This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
Sprague, Thomas Lamison, VADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Last Address Lima, Ohio
Date of Passing Sep 17, 1972
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I created this profile of Vice Admiral Sprague as part of my research of the Battle Off Samar. Sprague was the Commander of the American Task Group 77.4 and Task Unit 77.4.1 (Taffy I). The little escort carriers (CVEs) he commanded were an intergal part of winning the war in the Pacific.
Please visit my Battle Off Samar famous Naval officer profiles:
Thomas Lamison Sprague was born on October 2, 1894 in Lima, Ohio.
Graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1917 (although no relation to Admiral Clifton "Ziggy" Sprague, the two both attended Annapolis later graduating from the same class).
Serving aboard the USS Cleveland (C-19) assigned to the trans-Atlantic convoy from June 1917 until April 1918 and, after serving on shore duty for a brief period, Sprague assisted in the official commission of the USS Montgomery (DD-121) in July. As a member of the ship's anti-submarine patrol, Sprague would eventually come to command the destroyer from January to November 1920.
After participating in naval flight training at Pensacola Naval Air Station (NAS), Sprague served as a staff officer under Pacific Air commander Admiral H.V. Butler from 1921 to 1923.
In 1926, Sprague was transferred to the USS Maryland (BB-46) serving with Observation Squadron 1 for two years before being stationed at the San Diego Naval Air Station in 1928.
Between 1931 and 1936, Sprague served as commander of Scouting Squadron 6, director of the Philadelphia naval aircraft factory aeronautical engine lab, and air officer onboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) before being reassigned as to Pensacola as superintendent of Naval Air Training from 1937 to 1940.
Serving as executive officer onboard the USS Ranger (CV-4) on neutrality patrol in the Atlantic for a year, Sprague helped commission the escort carrier USS Charger (AVG-30) and commanded the vessel during training missions in the Chesapeake from February to December 1942.
After serving staff duty from January to June 1943, Sprague commissioned the USS Intrepid (CV-11) in August, and commanded the aircraft carrier in raids against the Truk and Marshall Islands during the first two months of 1944.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in June 1944, Sprague commanded carrier Division 22 which covered the assault on Guam from July-August and Morotai in September.
In command of Task Group 77.4 ("Taffy 1") during the Battle of Leyte Gulf from October 24-25 1944.
Briefly commanded Pacific training carriers under Carrier Division 11, before leading Carrier Division 3 off Okinawa from April-June 1945.
Commanding task Force 38.1 during the final air operations against Japan by the war's end.
Chief of the Bureau of Naval Personnel in 1946 serving until his promotion to Vice Admiral in August 1949.
Appointed commander of the Pacific Fleet Air Force in October, Sprague would hold this post until his retirement in April 1952.
Briefly returned to active duty to negotiate with the Philippine government over the status of U.S. air bases in 1956.
Died on September 17, 1972.
1941-1942, 132X, USS Charger (CVE-30)
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Other Memories Sprague helped commission the escort carrier USS Charger (CVE-30) and commanded the vessel during training missions in the Chesapeake from February to December 1942.
The USS Charger (CVE-30) (originally AVG-4, then AVG-30, then later ACV-30) was launched 1 March 1941 by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Chester, Pennsylvania; as Rio de la Plata; sponsored by Mrs. F. Espil; commissioned as HMS Charger (D27), Captain George Abel-Smith, RN, in command; transferred to the U.S. Navy 4 October 1941, reclassified AVG-30, 24 January 1942; commissioned 3 March 1942, Captain T. L. Sprague in command; and reported to the Atlantic Fleet.
Listed by the US Navy as the sole ship of the 'Charger Type of 1942 (Class)', it actually had several sister ships in the HMS Avenger, HMS Biter, and HMS Dasher, all with similar construction histories and transferred to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease.
Charger's area of operations throughout the war was Chesapeake Bay, and her duty the basic task of training pilots and ships' crews in carrier operations. Men trained on her decks played an important role in the successful contest for the Atlantic with hostile submarines carried out by the escort carrier groups. Reclassified ACV-30 on 20 August 1942, and CVE-30 on 15 July 1943, Charger left Chesapeake Bay for two ferry voyages, one to Bermuda in October 1942, and one to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in September 1945.
Charger was decommissioned at New York 15 March 1946, and sold into merchant service 30 January 1947 as Fairsea. The ship was disabled by an engine fire 29 January 1969 and due to a lack of spare parts was sold for scrap in Italy in 1969.
