Medal of Honor: Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc – World War II – Solomon Islands – January 1943

Name: Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc
Rank: Captain (then First Lieutenant)
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Unit: Marine Fighting Squadron 112 (VMF-112)
Place: Off Kolombangara Island, Solomon Islands
Entered Service At: Louisiana
Born: Lockport, Louisiana

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Summary of Action

On 31 January 1943, First Lieutenant Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc led a section of six Marine fighters escorting dive bombers and torpedo planes sent to attack Japanese surface forces near Kolombangara Island. At altitude, the American strike force encountered a large number of Japanese Zero fighters guarding the enemy ships. Lieutenant DeBlanc immediately engaged the enemy, repeatedly countering their attempts to break through and drive off the bombers.

Hearing urgent calls for help from American dive bombers under attack by enemy floatplanes at low altitude, Lieutenant DeBlanc broke off his engagement with the Zeros and dove into the floatplane formation. His sudden, aggressive action disrupted the attack and allowed the bombers and torpedo planes to complete their runs and withdraw safely.

Although his escort mission had been successfully completed and his fuel was critically low, Lieutenant DeBlanc remained in the combat area. Facing overwhelming odds, he boldly challenged the enemy floatplanes, destroyed three aircraft, and scattered the rest. As he climbed away to return to base, two Japanese Zeros closed in behind him. Turning to meet them, Lieutenant DeBlanc shot down both fighters in a short, vicious engagement that left his own aircraft fatally damaged.

With no chance of reaching friendly territory, Lieutenant DeBlanc bailed out at dangerously low altitude, landing in the treetops of enemy-held Kolombangara Island. His courage, tactical skill, and refusal to abandon the fight ensured the success of a critical strike and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy at extraordinary personal risk.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a section of six fighter planes in Marine Fighting Squadron 112, during aerial operations against enemy Japanese forces off Kolombangara Island in the Solomons Group, 31 January 1943. Taking off with his section as escort for a strike force of dive bombers and torpedo planes ordered to attack Japanese surface vessels, 1st Lt. DeBlanc led his flight directly to the target area where, at 14,000 feet, our strike force encountered a large number of Japanese Zeros protecting the enemy’s surface craft.

In company with the other fighters, 1st Lt. DeBlanc instantly engaged the hostile planes and aggressively countered their repeated attempts to drive off our bombers, persevering in his efforts to protect the diving planes and waging fierce combat until, picking up a call for assistance from the dive bombers, under attack by enemy float planes at 1,000 feet, he broke off his engagement with the Zeros, plunged into the formation of float planes and disrupted the savage attack, enabling our dive bombers and torpedo planes to complete their runs on the Japanese surface disposition and withdraw without further incident.

Although his escort mission was fulfilled upon the safe retirement of the bombers, 1st Lt. DeBlanc courageously remained on the scene despite a rapidly diminishing fuel supply and, boldly challenging the enemy’s superior number of float planes, fought a valiant battle against terrific odds, seizing the tactical advantage and striking repeatedly to destroy three of the hostile aircraft and to disperse the remainder.

Prepared to maneuver his damaged plane back to base, he had climbed aloft and set his course when he discovered two Zeros closing in behind. Undaunted, he opened fire and blasted both Zeros from the sky in a short, bitterly fought action which resulted in such hopeless damage to his own plane that he was forced to bail out at a perilously low altitude atop the trees on enemy-held Kolombangara. A gallant officer, a superb airman, and an indomitable fighter, 1st Lt. DeBlanc had rendered decisive assistance during a critical stage of operations, and his unwavering fortitude in the face of overwhelming opposition reflects the highest credit upon himself and adds new luster to the traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.