Captain David McCampbell

Captain David McCampbell (January 16, 1910 – June 30, 1996) was a leading US Naval Aviator and Medal of Honor recipient, and the US Navy’s all-time leading ACE with 34 aerial victories during WW2. The third-highest scoring US flying ace of WW2, he was the highest-scoring ace to survive the war. For his service in command of Air Group 15, McCampbell received the Medal of Honour, the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, the Distinguished Flyuing Cross with two Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third awards, and the Air Medal. Air Group 15 destroyed more enemy planes (315 airborne and 348 on the ground) and sank more enemy shipping than any other Air Group in the Pacific War. On June 19, 1944, during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," Commander McCampbell shot down five Japanese Judy Dive Bombers, to become an "ace in a day". Later that afternoon, during a second sortie, McCampbell downed another two Zekes over Guam. On October 24, 1944, he became the only American airman to achieve "ace in a day" status twice. McCampbell and his wingman attacked a Japanese force of 60 aircraft. McCampbell shot down nine, setting a U.S. single mission aerial combat record. During this same action, his wingman downed another six Japanese warplanes. When he landed his Grumman FGF Hellcat aboard USS Langley (Essex's flight deck wasn't clear), his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and his airplane had to be manually released from the arrestor wire due to complete fuel exhaustion. Commander McCampbell received the MOH for both actions, becoming the only Fast Carrier Task Force Pilot to be so honored.