Thach (FFG 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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ADMIRAL JIMMY S. THACH UNITED STATES NAVY John Smith Thach was born in Pine Bluffs, Arkansas on April 19, 1905. In 1923, he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated on June 20, 1927 and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Admiral Thach served in the battleships USS MISSISSIPPI CBB-415 and USS CALIFORNIA CBB-445 before he was selected for flight training at Pensacola, Florida. In January 1930, Admiral Thach was designated Naval Aviator H3587 and assigned to his first operational squadron. From the beginning, Admiral Thach proved himself a highly capable pilot, recognized repeatedly for gunnery top scores in every type of combat aircraft he flew. During the next few years of his career, Admiral Thach's superior performance qualified him to become a test pilot and flight instructor. He received a letter of commendation in 1940 for uexceptional skill and technique in aerial gunnery and bombing, efficient and meticulous operation of a squadron gunner department, and marked ability to train other pilots in fighting plane tactics and gunneryf, When the United States entered World War II, Admiral Thach was the top fighter tactician in the Navy. As a Lieutenant Commander commanding Fighter Squadron Three, embarked in aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA CCV-35, he had seen intelligence reports from the Sino- Japanese war that convinced him that the Navyis top carrier fighter, the F4F Grumman Wildcat, was no match for the superior flying performance ofthe Japanese Zero The result, which he worked out with matchsticks on his kitchen table, was the famous uThach Weave, still used today by modern jet fighters. He initiated the practice of having U.S. fighters operate in pairs, instead of trios. The pair would weave back and forth as they encountered the Zero on his partner's tail and vice versa. This tactic proved highly successful in the early Pacific carrier battles including Coral Sea and Midway. At the end of the first O as l i year ofthe Pacific War, Fighter S q u a d r o n s commanded by Admiral Thach accounted for over half the enemy fighters shot down by U.S. Navy pilots. In 1 943, Admiral Thach returned to Pearl Harbor to instruct pilots in the use of his tactic. Later in the war, Admiral Thach was assigned to the Fast Carrier Task Force as Air Operations Officer, where he developed the system of blanketing enemy airfields with a continuous patrol of carrier based fighters. This tactic is credited with destroying the air offensive capabilities of Japan. His direction of the Navy's final offensive blows to the Japanese mainland led to Admiral Thach's participation at the Japanese Surrender aboard the battleship USS MISSOURI CBB-635. Admiral Thach continued his distinguished career after the war, commanding the aircraft carrier USS SICILY CCVE-1185 during the Korean conflict, and later the carrier USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT CCV-423. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in November 1955. In 1960, Admiral Thach became Commander of Antisubmarine Warfare Force Pacific Fleet and in recognition of his work, the Navy annually awards the best antisubmarine warfare aircraft squadron 4'The Admiral Thach Award? In 1965 Admiral Thach received his fourth star and was ordered to duty as Commander-In-Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and served there until his retirement Cafter more than 40 years of servicej. Admiral Thach died on April 15, 1981 and is interned at Rosecranas National Cemetery. ADMIRAL THA CH 3

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l-MTH.,- rg-'FP USS THACH CFFG 432 2

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Commander Richard Daniel is a native of South Texas and a 1981 graduate of Texas ASLM University. After attending Surface Warfare Officers School, San Diego, California, he served in USS ROBERT E. PEARY CFF 10735 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as Damage Control Assistant and as Navigator. While in PEARY, Commander Daniel qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. Commander Daniel's next assignment was in USS NEW JERSEY CBB 625 in Long Beach, California. His tour included assignments as Electrical Division Officer, Main Battery Fire Control Officer, and Assistant Weapons Officer. Following NEW JERSEY, Commander Daniel attended Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, where as a distinguished graduate, he earned a Masters of Science in Systems Technology CJoint Command, Control and Comrnunications5. C OMMANDING OFFICER 4 FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER CDR RIC W. DANIEL UNITED STATES NAVY In 1988 Commander Daniel attended Surface Warfare Officer Department Head School, Newport, Rhode Island, and upon graduation reported to USS MERRILL CDD 9765 in San Diego, California, as Combat Systems Officer. Following MERRILL he reported as Combat Systems Officer in USS ARKANSAS CCGN 415 in Alameda, California. After his department head tours, Commander Daniel reported in 1 992 to the staff of the Commander THIRD Fleet, embarked in USS CORONADO CAGF 125 in San Diego, California, as Surface Warfare and Cruise Missile Officer. In 1993 he reported as commissioning Executive Officer in USS STETHEM CDDG 635 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and San Diego, California. While serving in STETHEM, Commander Daniel was selected as the 1996-1997 Federal Executive Fellow to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Medford, Massachusetts. In 1997 after completing his fellowship at Fletcher, Commander Daniel served in the Policy Division of the Joint Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate. He assumed command of THACH in October 1999. Commander Daniel was relieved of command by Commander William A. Sheehan on 22 June 2001 while conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Arabian Gulf. Following THACH, Commander Daniel reported to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Five for duty as Operations Officer. In addition to various campaign and service medals, Commander Danielis decorations include thfr Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal Cwith two gold stars5, the Joint ServiC6 Commendation Medal, the NHVY Commendation Medal Cwith three gold stars5, and the NHVY Achievement Medal. 'r E 1. r, ul I S. K 1 h 1 i I I I 1