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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS LC(FF)-988
ex
USS LCI(L)-988 (1944)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Zulu - Alpha - Yankee
NZAY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (Iwo Jima) - China Service Medal (extended) - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp)


LCI-351 Class Landing Craft Infantry (Large):
  • Laid down, 31 March 1944, at Consolidated Steel Corp, Shipbuilding Div., Orange, TX.
  • Launched, 25 April 1944
  • Commissioned USS LCI(L)-988, 22 May 1944, LT. A.M. Shirey Jr., USNR in command (May 1945)
  • USS LCI(L)-988 was redesignated Landing Craft (Flotilla Flagship) LC(FF)-988, 31 December 1944
  • During World War II USS LC(FF)-988 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater:
    LCS Flotilla Three, (flagship) CAPT. Theodore C. Aylward, USN
    LCS Group Seven and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Iwo Jima operation
    Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, 19 to 26 February 1945
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 25 March to 30 June 1945

  • LC(FF)s were reorganized into a separate Flotilla sometime in 1945 with USS LC(FF)-988 being assigned to:
    LC(FF) Flotilla Twenty Three, LCDR. R. H. Brazeal USN;
    LC(FF) Group Sixty-Nine, LT. T.T. Brooks USN;
    LC(FF) Div One Hundred Thirty-Eight

  • Following World War II USS LC(FF)-988 was assigned to Occupation and China Service in the Far East for the following periods:

    Navy Occupation Service Medal

    China Service Medal (extended)
    2 September to 7 December 19458 to 10 December 1945
  • Decommissioned, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold, 28 December 1946
  • USS LC(FF)-988 earned two battle stars for World War II service
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 246 t.(light), 264 t. (landing), 419 t.(loaded)
    Length 158' 5½"
    Beam 23' 3"
    Draft
    Light 3' 1½" mean,
    Landing, 2' 8" forward, 4' 10" aft
    Loaded, 5' 4" forward, 5' 11" aft
    Speed 16 kts (max.), 14 kts maximum continuous
    Complement
    4 Officers
    24 Enlisted
    Troop Capacity
    6 Officers
    182 Enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 75 tons
    Armor 2" plastic splinter protection on gun turrets, conning tower and pilot house
    Endurance 4,000 miles at 12 kts, loaded, 500 miles at 15 kts; and 110 tons of fuel
    Armament
    five single 20mm guns, one bow mounted, one each port and starboard forward of wheelhouse, one each port and starboard aft of wheelhouse
    on some LCIs two .50 cal machine guns were added
    Fuel Capacity 130 tons, lube oil 200 gal.
    Propulsion
    two sets of 4 GM Diesels, 4 per shaft, BHP 1,600
    twin variable pitch propellers

    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    LCI(L)-988 326k USS LC(FF)-988, flagship of Gunboat Support Group 52.5, 12-18 January, near Maui, Hawaiian Islands during a rehearsal for the Iwo Jima invasion which took place in February 1945.
    Photo from USS LCI National Associations newsletter, "Elsie Item", September 2017 issue.
    Ardie Hunt
    LCI(L)-988 185k USS LC(FF)-988 grounded in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, after Typhoon Louise passed over in October 1945. Scott Madole
    LCI(L)-988 279k
    LCI(L)-988 250k
    LCI(L)-988 216k LCS Flotilla Three officers in their wardroom aboard USS LC(FF)-988, Thanksgiving Day, 1945. LT. Raymond C. Madole is on the left. Scott Madole
    LCI(L)-988 27k USS LC(FF)-988 at anchored at Aomori Wan, Japan while serving as flagship for LCS Flotilla 3. She is with USS LCS(L)(3)-36 and USS LCS(L)(3)-35 (cropped from photo). Source - Diary entry of Clarence Libby USS LCS(L)(3)-36 contributed by Kevin Libby "arrived at Hokido this morning early, came through mine fields and channel last night and early this morning. Hokido is about 550 miles from Yokohama. We are to make landings here for occupation when we left Yokohama for this place we were joined by another group, making a total force of 21 L.C.S.’s and three L.C.I.’s, L.C.S.’s are NO. 11, 12, 13, 14,16,17,18,19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 38, 39, 40, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113,. L.C.I’s are 485, 536, 988." September 27th diary entry indicated LCS(L)(3)-36 anchored in Aomori Wan harbor.
    Photo courtesy on behalf of Mrs. Francis M. Zachara.
    Michael Hollis
    LCI(L)-988 304k USS LC(FF)-988 crewmen trying their hand at fishing, late 1945. From left: Chief Radar Tech. WM. H. Bell, Ensign J.W. Fanz, Chief Signalman J.J. Hrazdil, and Ship's cook W.H. Porter, holding mascot dog Trixie.
    Photo from the November 2016 issue of the USS LCI National Association's newsletter "Elsie Item".
    Ardie Hunt

    The history for LCI(L)-988 / LC(FF)-988 is from USS LCI "Landing Craft Infantry", Vol. II. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, © 1995. (ISBN 1-56311-262-0)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Landing Craft Infantry National Association
    Thanksgiving Day 1945 Menu
    LCS Flotilla Three Chief Operations and Gunnery Officer, Lt. Raymond C. Madole, summary of service.
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) Photo Index
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    This page is created by David W. Almond and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 13 September 2019