This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
Sprague, Clifton Albert F (Ziggy), VADM USN(Ret).
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Dorchester, MA
Last Address San Diego, CA
Date of Passing Apr 11, 1955
Location of Interment Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
Notable career events:
- Entered the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1914 and graduated one year early on June, 28, 1917 in response to World War 1.
- Nicknamed "Ziggy" at the USNA.
- Served in the Atlantic on the Gun Boat Wheeling during World War 1 employed on combat patrol and escort duties in the Azores and Gibraltar areas.
- Was designated as one of the Navy's first 300 Flight Officers in August 1921.
- Credited with assisting inventor Carl Norden with improvements to aircraft carrier arresting gear on Lexington and Saratoga in the late 1920s.
- Was the first U.S. Navy Pilot to fly a non-stop round trip flight from Hawaii to Midway Island in February 1934.
- Was CO of Sea Plane Tender Tangier during the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941.
- Commanded the fast carrier Wasp in 1943 and 1944.
- Promoted to Rear Admiral in July 1944.
- His Task Unit 77.4.3 fought off the superior Japanese Centre Force at Leyte Gulf (Battle Off Samar) on October 25, 1944.
- Served as Commander of Carrier Division 26 at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
- Commanded Carrier Division 2, embarked on USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) which operated against the Japanese home islands of Kyushu, Honshu, and Hokkaido in the summer of 1945.
- Was Commander, Navy Air Group for Operation Crossroads nuclear tests in July 1946.
- In November 1950, was the first U.S. Navy Admiral to fly over the North Pole.
- The guided missile frigate USS Clifton Sprague (FFG-16) commissioned March 21, 1981.
- Inducted into the Carrier Aviation Hall of Fame in 1985.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: Task Unit 77.4.3
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 0193 (January 19, 1945)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Rear Admiral Clifton Albert F. Sprague, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commander, Task Unit SEVENTY-SEVEN POINT FOUR POINT THREE (TU-77.4.3), consisting of six escort carriers and aboard the U.S.S. FANSHAW BAY (CVE-70), in action against the enemy from 18 through 25 October 1944. Rear Admiral Sprague furnished air support to amphibious attack groups landing troops on the shores of Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands. On 25 October 1944, this Task Unit was taken under fire by a strong enemy force consisting of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, and was under air attack from Japanese suicide dive bombers. In the face of overwhelming enemy fire power and speed he repeatedly launched aircraft against the enemy Fleet, directed torpedo attacks by the screen, and so skillfully maneuvered his force that only two of his carriers were lost. His stubborn defense and damage inflicted on the enemy ships by ships and aircraft of his command was a major factor contributing to the Japanese decision to retire from the Battle of Samar Island. Admiral Sprague's personal courage and determination in the face of overwhelming enemy surface gunfire and air attack were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The following DECLASSIFIED naval message was sent by VADM T. C. Kinkaid, CTF 77, two days after Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.3 participated in the Battle Off Samar.
TOP SECRET (DECLASSIFIED)
FROM CTF 77 FOR ACTION COMINCH INFORMATION CINCSWPA CINCPOA COM 3RD FLEET COMAIRPAC COMDESPAC
DATE 27 OCTOBER 1944 PRECEDENCE OP PRIORITY
PAGE 1 OF 5
TOP SECRET. CTF 77 SENDS ACTION COMINCH INFO CINCSWPA CINCPOA COM 3RD FLEET COMAIRPAC COMDESPAC COM 7TH FLEET.
WITH THE DEEPEST REGRET I REPORT THE LOSS OF 2 CVE'S 2 DD'S AND 1 DE PLUS DAMAGE TO OTHER SHIPS IN A BATTLE FOUGHT TO THE EASTWARD OF SAMAR ON 25 OCTOBER BETWEEN ENEMY AIR AND SURFACE FORCES AND A GROUP OF 16 CVE'S PLUS DD AND DE ESCORTS. THIS GROUP WITH SUPERB DETERMINATION AND SKILL FOUGHT AND DEFEATED A STRONG ENEMY SURFACE FORCE SUPPORTED BY REPEATED ATTACKS BY SHORE BASED ENEMY AIRCRAFT. THEY STRUCK REPEATEDLY WITH ALL MEANS AT THEIR DISPOSAL UNTIL THE ENEMY RETIRED DEFEATED AND CONTINUED TO STRIKE HIS RETREATING FORCES UNTIL DARKNESS. THE REPORT OF THE VALLIANT COMMANDER AND THIS GALLANT GROUP REAR ADMIRAL T L SPRAGUE IS TRANSMITTED HEREWITH.
"CTG 77.4 DISPATCHED 252000. AS A RESULT OF TODAY'S SURFACE AND AIR ACTION CTU 77.4.3 REPORTS SAINT LO (FORMER MIDWAY) HIT BY DIVE BOMBER
PAGE 2 OF 5
FOLLOWED BY HEAVY EXPLOSIONS WHICH DESTROYED SHIP. GAMBIER BAY JOHNSTON AND ROBERTS MISSING SINCE BOMBARDMENT BY STRONG ENEMY FORCE BELIEVED TO CONTAIN 4 BB 8 CA AND CL 7 OR MORE DD ALL VERY FAST. ALL CARRIER GROUPS WERE UNDER ATTACK THROUGHOUT THE DAY. SANTEE RECEIVED TORPEDO HIT AND SUICIDE CRASH ON DECK WHICH STARTED LARGE FIRE. SUWANNEE RECEIVED SUICIDE CRASH WHICH STARTED LARGE FIRE AND PENETRATED BOTH FLIGHT AND HANGAR DECK. SANGAMON HAD A SUICIDE CRASH ALONGSIDE WITH BOMB WHICH PUNCTURED SIDE IN MANY PLACES. FIRES AND DAMAGE WERE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL AND ALL VESSELS CONTINUED TO LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST THE ENEMY FORCE TILL SUNDOWN. VESSELS OF TASK UNIT 77.4.2 WERE UNHIT UP TO LATE AFTERNOON AND THIS GROUP LAUNCHED A TOTAL OF 6 HEAVY STRIKES ARMED WITH TORPEDOES AND HEAVY BOMBS. NORTHERN GROUP TU 77.4.3 WAS UNDER MORE OR LESS CONTINUOUS FIRE OF ENEMY BATTLESHIPS CRUISERS AND AIRCRAFT THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
PAGE 3 OF 5
ALL SURVIVING CARRIERS WERE DAMAGED. WHITE PLAINS FANSHAW BAY AND KITKUN BAY GOT FIRES AND OTHER DAMAGE UNDER CONTROL AND CONTINUED TO LAUNCH ATTACKS UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY. LAST STRIKES FROM ALL SHIPS WERE OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS AND MANY LANDED ON LEYTE. DAMAGE TO ENEMY CANNOT BE ASSESSED AT PRESENT BUT KNOWN DAMAGE INCLUDES 4 TORPEDOES IN BB AND NATORI CLASS CRUISER STOPPED AND SET AFIRE IN MINDANO SEA. OFF SAMAR AT LEAST 2 BB WERE HIT BY TORPEDOES AND 1 CA STOPPED DEAD. DD AND DE OF SCREEN TU 77.4.3 MADE A GALLANT HEADON ATTACK WITH GUNS AND TORPEDOES WHEN THE CARRIERS WERE BROUGHT UNDER FIRE BY THE ENEMY BB. CASUALTIES OF SUNK AND MISSING SHIPS CANNOT BE ESTIMATED. THERE WERE 40 DEAD AND 40 CRITICALLY WOUNDED ON SANTEE. 1 DEAD ON SANGAMON. 1 DEAD ON ROWELL. REPORTS FROM OTHER TASK UNITS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. RICHARD S BULL AND EVERSOLE WERE ORDERED TO SCENE ON SINKINGS TO RECOVER SURVIVORS REPORTED IN THE WATER.
PAGE 4 OF 5
REPORT OF SINKINGS RECEIVED TOO LATE TO USE DAYLIGHT TODAY BUT SEARCH WILL BE CONTINUED ASSISTED BY AIRCRAFT TOMORROW. DURING RETIREMENT COOLBAUGH GOT WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE A SURE KILL OF SUB WHILE PROCEEDING SOUTH ACROSS SHEARWATER. SHE WAS ORDERED TO SIT ON HER CONTACT THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. THE SPROSTON ALSO HAD GOOD CONTACT AND HAS SIMILAR ORDERS. SPROSTON SHOT DOWN 1 NIGHT RAIDER WHICH WAS ATTEMPTING TO ATTACK TU 77.4.3. NO ESTIMATE OF TOTAL AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN CAN BE MADE AT THIS TIME BUT THE NUMBER IS CONSIDERABLE. LAST STRIKES OF DAY WERE WITH ENEMY ON WESTERLY COURSES IN SAN BERNARDINO STRAIT."
THIS ACTION AND THAT OF THE PRECEDING NIGHT IN WHICH A STRONG ENEMY SURFACE FORCE WAS OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATED IN SURIGAO STRAITS BY THE SURFACE UNITS OF THE 7TH FLEET UNDER REAR ADMIRAL J B OLDENDORF ARE HIGHLIGHTS ON THE ROAD TO TOKYO. TOGETHER THEY