1943. Alterations included the addition of two 1.1" quad mounts, one fore and one aft, and a lattice radar mast.
    1-U.S. National Archives, photo # 19-N-48392 a US Navy Bureau of Ships photo now in the collections of the US National Archives, courtesy Shipscribe.com,
    2-Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 6/13/43 and
    3-U.S. Naval Bureau of Ships photo from RG 19-N now in the collections of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, Vallejo, CA.
    1-Robert Hurst
    2 & 3 Darryl Baker
    Wright
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 6/13/43
    54k
    Wright
    09410153
    213k
    Wright
    09410149
    272k USS Wright (AV-1) moored to a buoy at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Island, 1 September 1943.
    US National Archives Photo # 80-G-58910 a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Rick Davis
    USS Wright (AG-79)
    Wright 319k USS Wright (AG-79) crew photo, date unknown. Photo is believed to have been taken prior to name change to San Clemente (AG-79). Ray Meiser contributed this photo. His father, Gaelen George Meiser, was a crew member in Wright at the time of the name change
    USS San Clemente (AG-79)
    Wright 50k USS San Clemente (AG-79) moored to a buoy at Shanghai, China, March 1946. Warren Walker, EM3/c USS San Clemente
    Wright 111k USS San Clemente (AG-79) at San Francisco in May 1946 during a brief stop there enroute the East Coast for inactivation. She has acquired a new deckhouse, probably for use by the embarked staff, on the former seaplane maintenance area aft.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, photo # NH 77382, courtesy Shipscribe.com.
    Mike Green


    For more photos and information about USS Wright, see;
  • MARAD Vessel History Database
  • Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
  • US Navy Patrol Squadrons - USS Wright (AV-1)
  • Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38 Photo Collection

  • Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. Johnson, Alfred Wilkinson :VADM16 December 1921 - 1922
    02CDR. Leahy, Lamar Richard :RADM3 May 1923 - ?
    03CAPT. Babcock, John Vincent10 June 1925 - ?
    04CAPT. Horne, Frederick Joseph :ADM3 January 1927 - 6 June 1927
    05CAPT. King, Ernest Joseph :FADM28 June 1927 - 1 June 1928
    06CAPT. McWhorter, Ernest Doyle1 June 1928 - 8 June 1929
    07CAPT. Zogbaun Jr., Rufus Fairchild8 June 1929 - 24 May 1930
    08CAPT. Fitch, Aubrey Wray (Jake) :ADM24 May 1930 - July 1931
    09CAPT. Bellinger, Patrick Nieson Lynch :VADM7 July 1931 - 26 June 1932
    10CAPT. White Jr., Newton Harris26 June 1932 - ?
    11CAPT. Read, Albert Cushing7 June 1934 - ?
    12CDR. Gunther, Ernest Ludoph :RADMMay 1936 - May 1937
    13CAPT. Mitscher, Marc Andrew (Pete), :ADM29 May 1937 - ?
    14CDR. Shoemaker, James Marshall :VADM19 March 1939 - 1 July 1939
    15CAPT. Harrill, William Keene (Keen) :VADM1 July 1939 - 28 June 1940
    16CDR. Durgin, Calvin Thornton :VADM28 June 1940 - 2 July 1941
    17CDR. Wieber, Carlos Wilhelm, USN (USNA 1918) :RADM2 July 1941 - 21 April 1942
    18CDR. Greer, Marshall Raymond21 April 1942 - 4 September 1942
    19LCDR. Frisco, Leonard4 September 1942 - 22 September 1942
    20CDR. Smith, Frank Carlin22 September 1942 - 9 March 1943
    21CDR. Sutton Jr., Frank Carlin, USN (USNA 1922)9 March 1943 - 28 December 1943
    22CDR. Baker, James Ellis S., USN (USNA 1922)28 December 1943 - 16 October 1944
    23CAPT. Powers, Frederick Dodge16 October 1944 - 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    Last Updated 2 February 2024