Medal of Honor: David McCampbell – World War II, June 19 & October 24, 1944

David McCampbell
Commander, U.S. Navy
Conflict: World War II
Unit: Air Group 15 (“Fabled Fifteen”)
Date of Action: June 19 and October 24, 1944
Location: Philippine Sea

Summary of Action:
On June 19, 1944, the sky above the Philippine Sea exploded into one of the largest carrier battles in naval history—and one man carved his name into aviation immortality.

Commander David McCampbell, leading Air Group 15 off the deck of USS Essex, took to the skies to defend the fleet against a wave of 80 Japanese carrier-based aircraft. Against overwhelming odds, McCampbell didn’t flinch. He didn’t hesitate. He attacked.

In a single engagement, he downed seven enemy planes—personally. His leadership and fury turned the tide of what became known as the “Marianas Turkey Shoot,” where U.S. pilots decimated the Japanese air arm and permanently crippled its carrier aviation.

But his war was far from over.

Four months later, on October 24, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf—the largest naval battle in history—McCampbell again launched from Essex, this time with only one wingman. As a formation of 60 Japanese aircraft raced toward the U.S. fleet, McCampbell intercepted them alone.

Just two American fighters against sixty enemy planes.

The result? Nine Japanese aircraft fell to McCampbell’s guns that day. His audacity and skill shattered the formation and forced the remaining planes to flee—none reached the fleet.

In those two legendary dogfights, David McCampbell shot down sixteen aircraft. By war’s end, he had 34 confirmed kills—the most of any Navy pilot, ever.

McCampbell didn’t just dominate the skies—he owned them. His fearless example became the gold standard of naval aviation and left a legacy still revered by every fighter pilot who straps in today.

Medal of Honor Citation:
*"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commander, Air Group 15, during combat against enemy Japanese aerial forces in the first and second battles of the Philippine Sea.

An inspiring leader, fighting boldly in the face of terrific odds, Comdr. McCampbell led his fighter planes against a force of 80 Japanese carrier-based aircraft bearing down on our fleet on 19 June 1944. Striking fiercely in valiant defense of our surface force, he personally destroyed 7 hostile planes during this single engagement in which the outnumbering attack force was utterly routed and virtually annihilated.

During a major fleet engagement with the enemy on 24 October, Comdr. McCampbell, assisted by but one plane, intercepted and daringly attacked a formation of 60 hostile land-based craft approaching our forces. Fighting desperately but with superb skill against such overwhelming airpower, he shot down 9 Japanese planes and, completely disorganizing the enemy group, forced the remainder to abandon the attack before a single aircraft could reach the fleet.

His great personal valor and indomitable spirit of aggression under extremely perilous combat conditions reflect the highest credit upon Comdr. McCampbell and the U.S. Naval Service."*