Click On Image
For Full Size Image |
Size |
Image Description |
Contributed
By |
072101
|
143k |
James Henry Flatley Jr. was born in 1906 at Green Bay, Wis., graduated the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1929 and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1931.
Early aviation assignments were with patrol squadrons, but in December 1941 he was flying Brewster F2A's with VF-2. He participated in the Battle of Coral Sea as XO of VF-42, winning the Navy
Cross for this action. He then returned to the USA to form VF-10, know as the "Grim Reapers" and becoming "Reaper Leader." There were successes at Guadalcanal, and then a tour as Commander
Air Group Five (CAG-5) on board USS Yorktown (CV 10), during which he helped introduce Grumman’s F6F Hellcat to combat in August 1943. Flatley, with John S. Thach and Butch O'Hare,
was instrumental in communicating tactical advice throughout naval aviation and changing the perception that the supposedly inferior F4F Wildcat fighter was actually superior to the Japanese
Mitsubishi A6M Zero when properly utilized. At age 36 Flatley never flew combat again, moving into a training / administrative role.
Flatley remained in the Navy after the war and became a key figure with the Navy's postwar air-training program. After commanding the Naval Air Station at Olathe, Kansas and then the carrier
USS Block Island (CVE 106) for a year, Flatley became deeply involved with assessing Naval Aviation's disastrous safety record and ultimately helped develop the Naval Aviation
Safety Center, today's Naval Safety Center. He next commanded Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va., followed by the carrier USS Lake Champlain (CV 39). Flatley had a distinguished
career in the Navy, finally rising to the rank of Vice Admiral. Vice Admiral Flatley died on 21 July 1958. (A more complete biography of
Admiral Flatley can be found at the
Naval History and Heritage Command)
USS Flatley (FFG 21) (1981-1996) was the first ship to be named in his honor. |
Nick Tiberio
Shelton, Conn.
/
Bob Cieri |
072102 |
115k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - The bow of the USS Flatley (FFG 21) towers over guest speaker Rear Admiral Kleber S. Masterson Jr., assistant deputy commander,
Surface Warfare and Anti-air Warfare Systems, Naval Sea Systems Command, during the launching ceremony for the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04274 by Bath Iron Works from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
072103 |
130k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - John F. Sullivan Jr., president of Bath Iron Works, speaks during the launching ceremony for the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate Flatley.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04280 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072104 |
95k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - Participants in the launching of Flatley are, left to right: Capt. C. L. Mull, S. Mull, G. Sullivan, John F. Sullivan Jr., President
Bath Iron Works; Nancy Flatley, Dorothy Flatley, sponsor; Adm. G. Anderson Jr., Radm. Robert Carius, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and Radm. Kleber Masterson Jr., Naval Sea Systems Command.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04275 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072105 |
93k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - Dorothy M. Flatley, sponsor, breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow of Flatley as John F. Sullivan, president of Bath Iron Works, looks on.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04278 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072106 |
177k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - Shipyard workers watch as Flatley slides down the ways at the conclusion of its launching ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04273 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072107 |
132k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - Dorothy M. Flatley, sponsor, left, John F. Sullivan Jr., president, Bath Iron Works, and Mrs. Nancy G. Flatley stand in front of the ways
that Flatley recently slid down. The Flatley is in the background.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04276 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072108 |
115k |
15 May 1980: Bath, Me. - Tug boats maneuver Flatley into docking position immediately after its launching.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04272 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072109 |
110k |
17 November 1980: Bath, Me. - An elevated bow view of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS
Jack Williams (FFG 24), left, at 70 percent completion. To the right is Flatley under construction.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04545 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072110 |
177k |
17 November 1980: Bath, Me. - An elevated stern view of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Jack Williams (FFG 24), right, at 70 percent
completion. Flatley is under construction at left.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04546 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
071605 |
437k |
10 February 1981: Bath, Me. - Elevated bow view of Flatley, right, at 90 percent completion. The USS
Clifton Sprague (FFG 16) is moored on the left.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04476 photo by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
071606 |
308k |
10 February 1981: Bath, Me. - Elevated stern view of Flatley, left, at 90 percent completion. The Clifton Sprague is moored on the right.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04477 photo by Bath Iron Works Corp, from the DVIC) |
072111 |
132k |
18 March 1981: Bath, Me. - An aerial port side view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04259 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072112 |
199k |
18 March 1981: Bath, Me. - An aerial starboard bow view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04264 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072113 |
130k |
18 March 1981: Bath, Me. - A starboard quarter view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04268 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072114 |
317k |
18 March 1981: Bath, Me. - An aerial port quarter view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04265 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072115 |
145k |
18 March 1981: Bath, Me. - A starboard bow view of Flatley underway during acceptance trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04270 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
072132 |
205k |
18 March 1981: Bath, Me. - An aerial port bow view of Flatley executing a starboard turn during her acceptance trials.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-85-04424 by Bath Iron Works from the DVIC) |
Bob Hurst
Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
England, United Kingdom |
072116 |
308k |
20 June 1981: Bath, Me. - The crew of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate USS Flatley (FFG 21) stands in formation on the pier during its
commissioning ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04488 photo by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
072117 |
308k |
20 June 1981: Bath, Me. - The crew mans the rail as a guest speaker addresses the guests attending the commissioning ceremony.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-04489 photo by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC) |
072118 |
95k |
Undated Image
(U.S. Navy photo) |
Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr. |
072119 |
102k |
11 August 1984: At sea - A RIM-66 Standard missile on a Mark 13 Mod 4 launcher aboard Flatley.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-03478 by PH1 Jeff Hilton from the DVIC) |
Mike Smolinski
Clifton, N.J.
Navsource DE/FF/LCS
Archive Manager |
072120 |
84k |
11 August 1984: At sea - The battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) refuels Flatley
during an underway replenishment.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-02485 by PHAA David Carreras from the DVIC) |
072121 |
120k |
11 August 1984: At sea - The battleship Iowa replenishes Flatley while underway.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-87-01865 by PHAA David Carreras from the DVIC) |
072122 |
125k |
01 April 1985: At sea - An aerial port quarter view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS
Nimitz (CVN 68), foreground, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) underway.
Flatley leads the way.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-01439 by PH3 Maxwell from the DVIC) |
072123 |
95k |
01 April 1985: At sea - A port beam view of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers USS Nimitz (CVN 68), foreground, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
(CVN 69) underway. Flatley leads the way.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-87-01440 by PH3 Maxwell from the DVIC) |
072124 |
79k |
25 June 1990: Staten Island, N.Y. - Pennants and bunting decorate the guided missile frigate Flatley and the guided missile cruiser USS
Dale (CG 19), docked at the pier during the New York Naval Station's opening day ceremonies.
Aircraft fly in formation overhead in honor of the event.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10056 by PHC Ed Bailey from the DVIC) |
072125 |
113k |
25 June 1990: Staten Island, N.Y. - Vadm Joseph S. Donnell III, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, other flag officers and distinguished guests
listen from the speakers platform as Capt. Charles H. Gnerlich, Commander, Naval Station, New York, speaks during the station's opening day ceremonies. The Flatley
and the guided missile cruiser USS Dale (CG 19), two of several ships in port during the event, are moored to the pier in the background.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10055 by PHC Ed Bailey from the DVIC) |
072126 |
97k |
25 June 1990: Staten Island, N.Y. - Vadm Joseph S. Donnell III, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, other flag officers and distinguished guests
honor the flag during the opening day ceremonies at the naval station. Flatley, one of several ships in port for the event, is moored in the background.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10047 by PHC Ed Bailey from the DVIC) |
072127 |
000k |
25 June 1990: Staten Island, N.Y. - Flatley is moored at a pier on the New York Naval Station's opening day.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-10041 by PHC Ed Bailey from the DVIC) |
072128 |
89k |
04 January 1992: Mayport, Fla. - The destroyer USS Spruance (DD 963), left, and Flatley
lie tied up at the naval station.
(U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04769 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC) |
072031 |
115k |
February 1996: Pascagoula, Miss. - USS Antrim (FFG 20), USS
Stephen Groves (FFG 29), and Flatley tied up at the Naval Station.
(Photo taken by Doug Bremenkamp of Gulfport MS) |
Robert M. Cieri |
072129 |
117k
| The Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik (ex-Flatley) as seen during NATO's STANAVFORMED port visit to Barcelona, Spain on 10 February 2001. Inboard
of Gemlik is the Spanish guided missile frigate Andalucia (F-72) and USS Deyo (DD 989) can be
seen in the background. |
Fabio Peña
Barcelona, Spain
Manager, Navsource
Aircraft Carrier Archives |
072130 |
102k
| as previous |
072131 |
188k
| 05 June 2003: The Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik (ex-Flatley) underway. She is following SPS Victoria (F82), a Spanish frigate based on
the Oliver Hazard Perry class design.
(Photo Courtesy of NATO) |
Bill Gonyo
Downey, Cal. |
072133 |
342k |
04 April 2005: Toulon, France - The Turkish frigate TCG Gemlik (F-492, ex-USS Flatley (FFG 21) makes a port visit to Toulon. |
Carlo Martinelli
Genoa, Italy |
