The first U.S. Navy ace of the war was Edward “Butch” O’Hare , who was flying Grumman F4F Wildcats with Squadron VF-3 aboard the carrier Lexington during early 1942. On 20 February, he intercepted a raid on his ship by eight Mitsubishi F4M bombers, and in quick succession shot down of these and damaged a sixth for the expenditure of about 360 rounds of ammunition. In each case, he concentrated his firing on one of the bombers engines. For this outstanding exploit he was awarded America’s highest decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor. Flying Hellcats, he later increased his score to twelve, but was shot down by mistake by the gunner of an American bomber at night on 26 November 1943. O’Hare International Airport, Illinois, is named in his honor. |
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