Edward Dean Spruance, USN
| Born | 24 Oct 1915 | Norfolk, Norfolk City, Virginia, USA | |
| Died | 30 May 1969 | (53) | Marin County, California, USA (car accident) |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Edward Dean Spruance, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Lionfish (298) | T/Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 1 Nov 1944 | 5 Jun 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Lionfish (298)
1 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) is commissioned at the Portsmouth Navy Yard.
11 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted a deep submergence trial off Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
13 Dec 1944
During 13/14 December 1944, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth with USS Quick (T/Cdr. P.W. Cann, USN) and USS Davison (T/Cdr. E.L.E. Ritson, USN).
17 Dec 1944
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and and USS Tirante (T/Lt.Cdr. G.L. Street, 3rd, USN) departed the Portsmouth Navy Yard for Newport, Rhode Island where they arrived later the same day. At Newport they were to conduct torpedo discharge trials.
21 Dec 1944
With their torpedo trials completed, and USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and and USS Tirante (T/Lt.Cdr. G.L. Street, 3rd, USN), arrived at New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island which they had departed earlier the same day.
26 Dec 1944
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises in Long Island Sound with USS Scott (Lt.Cdr. Cdr. H.W. Osterhaus, Jr., USNR).
4 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) is docked on the marine railway at the submarine base at New London, Connecticut.
5 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) is put back in the water.
9 Jan 1945
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS Bullhead (T/Cdr. W.T. Griffith, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Key West, Florida. They were escorted by USS Genrty (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Smith, USNR).
15 Jan 1945
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS Bullhead (T/Cdr. W.T. Griffith, USN) arrived at Key West, Florida for services with the Fleet Sound School.
USS Lionfish departed for Port Everglades later the same day escorted by USS SC-646 (Lt.(jg). H.J. Ulrey, USNR) until USS SC-689 (Lt. E.F. Cotter, USCG) took over shortly before arrival at Port Everglades.
17 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Between 17 and 23 January 1945, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted trials / exercises off Port Everglades.
24 Jan 1945
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) departed Port Everglades, Florida for the Panama Canal Zone. She is escorted by USS PC-1145 (Lt. J.R. Keith, USNR).
28 Jan 1945
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS PC-1145 (Lt. J.R. Keith, USNR) arrived in the Panama Canal Zone from Port Everglades.
30 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS PC-1185 (Lt.(jg) B.M. Wall, USNR), USS SC-986 (Lt.(jg) O.W. Scott, USNR), USS SC-996 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Loof, USNR) and USS SC-1017 (Lt.(jg) R.A. Grimm, USNR).
31 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS PC-1185 (Lt.(jg) B.M. Wall, USNR), USS SC-986 (Lt.(jg) O.W. Scott, USNR) and USS SC-996 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Loof, USNR).
1 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS SC-684 (Lt.(jg) J.P. Mason, USNR), USS SC-986 (Lt.(jg) O.W. Scott, USNR), USS SC-996 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Loof, USNR), USS SC-1017 (Lt.(jg) R.A. Grimm, USNR) and USS SC-1340 (Lt.(jg) J.F. Malo, USNR).
2 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS Trutta (T/Cdr. A.C. Smith, USN) conducted exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR) and USS Bulmer (Lt. T.C. Farrell, USNR).
3 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS SC-986 (Lt.(jg) O.W. Scott, USNR) and USS SC-996 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Loof, USNR).
4 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises in the Gulf of Panama with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS SC-986 (Lt.(jg) O.W. Scott, USNR) and USS SC-996 (Lt.(jg) J.A. Loof, USNR).
8 Feb 1945
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS Trutta (T/Cdr. A.C. Smith, USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.
25 Feb 1945
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS Trutta (T/Cdr. A.C. Smith, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour from Balboa. They were then taken in hand for voyage repairs and some modifications.
5 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour.
6 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 6/7 March 1945, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour. These included night exercises.
9 Mar 1945
USS Bonefish (T/Cdr. L.L. Edge, USN) and USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR).
10 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 10/11 March 1945, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR) and USS Burden R. Hastings (Lt. J.W. Stivers, USNR). These included night exercises.
13 Mar 1945
During 13/14 March 1945, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour. These included night exercises. During the 13th the exercises were carried out with USS Whitman (Lt. E.A. Sandor, USNR).
19 Mar 1945
Around 1400VW/19, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN), USS Parche (T/Lt.Cdr. W.W. McCrory, USN) and USS Trutta (T/Cdr. A.C. Smith, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for their 1st, 5th and 1st war patrols respectively. All were to proceed to Saipan to top off with fuel and provisions before proceeding to their patrol area. They were escorted until around 2045VW/19 by USS PC-580 (Lt. A.L. Anderson, USNR).
All were originally ordered to patrol as a coordinated attack group in the Yellow Sea but soon after depature from Saipan orders were changed as follows;
USS Lionfish was ordered to patrol south of Bongo Suido. Later she was ordered to patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas.
USS Parche was ordered to patrol in Japanese home waters east of Honshu and Hokkaido.
USS Trutta was ordered to patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas.
19 Mar 1945
For the daily and attack positions of USS Lionfish during her 1st war patrol see the map below.
30 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0530K/30, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN), USS Parche (T/Lt.Cdr. W.W. McCrory, USN) and USS Trutta (T/Cdr. A.C. Smith, USN) made rendezvous with USS LCI(L)-1062 (Lt.(jg) J.M. Burns, Jr., USNR) which then escorted them to Saipan where they arrived around 1230K/30. The submarines were then taken in hand for voyage repairs by USS Fulton (T/Capt. A.A. Clarkson, USN).
2 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1700K/2, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN), departed Saipan for her patrol area. She had been delayed for a day due to a defect to the ST radar.
6 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1540I/6, in position 30°00'N, 137°00'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted a Japanese picket boat. It was evaded as Lionfish had been instructed to proceed to her patrol area at maximum speed.
7 Apr 1945
Around 0630I/07, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) arrived in her patrol area, south of the Bungo Suido.
11 Apr 1945
Around 0400I/11, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) evaded what is thought to have been two torpedo wakes. [note, this may also have been large fist though.] There was no sign of the attacker.
14 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030I/14, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN), sighted an enemy transport of about 2000 GRT escorted by the frigate type escorts in position 33°19'N, 127°55'E. Enemy course was about 280° at a speed of 10 knots. The range could not be closed sufficiently to attack.
18 Apr 1945
Around 0630I/18, while patrolling off the south coast of Korea, in position 33°51'N, 126°54'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted a Japanese patrol vessel. The vessel was on an A/S search. Later two more patrol vessels were sighted. USS Lionfish went deep and retired to the eastward.
22 Apr 1945
At 0600I/22, in the southern part of the Yellow Sea, in position 34°44'N, 124°29'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN), sighted a Japanese frigate type escort vessel. She passed about 6000 yards to the south on an easterly course at a speed of 13 knots.
23 Apr 1945
At 1733I/23, in the central part of the Yellow Sea, in position 37°05'N, 124°51'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted what is thought to be an enemy patrol vessel proceeding to the southeast at 13 knots. The ship passed at a range of about 4000 yards.
26 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0530I/26, in the northern part of the Yellow Sea, in position 38°03'N, 124°16'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted what is thought to be an enemy picket boat which was evaded.
27 Apr 1945
At 0953I/27, in the northern part of the Yellow Sea, in position 38°13'N, 124°26'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted what is thought to be two enemy patrol vessel proceeding to the northwest at 6 knots. They were evaded and passed at a range of 4000 yards.
28 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0601I/28, in the northern part of the Yellow Sea, in position 38°38'N, 123°22'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted what are thought to be two enemy picket boats proceeding to the west at 10 knots. They were evaded and passed at a range of 3700 yards.
1 May 1945 (position 35.58, 124.05)
At 0940I/1, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN), a three mast schooner was sighted in the central part of the southern Yellow Sea in position 35°58'N, 124°05'E. Commenced to close.
At 1230I/1, the schooner, of about 100 tons, was sunk with gunfire. A total of 44 rounds of 5" were fired for 15 hits. 12 Hits were scored out of 56 rounds of 40mm fired. 180 rounds of 20mm were also fired for many hits but this gunfire was not very destructive. The average range had been 2000 yards for the machine gun fire and 3000 yards for the 5" gunfire.
The ship was on fire when Lionfish left the area but she was not sinking as the cargo appeared to be lumber and logs.
At 1825I/1, in position 34°40'N, 123°54'E, a small patrol boat was sighted at a range of 16000 yards. she was evaded on the surface. The enemy was proceeding on course 280°(T) at a speed of 12 knots.
5 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1945I/5, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) departed her patrol area for Saipan.
6 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1619I/6, in position 31°50'N, 126°31'E, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) sighted a transport of around 2000 GRT through the high periscope. USS Lionfish commenced an end around but contact was lost as the ship may have sighted the submarine against the horizon and evaded.
9 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1915I/9, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) and USS Ray (T/Cdr. W.T. Kinsella, USN). USS Lionfish then took over 10 airmen (B-29 crew) from USS Ray and set course to continue her passage to Japan. However at 2330I/9, USS Lionfish is ordered to take up a position off Kyushu for lifeguard duties.
11 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
On completion of the lifeguard duties, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) continued her passage to Saipan.
15 May 1945
At 1200K/15, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) arrived at Saipan. The aviators were then disembarked and after fuelling and taking on board some fresh supplies she departed for Midway around 1000K/16.
22 May 1945
Around 0800Y/22, USS Lionfish (T/Lt.Cdr. E.D. Spruance, USN) ended her 1st war patrol when she arrived at Midway. She was taken in hand for a tender refit by USS Aegir (T/Capt. J.M. Boyd, USN). On completion of this refit on 5 June, a seven day exercise programme was carried out before USS Lionfish was ready to proceed on her next patrol.
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