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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Wright AZ-1
Wright AV-1
San Clemente AG-79


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Defense Campaign Medal
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 under USSB contract (hull 680) at American International Shipbuilding Corp, Hog Island, PA
  • Named Wright, 20 April 1920
  • Launched, 28 April 1920
  • Fitted out by Tiejten and Lang Dry Dock Co., Hoboken NJ, 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
  • Reclassified Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG-79), 1 October 1944
  • Renamed USS San Clemente (AG-79), 1 February 1945
  • 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 for disposal, 21 September 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold by the Maritime Commission for scrapping, 19 August 1948
  • Wright (AV-1) earned two battle stars for her World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 11,500 t.(fl)
    Length 448'
    Beam 58'
    Draft 23' (mean)
    Speed 15 kts. (max.)
    Complement 228
    Armament
    two 5"/38 dual purpose gun mounts
    two 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    two machine guns Propulsion steam
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Wright (AZ-1)
    Wright 54k Wright (AZ-1), port broadside view, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo
    Submitted by Elaine C. Witty, Charpentier, photo from the collection of Gerald M. Charpentier
    Wright (AV-1)
    Wright 69k Wright (AV-1) transiting the Panama Canal, date unknown. .
    Wright 30k Wright (AV-1) underway, date and place unknown .
    Wright 30k Wright (AV-1) underway, date and place unknown .
    Wright 62k Wright (AV-1), starboard aerial view
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-463531, US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives
    Ray Meiser
    Langley" 71k Holland (AS-3) anchored in San Diego Bay, with Wright (AV-1) and 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 55k 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 Wright (AV-1) tending a seaplane at Guantanemo 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 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 Wright (AV-1) and 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 Wright (AV-1), at anchor, overhead view, date and place unknown. Bill Koonts AT2 VP56 1953-56
    Wright 60k Wright (AV-1) at anchor, date and place unknown.
    Photo by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    Courtesy James Card QMC USN.
    Wright 14k Wright (AV-1) at anchor, date and place unknown. Russ Padden
    Wright 37k Wright (AV-1) underway, circa 1937, place unknown. Robert Hurst
    Wright 91k Wright (AV-1) (aft plan view) in a San Francisco shipyard, while conducting inclining experiments, 13 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4348-43, 6/13/43
    Darryl Baker
    Wright 125k Wright (AV-1) (amidships plan view) at San Francisco shipyard, 13 June 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 4346-43, 6/13/43
    Darryl Baker
    Wright 124k Wright (AV-1) (aft plan view) at San Francisco shipyard, 8 July 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5000-43, 7/8/43
    Darryl Baker
    Wright 174k Wright (AV-1) (amidships looking aft plan view) at San Francisco shipyard, 8 July 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5001-43, 7/8/43
    Darryl Baker
    Wright 54k Wright (AV-1) (stern view) underway off Alameda CA, 13 July 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5117-43, 7/13/43
    Darryl Baker
    Wright 53k Wright (AV-1) (broadside view) underway off Alameda CA, 13 July 1943.
    Navy Yard Mare Island photo # 5119-43, 7/13/43
    Darryl Baker
    Wright / San Clemente (AG-79)
    Wright 319k 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
    Wright 50k San Clemente (AG-79) moored to a buoy at Shanghai, China, March 1946. Warren Walker, EM3/c USS San Clemente

    Additional photos taken by Albert Weigandt F1/c USS Wright 1936-38
    View the Wright (AV-1)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    USS Wright Alumni Association
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 23 June 2007