This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
Sprague, Clifton Albert F (Ziggy), VADM USN(Ret).
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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 Sprague's Task Unit 77.4.3 participated in the Battle Off Samar.
TOP SECRET (DECLASSIFIED)
FROM CTF 77 FOR ACTION CINCSOWESTPAC
INFORMATION ALL TFC'S 7TH FLT ALL TGC'S 3RD FLT COM 7TH FLEET ALL TGC'S 7TH FLT ALL TFC'S 3RD FLT COM 3RD FLEET CINCPAC; COMINCH
DATE 27 OCTOBER 1944 PRECEDENCE OP PRIORITY
PAGE 1 OF 4
(CTF 77 SENDS)
FURTHER DETAILS ARE NOW AVAILABLE CONCERNING THE BATTLE FOUGHT YESTERDAY BETWEEN OUR CVE COVERING GROUP OF 16 CVES WITH ACCOMPANYING ESCORT OF DDS AND DES TO THE EAST OF LEYTE GULF AND A STRONG ENEMY SURFACE FORCE NOW ESTIMATED AS 4 BB 8 CA AND CL 7 OR MORE DDS WHICH SORTIED THROUGH SAN BERNARDINO STRAIT. IN THIS ACTION OUR CVE GROUP TURNED BACK AND DEFEATED A HEAVY ENEMY SURFACE FORCE WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY STRONG SHORE BASED AIR. THE ATTACKING ENEMY FORCE WAS ABLE TO CLOSE OUR SLOWER CVE FORCE BUT WAS TURNED BACK BY AIR ATTACKS FROM CVES ONLY TO RETURN AGAIN AND WAS DRIVEN OFF THE 2ND TIME RETREATING THROUGH SAN BERNARDINO STRAITS. ON THE BASIS OF INCOMPLETE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING DAMAGE WAS INFLICTED ON THE ENEMY. 4 TORPEDO HITS IN A BB AND 1 CA STOPPED AND BURNING
PAGE 2 OF 4
WHILE THE ENEMY WAS IN THE MINDANAO SEA. OFF SAMAR AT LEAST 2 BBS WERE HIT BY TORPEDOES AND 1 CA STOPPED DEAD. NO REPORT ON ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE DAMAGE INFLECTED ON THE ENEMY BY MANY PLANES WHICH WERE FORCED TO LAND ON LEYTE FIELDS. OUR LOSSES CVE SAINT LO (FORMER MIDWAY) SUNK. CVE GAMBIER BAY DD HOEL AND DD JOHNSTON PLUS DE ROBERTS MISSING SINCE BOMBARDMENT BY ENEMY SURFACE FORCES AND PRESUMED SUNK. DAMAGE. CVES SANGAMON SUWANNEE AND SANTEE ALL HIT BY SUICIDE CRASH PLANES. SANTEE ALSO HIT BY TORPEDO. FANSHAW AND KITKUN BAY HIT AND FIRES STARTED. PERSONNEL CASUALTIES ON SUNK AND MISSING SHIPS UNDETERMINED. KNOWN DEAD ON DAMAGED SHIPS 67. MANY INJURED. OUR AIRCRAFT LOSSES ABOUT 130 PLANES FROM ALL CAUSES INCLUDING CRASH LANDINGS ON LEYTE FIELDS. TODAY OUR CVE GROUP HAS AGAIN BEEN UNDER AIR ATTACK BY SHORE BASED
PAGE 3 OF 4
AIR AND HAVE RECEIVED SOME FURTHER DAMAGE. FRAGMENTARY REPORTS INDICATE THAT 22 ENEMY PLANES HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN TODAY CAP OVER LEYTE GULF. DURING MORNING SWEEP A KUMA CLASS CRUISER WAS HIT WITH BOMBS AMIDSHIPS AND ON THE STERN AND LEFT CIRCLING IN POSIT 11-25 N 124-05 E. SOME FURTHER INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE OF THE SURFACE ACTION BETWEEN OUR SURFACE FORCES AND THOSE OF THE ENEMY IN SURIGAO STRAIT NIGHT OF 24-25 OCTOBER. FORCE OF 30 PT'S OPERATING IN LOWER SURIGAO STRAIT REPORT THAT VISUAL AND RADAR CONTACTS INDICATE THE ENEMY FORCE CONSISTED OF ABOUT 18 SHIPS INCLUDING 1 BB AND 2 CRUISERS. OF 9 TORPEDOES FIRED BY THESE PT'S 2 HITS WERE MADE. 1 ON DD AND 1 ON DD DEAD IN WATER ALONGSIDE BURNING HULK. PT 493 WAS SUNK 2 OTHERS HEAVILY DAMAGED PLUS MINOR DAMAGE ON MANY OTHERS. PT PERSONNEL CASUALTIES 4
PAGE 4 OF 4
KILLED 20 WOUNDED. ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE BELIEVE THAT FORMER REPORT OF AT LEAST 8 SHIPS OF ALL TYPES SUNK WAS CONSERVATIVE.
UNLOADING OF FOLLOW UP ECHELON LSR AND LIBERTY SHIPS PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY. SHIPS IN LEYTE GULF HAVE BEEN UNDER INTERMITTENT AIR ATTACK THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH NO DAMAGE REPORTED. ESTIMATE 200 ENEMY PLANES OVER LEYTE AREA TODAY. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE PLANE ATTACKING OVER CVES.