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Aubrey Wray Fitch was born in Saint Ignace, Michigan, on 11 June 1883. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1906 and served in several ships, received torpedo
training and was an instructor at the Naval Academy during the following eight years. In 1914, he was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet staff and was simultaneously Commanding Officer
of USS Yankton. Fitch was Gunnery Officer of the battleship USS Wyoming (BB 32) during most of the First World War. In 1920-27, he had a variety of shore duties, commanded
a division of destroyer minelayers, and served with the U.S. Mission to Brazil. He then successively became Executive Officer of USS Nevada (BB 36) and Commanding Officer
of USS Arctic (AF 7).
In 1930, following flight training, Fitch was designated a Naval Aviator. During the 1930s, he commanded three naval air stations, a seaplane tender and the aircraft carriers
Langley (CV 1) and Lexington (CV 2), as well as serving as Chief of Staff to Commander Aircraft, Battle Force and attending the Naval War College.
After commanding Patrol Wing TWO in 1940, Rear Admiral Fitch flew his flag in the carriers Saratoga (CV 3) and Lexington and was with the latter ship when she was
lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. In September of that year he took command of the South Pacific Force's aircraft, holding that position during the critical campaigns in the
Solomon Islands. Vice Admiral Fitch became Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air in mid-1944. From August 1945 until January 1947, he was Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. He was
given the rank of Admiral upon retirement from active service in July 1947. Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch died on 22 May 1978.
USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34) (1982-1997) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
Upper Photo: (Photo from the U.S. Naval Academy Yearbook; The Lucky Bag, Class of 1906.)
Lower Photo: (U.S. Navy photo #NH 97275 from the Naval History and Heritage Command) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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10 April 1981 - Bath, Me. - Guest participants in the keel laying of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34)
stand in front of a section of the keel.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04745 by Bath Iron Works from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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01 July 1981 - Bath, Me. - An elevated bow view of two Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates under construction at Bath Iron Works Corp. Shipyard.
The USS John L. Hall (FFG 32), approximately 60 percent complete, is to the left, and Aubrey Fitch,
40 percent complete, is to the right.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04746 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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01 July 1981 - Bath, Me. - An elevated stern view of two Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates under construction at Bath Iron Works Corp.
Shipyard. The USS John L. Hall (FFG 32), approximately 60 percent complete, is to the right, and Aubrey Fitch, 40 percent complete, is to the left.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04747 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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10 October 1981 - Bath, Me. - The bow of Aubrey Fitch towers over the guests attending its launch ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04390 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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10 October 1981 - Bath, Me. - Mrs. Francesca Ferguson (Adm. Fitch‘s granddaughter), sponsor, right, stands in front of Aubrey Fitch prior to
the launch ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04387 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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10 October 1981 - Bath, Me. - Mrs. Francesca Ferguson, sponsor, breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow of Aubrey Fitch at the
conclusion of its launch ceremony. John Sullivan Jr., president of Bath Iron Works, is standing behind her.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04391 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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10 October 1981 - Bath, Me. - Aubrey Fitch slides down the ways at the conclusion of its launch ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04392 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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10 October 1981 - Bath, Me. - Starboard quarter view of Aubrey Fitch immediately after sliding down the ways into the water at the
conclusion of its launch ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04393 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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10 October 1981 - Bath, Me. - An elevated stern view of two Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates under construction at Bath Iron Works Corp.
Shipyard. The USS Underwood (FFG 36) is to the right and Aubrey Fitch, 90 percent complete, is
to the left.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04793 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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20 July 1982 - Kennebec River, Me. - Aerial port bow view of Aubrey Fitch enroute to the coast for sea trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04403 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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20 July 1982 - Kennebec River Bath, Me. - Aerial starboard bow view of Aubrey Fitch enroute to the coast for sea trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04395 by Bath Iron Works,from DVIC) |
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20 July 1982 - Kennebec River Me. - Aerial port bow view of Aubrey Fitch enroute to the coast for sea trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04397 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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20 July 1982 - at sea off Bath, Me. - Aerial starboard bow view of Aubrey Fitch underway off the coast of Maine during sea trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04394 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
Tom Langford |
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20 July 1982 - at sea off Bath, Me. - Aerial port bow view of Aubrey Fitch underway.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04407 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
073416 |
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20 July 1982 - at sea off Bath, Me. - Aerial starboard quarter view of Aubrey Fitch underway.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04410 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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20 July 1982 - at sea off Bath, Me. - Aerial port quarter view of Aubrey Fitch underway.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04419 by
Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - A starboard bow view of Aubrey Fitch during her commissioning ceremony. To the right are two other guided missile
frigates under construction.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-07297 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - An aerial view of the commissioning ceremony for Aubrey Fitch.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-83-02429 by Rose from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - A color guard consisting of five Maine State Troopers stand at parade rest on the pier, during the commissioning ceremony for
Aubrey Fitch.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-83-02432 by Rose from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - Crewmen from Aubrey Fitch stand at attention on the pier, prior to the ship's commissioning ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-83-02434 by Rose from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - Vice President George Bush speaks to guests attending the commissioning ceremony for Aubrey Fitch. To the left of
the Vice President is Cdr Floyd A. Weeks, the ship's commanding officer.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-02457 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - Crewmen go aboard Aubrey Fitch during the ship's commissioning ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-02468 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - Crewmen go aboard Aubrey Fitch during the ship's commissioning ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-02467 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter from DVIC) |
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09 October 1982 - Bath, Me. - Vice President George H.W. Bush tours the bridge on Aubrey Fitch with Cmdr. Floyston A. Weeks, commanding officer,
at the conclusion of the ship's commissioning ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-83-02449 by PH2 Jeffrey A. Salter from DVIC) |
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05 May 1983: the Atlantic Ocean - A starboard bow view of USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34) underway during post-shakedown yard period sea trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-07298 by Bath Iron Works Corp. DVIC) |
Bob Hurst
Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England, United Kingdom |
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date / location unknown |
Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr. |
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01 March 1984 - Bath, Me. - An elevated bow view of the guided missile frigates Underwood
(FFG 36) left, Aubrey Fitch, center and Doyle (FFG 39) right, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard. The
Underwood is 100 percent complete.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-08783 by Bath Iron Works from DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
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01 July 1992: Mayport, Fla. - A starboard bow view of USS Stark (FFG 31) and Aubrey Fitch moored together in port.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-08792 by OS2 John Bouvia from DVIC) |
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undated: entering the port of Palma de Mallorca, paint indicates late career |
Jesus Oliver |
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20 August 1993: Mayport, Fla. - A starboard bow view of the destroyer tender USS Yosemite
(AD 19) in port. Moored behind Yosemite is the guided missile frigate USS Doyle (FFG 39).
Off Yosemite's port side is the guided missile frigate USS Aubrey Fitch (FFG 34).
(U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #DN-SC-93-06095 by OS2 John Bouvia, from the DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
