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Photo # 80-G-424167:  Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen, photographed during World War II

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN (1886-1962)

Robert Carlisle Giffen was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on 29 June 1886. He attended the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana, before appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from the State of Nebraska in 1903. Midshipman Giffen graduated with the Academy's class of 1907 and was assigned to the battleship Virginia, in which he voyaged around the world with the "Great White Fleet" between late 1907 and early 1909. During the next four years, Giffen served in several ships and also participated regularly in the National Rifle Matches. Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Giffen served at the Washington Navy Yard in 1913-15 and was then assigned to the new destroyer Wainwright.

During 1917-1918, Lieutenant Commander Giffen commanded the destroyer Trippe in European Waters and served with the Sixth Battle Squadron, attached to the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea. In mid-1918 he took command of the new destroyer Schley, serving in her at Gibraltar and in the Mediterranean Sea until August 1919. From then until the middle 1930s he had shore duty at San Francisco, California, at the Naval Academy and at Keyport, Washington; served afloat as Executive Officer of USS Huron; and was Commanding Officer of the gunboat Sacramento, a Destroyer Squadron and the oiler Neches. Between 1934 and 1937, Captain Giffen was again stationed at the Naval Academy, followed by a tour in command of the light cruiser Savannah in 1938-1940.

Giffen attended the Naval War College in 1940 and spent several months in Washington, D.C., as Director of the Naval Reserve Policy Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. In March 1941, Rear Admiral Giffen became commander of a Cruiser Division. He led the North Atlantic Neutrality Patrol on increasingly "warlike" operations during the latter part of 1941, and, once war formally began in December, commanded surface forces that escorted convoys and, at times, operated with the British Home Fleet. In November 1942, he participated in the North Africa invasion, during which his task force actively engaged French warships and aircraft off Casablanca, Morocco.

During 1943 and into 1944, Rear Admiral Giffen commanded battleship and cruiser task forces in the Pacific, participating in the latter stages of the fight for Guadalcanal, the Aleutians campaign, the invasions of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands, and raids against Japanese bases in the central Pacific. In May 1944, with the rank of Vice Admiral, he became Commandant of the Tenth Naval District and Commander, Caribbean Sea Frontier, with headquarters at San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was Commander Service Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, from August 1945. Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen retired from active duty at the beginning of September 1946. He died at Annapolis, Maryland, on 10 December 1962.

This page features selected views of Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen.


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-424167

Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN


Photographed during World War II.
The original print bears a date of 27 December 1950, which is probably when it was received by the Naval Photographic Center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 55KB; 595 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 94644

Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN


Wearing a battle helmet while on board ship, circa 1942-1943.

Collection of Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 74113

U.S. Navy rifle team that first won the Auckland Cup


At Auckland, New Zealand, during the "Great White Fleet"'s visit there in 1908.
The team members, all 1906-1907 graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy, are identified in Photo # NH 74113 (complete caption).
Note their .30 caliber Krag-Jørgensen rifles, woven cartridge belts and variety of headgear.

Donation of Captain Ridley McLean, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93286

Rear Admiral Harold R. Stark, USN
,
Commander, Cruisers, Battle Force, and Commander, Cruiser Division Nine (seated, center)

Photographed with commanders of his Cruiser Divisions and ships, probably on board USS Honolulu (CL-48), circa 1939.
Those present are identified in Photo # NH 93286 (complete caption).

Collection of Admiral Harold R. Stark.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 52275

USS Kearny (DD-432)


The ship's torpedo damage is inspected by Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN, (left) and the Honorable Lincoln MacVeagh, U.S. Minister to Iceland, circa 19 October 1941. She had been torpedoed by a German submarine on 17 October, while escorting a convoy in the north Atlantic.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 605 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-21027

Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN
(left),
Commander, Task Force 99

Visits with a British Vice Admiral on board HMS Duke of York, probably at Scapa Flow.
Photo is dated 22 April 1942.
USS Wasp (CV-7) is in the right background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 94645

Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, USN


On board USS Massachusetts (BB-59) during the North Africa operation, circa November 1942.

Collection of Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-38833

Battle of Casablanca, November 1942


Flags flying from the masts of USS Massachusetts (BB-59) during the action, 8 November 1942.
The two-star flag is that of Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, commander of the North Africa invasion covering group.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 565 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 90962

Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, USN
(seated, center),
Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet

With other officers, during a visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 27 September 1944.
Seated beside Admiral Ingersoll are Vice Admiral Robert C. Giffen (left center) and Rear Admiral Walter K. Kilpatrick (right center). The others present may be members of VAdm. Giffen's staff.

Courtesy of Mrs. Arthur C. Nagle, 1980.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 17 May 2002