Medal of Honor: Bruce Avery Van Voorhis – World War II – July 6, 1943

Name: Bruce Avery Van Voorhis
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Branch: U.S. Navy
War: World War II
Unit: Bombing Squadron 102 (VB-102)
Aircraft: PB4Y-1 Patrol Bomber
Date of Action: July 6, 1943
Location: Japanese-held Greenwich Island, Solomon Islands

Summary of Action

On 6 July 1943, Lieutenant Commander Bruce Avery Van Voorhis commanded Bombing Squadron 102 while serving as aircraft commander of a PB4Y-1 patrol bomber during the Solomon Islands campaign.

With intelligence indicating the possibility of a surprise Japanese attack against Allied forces, Van Voorhis volunteered to undertake an extremely hazardous mission against the enemy base on Japanese-held Greenwich Island.

Knowing the odds of survival were slim, he departed in complete darkness on a solitary flight of more than 700 miles without fighter escort or supporting aircraft.

Despite poor visibility, difficult terrain, and changing winds, he successfully navigated to the target.

Arriving over the island, Van Voorhis immediately encountered intense anti-aircraft fire and overwhelming enemy fighter opposition.

Rather than break off the attack, he repeatedly pressed home his assault.

Enemy fighters forced his aircraft lower with each pass, but he continued attacking at ground level.

Making six daring low-altitude bombing and strafing runs, he systematically destroyed the enemy's radio station, military installations, anti-aircraft positions, and gun crews.

During the engagement, he also shot down one Japanese fighter aircraft and destroyed three additional enemy aircraft on the water.

Having abandoned any realistic chance of returning safely, Van Voorhis continued the attack until his aircraft was caught in the blast of its own bombs during the final run.

The damaged bomber crashed into the lagoon just offshore, killing him and his crew.

His lone attack inflicted severe damage upon the enemy installation and contributed directly to the continued Allied offensive that ultimately drove Japanese forces from the Solomon Islands.

Lieutenant Commander Bruce Avery Van Voorhis' extraordinary courage, determination, and willingness to sacrifice his life reflected the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

VAN VOORHIS, BRUCE AVERY

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy.

Born: 29 January 1908, Aberdeen, Washington.

Appointed from: Nevada.

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Squadron Commander of Bombing Squadron 102 and as Plane Commander of a PB4Y-1 Patrol Bomber operating against the enemy on Japanese-held Greenwich Island during the Battle of the Solomon Islands on 6 July 1943.

Fully aware of the limited chance of surviving an urgent mission, voluntarily undertaken to prevent a surprise Japanese attack against our forces, Lieutenant Commander Van Voorhis took off in total darkness on a perilous 700-mile flight without escort or support.

Successful in reaching his objective despite treacherous and varying winds, low visibility, and difficult terrain, he fought a lone but relentless battle under fierce anti-aircraft fire and overwhelming aerial opposition.

Forced lower and lower by pursuing planes, he coolly persisted in his mission of destruction.

Abandoning all chance of a safe return, he executed six bold ground-level attacks to demolish the enemy's vital radio station, installations, anti-aircraft guns and crews with bombs and machine-gun fire, and to destroy one fighter plane in the air and three on the water.

Caught in his own bomb blast, Lieutenant Commander Van Voorhis crashed into the lagoon off the beach, sacrificing himself in a single-handed fight against almost insuperable odds to make a distinctive contribution to our continued offensive in driving the Japanese from the Solomons and, by his superb daring, courage, and resoluteness of purpose, enhanced the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life for his country.