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Photo # NH 103531-KN:  Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, USN, March 1963

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, USN, (1913-____)

Eugene Bennett Fluckey was born in Washington, D.C., on 5 October 1913. Following four years at the U.S. Naval Academy, he graduated with the Class of 1935 and received a commission. Ensign Fluckey's first assignments, as an officer of the battleship Nevada and the destroyer McCormick, were followed in 1938 by instruction at the Submarine School, New London, located at Groton, Connecticut. In December of that year Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Fluckey was assigned to the submarine S-42. He served in USS Bonita in 1941-1942, during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant.

From mid-1942 into early 1944, Fluckey received Naval Engineering instruction and attended Prospective Commanding Officers' School at New London, then went to the Pacific where he made a war patrol as Prospective Commanding Officer of the submarine Barb. Promoted to Lieutenant Commander in May 1943 and Commander in March 1944, he assumed command of Barb in late April of the latter year. During five war patrols Commander Fluckey's initiative and agressiveness cost the enemy at least sixteen ships, many small craft and facilities ashore, earning a Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses for himself, and Presidential Unit Citations and the Navy Unit Commendation for Barb.

In August 1945 Commander Fluckey became Prospective Commanding Officer of the new submarine Dogfish, then under construction at Groton, Connecticut. However, this assignment ended after a few months and he began duty in Washington, D.C., first in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, then at the War Plans Division and, beginning in late 1945, as Personal Aide to the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. In June 1947 he again received a seagoing command, the modernized submarine Halfbeak. In 1949-1950 Commander Fluckey served on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, Atlantic Fleet and from October 1950 to July 1953 was U.S. Naval Attache at Lisbon, Portugal.

Command of Submarine Division 52 in 1953-1954 was followed, after his promotion to the rank of Captain, by command of the submarine tender Sperry and of Submarine Squadron FIVE. During the later 1950s Captain Fluckey was assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy, attended the National War College and served with the National Security Council. Selection for promotion to Rear Admiral in mid-1960 was followed by tours as Commander Amphibious Group FOUR, presidency of the Board of Inspection and Survey and a temporary assignment as Task Force Director of the Shipyards Appraisal Group. In June 1964 Rear Admiral Fluckey became Commander Submarine Force, Pacific, and in July 1966 he reported as Director of Naval Intelligence. Two years later he became Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Portugal. Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey retired from active duty at the beginning of August 1972.

This page features, and provides links to, selected views concerning Eugene B. Fluckey.

For additional photographs related to Eugene B. Fluckey, see:

  • Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, USN -- Informal photographs as Aide to FAdm. C.W. Nimitz, 1946-1947.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-495585

    Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, USN


    Photograph dated 20 August 1945.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 58KB; 590 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 103536

    Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, USN


    Portrait photograph, taken circa 1946-1947, while he was serving as Aide to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Chief of Naval Operations.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 53KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103532

    Captain Eugene B. Fluckey, USN


    Portrait photograph, dated 10 May 1960.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 49KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103531-KN (color)

    Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, USN

    Portrait photograph, 12 March 1963.
    Taken by Photographer's Mate Second Class Moiz.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 53KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103533

    Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, USN


    Portrait photograph, dated March 1966.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 56KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103534

    Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, USN
    ,
    Commanding Officer, USS Barb (SS-220)

    Wearing the Navy Cross on board Barb after receiving the medal from Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, 6 December 1944.
    Note Barb's insignia painted on her fairwater, behind Commander Fluckey.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 66KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 103535

    Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, USN
    (third from left)

    Wearing the Medal of Honor after its presentation by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal (second from left) in ceremonies at the Navy Department, 23 March 1945.
    Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King is at left. Mrs. E.B. (Marjory) Fluckey is third from right, standing next to her husband.
    At right are Commander and Mrs. Roy M. Davenport, USN. Cdr. Davenport received the Navy Cross at this time.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 58457

    Vice Admiral William L. Calhoun, USN (Retired)
    ,
    (at right)

    With (from left to right center) Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, and an unidentified civilian, on his receiving the rank of full Admiral. Taken at Coronado, California, 21 January 1953.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 58560-KN (color)

    Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN,
    (standing, third from left)

    At his home in Berkeley, California, with officers who had attended a Submarine Force conference at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, during the week of 2 November 1964. He has signed the original print in red ink.
    Those present are (standing, left to right):
    Rear Admiral John A. Tyree, Jr.;
    Vice Admiral Vernon L. Lowrance;
    Fleet Admiral Nimitz;
    Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey;
    Rear Admiral Eugene P. Wilkinson; and
    Lieutenant Commander Charles N. Diesel.
    (kneeling, left to right):
    Lieutenant John M. Leeds;
    Lieutenant Roland Brandquist; and
    Lieutenant James A. Buckner.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1115074-C

    Funeral of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
    ,
    24 February 1966

    Pallbearers place the bier into position for lowering into the grave, at the Golden Gate National Cemetary, San Bruno, California.
    Among those present are Cardinal Francis W. Spellman, in the background just to the right of the pallbearers, and Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, at far right, saluting.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1115074-C.

     
    Photo #: NH 58267

    USS Barb weathervane


    Presented to Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz by his former aide, Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey, USN, circa the later 1950s or early 1960s. Fluckey had commanded the submarine during World War II.
    The weathervane features submariners' "dolphins" at its top, with the five stars of a Fleet Admiral immediately below, and a model of USS Barb (SS-220) as she appeared following her 1954 conversion to "GUPPY" configuration. It was erected in Nimitz' garden at 728 Santa Barbara Road, Berkeley, California.

    Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 54KB; 585 x 765 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented on these pages, the National Archives appears to hold other views of Eugene B. Fluckey. The following list features some of these images:

    The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: 80-G-308966
    Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr., presents the Navy Cross to Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, Commanding Officer of USS Barb (SS-220), in ceremonies on board Barb at Pearl Harbor, 6 December 1944.
    View shows VAdm. Lockwood pinning the medal onto Fluckey's shirt. Both men are seen essentially in profile.

  • Photo #: 80-G-308965
    As 80-G-308966, but seen from behind and above VAdm. Lockwood, looking aft along Barb's deck.
    Cdr. Fluckey is largely obscured by VAdm. Lockwood. A junior officer, three Chief Petty Officers and a Second Class Gunner's Mate are lined up across the deck, behind Cdr. Fluckey, in preparation for also receiving awards. The rest of Barb's complement is lined up on both sides of her deck beyond the award group.

  • Photo #: 80-G-308964
    Commander Eugene B. Fluckey (at left), a junior officer, three Chief Petty Officers and a Second Class Gunner's Mate lined across Barb's after deck, after being presented with awards at Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944.
    All are wearing the medals or ribbons they have just received, and are holding their citations. The rest of Barb's complement is lined up on both sides of her deck beyond the award group.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Medal of Honor citation of Commander Eugene Bennet Fluckey, USN (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 186):

    "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Barb during her Eleventh War Patrol along the east coast of China from 19 December 1944, to 15 February 1945. After sinking a large enemy ammunition ship and damaging additional tonnage during a running 2-hour night battle on 8 January, Commander Fluckey, in an exceptional feat of brilliant deduction and bold tracking on 23 January, located a concentration of more than 30 enemy ships in the lower reaches of Nankuan Chiang (Mamkwan Harbor). Fully aware that a safe retirement would necessitate an hours' run at full speed through the uncharted, mined, and rock-obstructed waters, he bravely ordered, 'Battle Station - Torpedoes'! In a daring penetration of the heavy enemy screen, and riding in 5 fathoms of water, he launched the Barb's last forward torpedoes at 3,000-yard range. Quickly bringing the ship's stern tubes to bear, he turned loose four more torpedoes into the enemy, obtaining eight direct hits on six of the main targets to explode a large ammunition ship and cause inestimable damage by the resultant flying shells and other pyrotechnics. Clearing the treacherous area at high speed, he brought the Barb through to safety and 4 days later sank a large Japanese freighter to complete a record of heroic combat achievement, reflecting the highest credit upon Commander Fluckey, his gallant officers and men, and the United States Naval Service."


    For additional photographs related to Eugene B. Fluckey, see:

  • Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, USN -- Informal photographs as Aide to FAdm. C.W. Nimitz, 1946-1947.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 27 February 2006