Raymond Spruance
US Navy Admiral
Died when: 83 years 163 days (1001 months)Star Sign: Cancer
Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 – December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II.He commanded U.S. naval forces during one of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
He also commanded Task Force 16 at the Battle of Midway, comprising the carriers Enterprise and Hornet.At Midway, dive bombers from the Enterprise crippled two carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Kaga and the flagship Akagi.
Most historians consider Midway the turning point of the Pacific War.Official Navy historian Samuel Eliot Morison characterized Spruance's performance as "superb", and was nicknamed "electric brain" for his calmness even in moments of supreme crisis, a reputation enhanced by his successful tactics.
He emerged from the war one of the greatest admirals in American naval history".After the war, Spruance was appointed President of the Naval War College, and later served as American ambassador to the Philippines.
