A highly decorated combat veteran and the US Navy's all-time leading flying ace with 34 aerial victories, he received the award from President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House on January 10, 1945 for his actions as a US Navy commander with Air Group 15 assigned to the. Fighter Pilot David McCampbell On Sept. 15, 1942, the ship was sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign. Fire blazes from the USS Wasp as it sinks south of San Cristobal Island after being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, Sept. 15, 1942. On June 19, 1944, during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," Commander McCampbell shot down five Japanese Yokosuka D4Y 'Judy' dive-bombers, to become an "ace in a day". It didnt turn out that way. In minutes McCampbell had logged five kills and one probable. At age 10, the family moved to West Palm Beach, Florida where his father opened a furniture store. During this same action, his wingman downed another six Japanese warplanes. Because Congress had limited the number of officer commissions as the result of funding shortfalls, McCampbell became an ensign in the Naval Reserve. Discover David McCampbell's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. When he was about 12, the family moved him and his older sister, Frances, to West Palm. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McCampbell#Aerial_victories. He received his "wings of gold" as a Naval Aviator on April 21, 1938 and was assigned to Fighting Squadron Four (VF-4) on the aircraft carrier USSRanger to May 1940. The young ensign's first duty station was aboard the USS Portland. He returned to Alabama to work in construction and in an aircraft assembly plant for a year. He returned to the United States, was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and was stationed at Naval Air Station Melbourne, Florida as LSO Instructor until August 1943. After landing his aircraft was found to only have two rounds of ammunition left and had to be manually moved along the flight deck as it was completely out of fuel. Welcome to your free, online resource on Alabama history, culture, geography, and natural environment. Subsequently he became a landing signal officer and survived the sinking of USS Wasp (CV-7) off Guadalcanal in September 1942. Jesse Beckett is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE. During a major fleet engagement with the enemy on October 24, Comdr. McCampbell and the Essex airmen were involved in numerous actions in the Pacific theater of operations, including strikes against the Japanese islands of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Guam. McCampbells pilots accounted for approximately 68 of the 600 Japanese aircraft downed. Medal of Honor Monday: Navy Capt. David McCampbell On Oct. 24, 1944, during the infamous Battle of Leyte Gulf, McCampbell and a fellow pilot, Ensign Roy Rushing, took on 60 hostile Japanese aircraft that were approaching U.S. ships. Now the gaggle of Zeros, Tonys, Hamps, and Oscars reacted by going into a Lufbery! While there, he was an accomplished diver who competed in NCAA regional championships. McCampbell and his wingman attacked a Japanese force of 60 aircraft. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people, Capt. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil. Alabama native David McCampbell (1910-1996) was the leading U.S. Navy fighter pilot in World War II, performing actions that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor and other military decorations. The third-highest scoring US flying ace of World War II, he was the highest-scoring ace to survive the war. McCampbell, David, Capt., USN (Ret.) - U.S. Naval Institute He was the third-highest American scoring ace of World War II and the highest-scoring American ace to survive the war. Pacific Wrecks - Captain David McCampbell - U.S. Navy (USN) Fighter David Miscampbell Profiles | Facebook The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American pilots in U.S. military service, and the only ones in World War II. I found out from the mechanic that re-ammunitioned the guns that I had exactly six rounds left in the starboard outboard gun, and they were all jammed.". We use cookies to enhance your personalized experience for ads, analytics, and more. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 86 years old? After the war ended McCampbell served as the Chief of Staff to the Commander Fleet Air at NAS Norfolk, Virginia for two years. There's also the David McCampbell terminal at the Palm Beach International Airport, which was named for him when the airport opened in . His great personal valor and indomitable spirit of aggression under extremely perilous combat conditions reflect the highest credit upon Comdr. During this same action, his wingman downed another six Japanese warplanes. In a June 19, 1944, action that came to be known as the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, McCampbell led his F6F Hellcat fighter planes against 80 Japanese aircraft, and he shot down five bombers and two fighters.
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