|
|
| |
| |
Congressional Medal of Honor - Marine Corps Recipients
Marine Corps Aviators Who Received the Medal of Honor in World War II
Of the 81 Medals of Honor awarded to Marines for service during World War II, 11 Marine Corps aviators received America's highest military award. Except for two posthumous awards, the medals all went to aces who served in the Solomons and Bougainville campaigns. The Medal of Honor was awarded to Captain Henry T. Elrod of VMF-211 and Captain Richard E. Fleming of VMSB-241. Captain Elrod was killed on Wake in December 1941. Although his award is chronologically the first Medal of Honor to be awarded to a Marine during the war, his performance did not become known until survivors of Wake had been repatriated after the war.
Captain Fleming was a dive-bomber pilot at Midway in 1942. VMSB-241 flew both the obsolete Vought SB2U Vindicator and the SBD Dauntless during this pivotal battle. On 5 June 1942, Captain Fleming was last seen diving on a Japanese ship amidst a wall of flak. HIs Vindicator struck the cruiser's aft turret.
Two of the remaining nine awards were for specific actions; the other seven were for periods of continued service or more than one mission. Seven of these awards were for service in the Solomons-Guadalcanal Campaign. The awards for specific actions went to First Lieutenant Jefferson DeBlanc (31 January 1943) and First Lieutenant James E. Swett (7 April 1943).
Five of these awards were originally posthumous. However, Major Gregory Boyington made a surprise return from captivity as a prisoner of war to receive his award in person from President Harry S Truman.
The Pilots and Their Aircraft *Lieutenant Colonel Harold W. Bauer, VMF-212. For service from May to November 1942. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat.
Major Gregory Boyington, VMF-214. For service from September 1943 to January 1944 in the Central Solomons. Vought F4U-1 /F4U-1A Corsair.
First Lieutenant Jefferson J. DeBlanc, VMF-112. For action on 31 January 1943. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat.
*Captain Henry T. Elrod, VMF-211. For action on Wake Island 8-23 December 1941. Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat.
*Captain Richard E. Fleming, VMSB-241. For action at the Battle of Midway, 4-5 June 1942. Vought SB2U-3 Vindicator.
Captain Joseph J. Foss, VMF-121. For service in the Guadalcanal Campaign, October 1942-January 1943. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat.
Major Robert E. Galer, VMF-224. For service in the Guadalcanal Campaign, August-September 1942. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat.
*First Lieutenant Robert M. Hanson, VMF-215. For action in the Central Solomons, November 1943 and January 1944. Vought F4U-1 Corsair.
Major John L. Smith, VMF-223. For service in the Guadalcanal Campaign, August-September 1942. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat.
First Lieutenant James E. Swett, VMF-221. For action on 7 April 1943 over Guadalcanal. Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat.
First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh, VMF-124. For action on 15 and 30 August 1943. Vought F4U-1 Corsair.
* indicates a posthumous award
Marines in World War II Commemorative Series
THIS PAMPHLET HISTORY, one in a series devoted to U.S. Marines in the World War II era, is published for the education and training of Marines by the History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., as a part of the U.S. Department of Defense observance of the 50th anniversary of victory in that war.
All titles from this series have been converted to the Web and can be accessed from the links below. Paper copies of these and other titles in this series may be purchased by contacting the Superintendent of Documents. Order information can obtained by accessing the Publications Website for the United States Marine Corp's History and Musuems Division .
DIRECTOR OF MARINE CORPS HISTORY AND MUSEUMS
Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, USMC (Ret)
GENERAL EDITOR,
WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATIVE SERIES
Benis M. Frank
CARTOGRAPHIC CONSULTANT
George C. MacGillivray
EDITING AND DESIGN SECTION, HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION
Robert E. Struder, Senior Editor; W. Stephen Hill, Visual Information Specialist;
Catherine A. Kerns, Composition Services Technician, R.D. Payne, NPS VolunteerWeb Edition
Marine Corps Historical Center
Building 58, Washington Navy Yard
Washington, D.C. 20374-5040
And a Few Marines: Marines in the Liberation of the Philippines. Capt John C. Chapin. USMC (Ret). 1997. 28 pp.
From Shanghai to Corregidor: Marines in the Defense of the Philippines. J. Michael Miller. 1997. 44 pp.
Securing the Surrender: Marines in the Occupation of Japan. Charles R. Smith. 1997. 44 pp.
Top of the Ladder: Marine Operations North Solomons. Capt John C. Chapin. USMC (Ret). 1997. 32 pp.
Bloody Beaches: The Marines at Peleliu. BGen Gordon D. Gayle. USMC (Ret). 1996. 48 pp.
Condition Red: Marine Defense Battalions in World War II. Maj Charles D. Melson. USMC (Ret). 1996. 32 pp.
The Final Campaign: Marines in the Victory on Okinawa. Col Joseph H. Alexander. USMC (Ret). 1996. 52 pp.
From Makin to Bougainville: Marine Raiders in the Pacific War. Maj Jon T. Hoffman. USMCR. 1995. 40 pp.
The Right to Fight: African-American Marines in World War II. Bernard C. Nalty 1995. 28 pp.
Breaching the Marianas: The Battle for Saipan. Capt John C. Chapin. USMCR (Ret). 1994. 36 pp.
Breaking the Outer Ring: Marine Landings in the Marshall Islands. Capt John C. Chapin. USMCR (Ret). 1994. 28 pp.
A Close Encounter: The Marine Landing on Tinian. Richard Harwood. 1994. 32 pp.
Cape Gloucester: The Green Inferno. Bernard C. Nalty. 1994. 32 pp.
Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima. Col Joseph H. Alexander. USMC (Ret). 1994. 52 pp.
Free A Marine to Fight: Women Marines in World War II. Col Mary V. Stremlow. USMCR. 1994. 40 pp.
Liberation: Marines in the Recapture of Guam. Cyril J. O'Brien. 1994. 44 pp.
Across the Reef: The Marine Assault of Tarawa. Col Joseph H. Alexander, USMC (Ret). 1993. 52 pp.
Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942-1944. Cdr Peter B. Mersky. U.S. Naval Reserve. 1993. 40 pp.
Up the Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons. Maj Charles D. Melson, USMC (Ret). 1993. 36 pp.
Opening Moves: Marines Gear Up for War. Henry I. Shaw, Jr. 1991. 24 pp.
A Different War: Marines in Europe and North Africa. LtCol Harry W. Edwards, USMC (Ret). 1994. 32 pp.
A Magnificent Fight: Marines in the Battle For Wake Island. Robert J. Cressman. 1992. 36 pp.
First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal. Henry I. Shaw, Jr. 1992. 52 pp.
Infamous Day: Marines at Pearl Harbor. Robert J. Cressman and J. Michael Wenger. 1992. 32 pp.
Outpost in the N. Atlantic: Marines in the Defense of Iceland. Col James A. Donovan, USMC (Ret). 1992. 32 pp.
Of related interest...
Silk Chutes and Hard Fighting: U.S. Marine Corps Parachute Units in World War II. LtCol Jon T. Hoffman, USMCR. 1999. 38 pp.
Return to Marine Corps Index
|
|
|
|
|
|
Articles & Briefings
