Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-225341: Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, 23 April 1944

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

Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance, USN, (1886-1969)

Raymond A. Spruance was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 3 July 1886. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906 and received further education in electrical engineering a few years later. His seagoing career was extensive, including command of five destroyers and the battleship Mississippi. Spruance also held several engineering, intelligence, staff and Naval War College positions up to the 1940s. In 1940-41, he was in command of the Tenth Naval District and Caribbena Sea Frontier.

In the first months of World War II in the Pacific, Rear Admiral Spruance commanded a cruiser division. He led Task Force 16, with two aircraft carriers, during the Battle of Midway in early June. His decisions during that action were important to its outcome, which changed the course of the war with Japan. After the Midway battle, he became Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas and later was Deputy Commander in Chief. In mid-1943, he was given command of the Central Pacific Force, which became the Fifth Fleet in April 1944. While holding that command in 1943-45, with USS Indianapolis (CA-35) as his usual flagship, Spruance directed the campaigns that captured the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Iwo Jima and Okinawa and defeated the Japanese fleet in the June 1944 Battle of Philippine Sea.

Admiral Spruance held command of the Pacific Fleet in late 1945 and early 1946. He then served as President of the Naval War College until retiring from the Navy in July 1948. In 1952-55, he was Ambassador to the Philippines. Admiral Raymond A. Spruance died at Pebble Beach, California, on 13 December 1969.

USS Spruance (DD-963) was named in his honor.

This page features a selection of photographs of Raymond A. Spruance.


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-225341

Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN,
Commander, Central Pacific Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Informal portrait photograph, taken 23 April 1944.

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

Online Image: 69KB; 585 x 765 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-13797 (Color)

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
,
Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN and Major General Holland M. Smith, USMC (wearing helmet)

look over the edge of a 20mm gun tub, while inspecting shipping at Pearl Harbor just prior to the Gilberts Operation, circa October 1943.
Army Brigadier General H.B. Holmes is immediately behind them, wearing a garrison cap.
Note gun training limit bar and gun crew in flashproof clothing.

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

Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 575 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-203817

Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN,
Commander, Central Pacific Force

Presents the Purple Heart to Corporal John K. Galuszka, USMC, on board a hospital ship at Pearl Harbor, 17 December 1943.
Corporal Galuszka had been wounded during the Gilberts Operation.

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

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 62233

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz,
, Commander in Chief, Pacific, (right) and
Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander, Central Pacific Force, (center)

Tour Kwajalein Island, Marshalls, on 5 February 1944, following its capture. They are accompanied by a Brigadier General.

Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 620 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 62679

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN
, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific

With other flag and general officers, at CinCPac Headquarters, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa 1944.
Those present are (left to right):
Admiral Nimitz;
Lieutenant General Delos C. Emmons, U.S. Army;
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher, USN;
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN and
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, U.S. Army.

Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-287225

Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN,
Commander, Fifth Fleet (left), and
Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC, Commander, Fifth Amphibious Corps

Attend flag raising ceremonies at Smith's headquarters, Charan Kanoa, Saipan, marking the end of organized Japanese resistance on the island, 10 July 1944.

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

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 62778

USS Indianapolis (CA-35)


Admiral Ernest J. King, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet, (center), with
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas (left) and
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, Commander, Fifth Fleet, (right),
on board the Fifth Fleet Flagship, 18 July 1944.
Admiral King was then visiting U.S. forces in the newly-captured Marianas.
Collection of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 44860

Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, USN (Retired)


On the balcony of the U.S. Embassy, Manila, while serving as U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines in 1952-55.
Several Japanese ships, sunk in Manila Bay during World War II, are visible in the background.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 117KB; 585 x 765 pixels

 


NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


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


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 23 May 1999
    Coding updated 6 May 2009