Thomas L. Sprague

Thomas L. Sprague

Thomas Lamison Sprague (born October 2, 1894 in Lima , Ohio , † September 17, 1972 in Chula Vista , California ) was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He was in command of the escort aircraft carrier during the sea ​​battle off Samar , part of the sea ​​and air battle in the Gulf of Leyte .

Life

Thomas Lamison Sprague was born on October 2, 1894 in Lima, Ohio. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland in 1917 . He was not related to Clifton Sprague , who graduated from academy with him.

During the First World War, Sprague served on board the cruiser USS Cleveland , which was used to secure convoy in the Atlantic from June 1917 to April 1918. After a short time ashore, Sprague assisted in the commissioning of the destroyer USS Montgomery in July 1918. From January to November 1920, he was given command of the destroyer. After completing pilot training at Pensacola Naval Air Station , he served on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief of Naval Aviation in the Pacific, Admiral Henry V. Butler, from 1921 to 1923 .

In 1926, Sprague was transferred to Reconnaissance Wing 1 on the USS Maryland before being transferred to the San Diego Naval Air Station in 1928 . Between 1931 and 1936 Sprague was in command of Reconnaissance Wing 6, director of the engine laboratory of the Philadelphia Naval Aircraft Factory and air officer aboard the USS Saratoga before coming to Pensacola in 1937 as superintendent of naval aviation training. In 1940-41 he served as Executive Officer aboard the USS Ranger during the neutrality patrols in the Atlantic. In February 1942 he was given command of the newly commissioned escort aircraft carrier USS Charger , which he held until December 1942. After five months in the service of the Naval Aviation Staff of the Atlantic Fleet , he was given command of the USS Intrepid in August 1943 , which he commanded during the attacks on Truk and the Marshall Islands .

In June 1944 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and was given command of Carrier Division 22, which supported the attacks on Saipan in July and August and on Morotai in September 1944. During the sea ​​and air battle in the Leyte Gulf he was Commander in Chief of the 18 escort carriers of Task Group 77.4 (“Taffy 1”) and Commander of Carrier Division 22. For his service during the battle on October 25, 1944, Sprague received the Navy Cross . Briefly he commanded the training carriers of Carrier Division 11 before he led Carrier Division 3 from April to June 1945 off Okinawa .

At the end of the war, he was in command of Task Force 38.1 during the last air raids on the Japanese home islands. In 1946 he was appointed Chief of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, and in August 1949 Sprague was promoted to Vice Admiral. In October 1949 he became commander of the Pacific Fleet Air Force, which he held until retiring from active service in April 1952.

In 1956 he returned briefly to active service to negotiate with the government of the Philippines over the status of the US bases in the country.

Thomas Lamison Sprague died on September 17, 1972 in Chula Vista, California.

Web links

• Detailed biography at bosamar.com ( Memento from September 27, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) (English)