Collection Guide:
Albums #1 and #2
Two photo albums related to VADM Giffen’s service as Commandant, Tenth Naval District, Caribbean Sea Frontier (headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico), 1944-1945. Images include portraits of Giffen, various social events, escorting visitors, (including Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet – ADM Jonas H. Ingram) ceremonies, inspections at both NAS San Juan (including USS Augusta) as other naval installations, fellow officers on base, base buildings (including interiors), and personal images. Also included are aerials views of Puerto Rico and USS Savannah in port.
Loose materials (formerly in an album)
These images reflect Giffen’s early WWII service in the North Atlantic as commander of a cruise division. The photographs represent views from USS Wasp (CV-7) as part of Task Force 39; USS Wichita (CA-45), from which Giffen flew his flag; as well as those taken by British ships. As Giffen operated frequently with the British Home Fleet, it is possible that he was given portions of these images directly from the British.
A large amount of photographs consists of ships in and around Greenland and Iceland, as well as bases onshore. Below is a subject matter listing:
Greenland: coast, October 1941
Iceland: USS Mississippi enroute to Iceland, 1941 (photo taken from USS Wasp); at anchor Iceland; onboard ship scenes; crews on shore in Quonset hut; bags of mail; views of base; aerials of Iceland, Iceland landscape (1944 taken from Wasp); officers club (1942); HMS Victorious in Iceland (taken from USS Wasp)
View of USS Plunkett (DD-431) with VS-72 and VS-71 in the background- taken from USS Wasp
Aircraft taking off from USS Wasp
Group of officers aboard ship – possibility USS Wasp
Adm Giffen aboard ship– commander of cruise division 7, COMTASKFOR 39 – April 1, 194
Sailors of USS Wasp at an aquarium & caves in Bermuda, May 1941
El Morro Castle, Havana, Cuba, October 25, 1940 – from USS Wasp
Ships at sea: USS Colorado (BB-45); USS Washington (BB-56); USS Chicago being towed by USS Louisville, January 30, 1943 following Japanese attack
Aerial views of the fleet
Unknown battle or engagement (oversized)
Signed photo to ADM Giffen from Frank Knox and Chester Nimitz, January 22, 1943 – group photo aboard USS Wichita (part of a series also includes ADM Halsey and McCain) – Giffen is commander of Task Force 18, of which Wichita was a part of off Guadalcanal. Extensive coverage of this grouping.
Downed TBF crew in a rubber boat in the South Pacific
Collection of British imagery:HMS Edinburgh (photos taken from the ship)
USS Wichita in the Atlantic
USS Wasp and destroyer escorts
USS Washington
British sailors waiving at US ships
Aircraft flying off USS Wasp as seen from British ship (HMS Edinburgh?)
Visit of US Navy admiralty (including Giffen) to HMS Duke of York, 1942
Aircraft at base (Iceland) and inspections (US airmen and Royal marines)
Visit by King George VI with Royal Navy and ADM Giffen, at Scapa Flow, June 1942 (the ship they are aboard is not identified)
British submarines: P-165 and P-614
