Medal of Honor: Edward Henry O’Hare – U.S. Navy – World War II

Name: Edward Henry O’Hare
Rank: Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Navy
Unit: Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3)
Place: Pacific Theater
Entered Service At: St. Louis, Missouri
Born: 13 March 1914, St. Louis, Missouri
Other Awards: Navy Cross; Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Gold Star

Summary of Action

On 20 February 1942, Lt. Edward H. O’Hare was flying as section leader of Fighting Squadron 3 when an enemy formation of nine twin-engine Japanese heavy bombers advanced toward his aircraft carrier.

Separated from his teammates and without support, O’Hare found himself alone between the incoming bombers and his ship.

Without hesitation, he interposed his fighter between the enemy formation and the carrier. Diving directly into the attack at close range and under intense combined machinegun and cannon fire, he made repeated firing passes against the bombers. Carefully conserving his limited ammunition, he demonstrated extraordinary marksmanship and cool determination.

One by one, enemy bombers fell from the sky.

Lt. O’Hare shot down five of the nine attackers and severely damaged a sixth before they could reach bomb-release point. His single-handed defense broke up the attack and forced the surviving aircraft to withdraw.

His fearless action almost certainly saved his carrier from devastating damage and stands as one of the most daring single combat performances in naval aviation history.

Medal of Honor Citation

O’HARE, EDWARD HENRY

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in aerial combat, at grave risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as section leader and pilot of Fighting Squadron 3 on 20 February 1942. Having lost the assistance of his teammates, Lt. O’Hare interposed his plane between his ship and an advancing enemy formation of 9 attacking twin-engine heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machinegun and cannon fire. Despite this concentrated opposition, Lt. O’Hare, by his gallant and courageous action, his extremely skillful marksmanship in making the most of every shot of his limited amount of ammunition, shot down 5 enemy bombers and severely damaged a sixth before they reached the bomb release point. As a result of his gallant action—one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single action in the history of combat aviation—he undoubtedly saved his carrier from serious damage.