USS McClusky FFG 41 / Rear Admiral Clarence Wade McClusky, jr. / Oliver Hazard Perry class Guided Missile Frigate
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Guided Missile Frigate

FFG 41   -   USS McClusky

USS McClusky (FFG 41)

US Navy photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Frigate; Oliver Hazard Perry – class (long hull);

planned and built as FFG 41;

Builder:

 

Todd Pacific Shipyard, San Pedro, California, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: April 27, 1979;

Laid down: October 21, 1981;

Launched: September 18, 1982;

Commissioned: December 10, 1983;

ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Pacific Fleet)

Homeport:

 

San Diego, California, USA

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of Rear Admiral Clarence Wade McClusky, Jr. (1902 – 1976);

> see history, below;

Ship's Motto:

 

> PERSISTENT - COURAGEOUS - VICTORIOUS <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Frigate / Oliver Hazard Perry - class.

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

Clarence Wade McClusky, Jr.

FAdm Nimitz (l) & LCdr McClusky (r)

 

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center

 

Namesake & History:

Rear Admiral Clarence Wade McClusky, Jr. (June 1, 1902 – June 27, 1976):

 

Clarence W. McClusky, Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York, on 1 June 1902. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1926 and became a Naval Aviator three years later. Over the next decade, he served in several air units, as well as on command staffs, as an instructor at the Naval Academy and at shore facilities. In 1940 he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), based on USS Enterprise (CV-6), and assumed command of that squadron in April 1941.

He assumed command of the USS ENTERPRISE (CV 6) Carrier Air Group Six in April 1942. In the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942 he led two squadrons of his air group on a skillful search to discover and destroy the powerful Japanese carrier striking force of Admiral Nagumo, successfully eliminating the KAGA and AKAGI. A third enemy carrier, SORYU, fell victim to USS YORKTOWN dive bombers led by Lieutenant M.F. Leslie, USN. The fourth and remaining Japanese carrier, HIRYU, was later sunk by the combined attacks of YORKTOWN and ENTERPRISE planes. As Samuel Eliot Morrison recorded in the two-ocean war, "Never has there been a sharper turn in the fortunes of war than on that June day when McClusky and Leslie's dive bombers snatched the palm of victory from Nagumo's masthead, where he had nailed it on December 7."


For outstanding service while attached to USS ENTERPRISE, participating in raids on the Marshall, Wake, Gilbert and Marcus islands and the Battle of Midway, he was awarded the Air Medal, the Distinguised Flying Cross, a letter of Commendation with Ribbon, a Ribbon and facsimile of the Presidential Unit Citation to the ENTERPRISE, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Navy Cross.


Captain McClusky served in a variety of staff and shore positions in the later 1940s. During the Korean War, he was Chief of Staff to the Commanders of the First and Seventh Fleets. He commanded Naval Air Station, Glenview, Illinois, in 1952-53, and the Boston Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in 1954-56.

Admiral McClusky held the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp; the American Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II victory Medal, Naval Occupation Service Medal, Asia Clasp, China Service Medal, National Defense Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. He retired on July 1, 1956 and was advanced to the rank of Rear Admiral on the basis of combat awards.

Rear Admiral McClusky died June 27, 1976.

 

USS McClusky (FFG 41):

 

Important Events since commissioning:

1986: Involved in the patrolling of Taiwan International Waters during Chinese large scale exercises in region.
1991: Changed homeports to Yokosuka Japan. USS McCLUSKY assisted in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of civilians from the Philippines during eruption of Mt Pinatubo.
1992: The ship visited Vladivostok Russia, the first ship to do so after the break up of the Soviet Union.
1996: After three Arabian Gulf Deployments, 15 Bilateral exercises and over 40 port visits, McCLUSKY departs Yokosuka for homeport shift back to San Diego.
2000: First Counter Narcotics Operation – numerous drug seizures
2002: While on deployment McCLUSKY rescued Richard Van Pham.
2003: Battle “E” Winner

 

... more FFG 41 history wanted ...

 

… and patches …

 

 

 

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