Medal of Honor: David McCampbell, World War II (Pacific Theater), October 24, 1944

Name: David McCampbell
Rank: Commander
War: World War II (Pacific Theater)
Dates of Action: June 19, 1944 (Philippine Sea) & October 24, 1944 (Leyte Gulf)
Unit: Air Group 15, U.S. Navy
Born: January 16, 1910 — Bessemer, Alabama
Entered Service From: Florida

Summary of Action

As commander of Air Group 15 aboard carrier Task Force 58, McCampbell led from the front. On June 19, 1944—the fabled “Marianas Turkey Shoot”—he drove headlong into a wave of roughly 80 incoming Japanese carrier aircraft, personally downing seven in a single sortie and helping break the enemy strike before it reached American ships. Four months later, during the opening blows of Leyte Gulf (Oct. 24), McCampbell and one wingman intercepted about 60 land-based aircraft. Diving in with cool precision, he shot down nine more and scattered the rest, denying the enemy any chance to hit the fleet. His audacity, marksmanship, and calm command cemented him as the Navy’s leading ace of the war and a legend of carrier aviation.

Medal of Honor Citation

McCAMPBELL, DAVID
Rank and organization: Commander, U.S. Navy, Air Group 15. Place and date: First and second battles of the Philippine Sea, 19 June 1944. Entered service at: Florida. Born: 16 January 1910, Bessemer, Ala. Other Navy awards: Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Gold Stars, Air Medal.
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 1 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.