Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy Admiral during World War II. The architect of American victory at the Battle of Midway, he led many of the offensives in the Pacific campaign.
Youth
Born in Baltimore, Spruance graduated from the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1907. He also had a degree in electrical engineering. After World War I, Spruance commanded destroyers and studied at the Naval War College (1926-1927).
In 1938, Spruance was given command of the cruiser Indianapolis and, two years later, became chief of the 10th Naval District based in San Juan. He became rear admiral in December 1940.
World War II
In the early months of the war, Spruance commanded a cruiser division under Admiral William Halsey who led Task Force 16.
When Halsey was prevented from taking part in the Battle of Midway, Spruance took command of TF 16, on Halsey's recommendation.
During this battle, at the head of TF 16, which included three aircraft carriers, Spruance made decisions that changed the course of the battle and therefore of the war.
When Halsey returned to his post in June 1942, Spruance became chief of staff to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz. The following year he was promoted to admiral and became Nimitz's second in command. In this position, he played an essential role in the planning of the offensives in the Pacific.
In September 1943, he became commander of the Central Pacific Force, which became the 5th Fleet in April 1944. During this command, Spruance generally used the USS Indianapolis as his flagship. In this post, Spruance led the offensives that resulted in the capture of the Gilbert Islands, Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and defeated the Japanese fleet in June 1944 in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. .
Spruance commanded the Pacific Fleet until 1946. He then became president of the Naval War College and left the Navy in July 1948. From 1952 to 1955 he was ambassador to the Philippines. He died in Pebble Beach (California) in 1969.
The USS Spruance, the first Spruance-class anti-submarine destroyer, was named in his honor in 1972. He was nicknamed the human machine
In the film The Battle of Midway, her role is played by Glenn Ford.