Medal of Honor: John James Powers - World War II - May 4-8, 1942

Name: John James Powers
Rank: Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Navy
War: World War II
Unit: Bombing Squadron 5
Date of Action: May 4-8, 1942
Location: Coral Sea area, Pacific Theater

Summary of Action

During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Lieutenant John James Powers became one of the most aggressive and fearless dive-bomber pilots in the United States Navy.

From 4 to 8 May 1942, he participated in repeated attacks against Japanese naval forces during the first major carrier battle in history.

On 4 May, Powers attacked enemy shipping near Tulagi.

Flying directly through intense anti-aircraft fire, he scored a direct hit that destroyed a Japanese gunboat or destroyer and severely damaged additional enemy vessels. He then strafed another enemy ship at dangerously low altitude until all of his ammunition was exhausted.

But it was during the carrier battles of 7 and 8 May that Powers’ courage became legendary.

On 7 May, he led a three-plane section of Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers against a Japanese aircraft carrier.

Ignoring the deadly wall of anti-aircraft fire rising toward him, Powers continued his dive far below the normal safety altitude.

He deliberately held his attack until the last possible second to guarantee a direct hit.

Observers watched as his bomb slammed into the carrier, triggering a catastrophic explosion that engulfed the ship in flames and smoke before it sank beneath the sea.

That evening, Powers addressed the pilots of his squadron as their gunnery officer.

He explained the importance of low-altitude bombing for accuracy—but also openly acknowledged the terrible risks: enemy fire, low pull-outs, and even the danger from their own bomb blasts.

He knew exactly how dangerous his tactics were.

And he intended to lead by example.

On the morning of 8 May, before climbing into his aircraft for another strike, he told the other pilots:

“Remember the folks back home are counting on us. I am going to get a hit if I have to lay it on their flight deck.”

Again he led his section through anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters toward a Japanese carrier.

Again he ignored the safety altitude.

Again he held his dive lower and lower to ensure a direct hit.

He released his bomb almost directly above the enemy ship.

He was last seen attempting to recover from the dive at only 200 feet amid exploding shells, flames, smoke, and debris from the stricken carrier.

He never returned.

His extraordinary courage, deliberate self-sacrifice, and relentless devotion to mission accomplishment reflected the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

POWERS, JOHN JAMES

For distinguished and conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, while pilot of an airplane of Bombing Squadron 5, Lt. Powers participated, with his squadron, in 5 engagements with Japanese forces in the Coral Sea area and adjacent waters during the period 4 to 8 May 1942. Three attacks were made on enemy objectives at or near Tulagi on 4 May. In these attacks he scored a direct hit which instantly demolished a large enemy gunboat or destroyer and is credited with 2 close misses, 1 of which severely damaged a large aircraft tender, the other damaging a 20,000-ton transport. He fearlessly strafed a gunboat, firing all his ammunition into it amid intense antiaircraft fire. This gunboat was then observed to be leaving a heavy oil slick in its wake and later was seen beached on a nearby island. On 7 May, an attack was launched against an enemy airplane carrier and other units of the enemy’s invasion force. He fearlessly led his attack section of 3 Douglas Dauntless dive bombers, to attack the carrier. On this occasion he dived in the face of heavy antiaircraft fire, to an altitude well below the safety altitude, at the risk of his life and almost certain damage to his own plane, in order that he might positively obtain a hit in a vital part of the ship, which would insure her complete destruction. This bomb hit was noted by many pilots and observers to cause a tremendous explosion engulfing the ship in a mass of flame, smoke, and debris. The ship sank soon after. That evening, in his capacity as Squadron Gunnery Officer, Lt. Powers gave a lecture to the squadron on point-of-aim and diving technique. During this discourse he advocated low release point in order to insure greater accuracy; yet he stressed the danger not only from enemy fire and the resultant low pull-out, but from own bomb blast and bomb fragments. Thus his low-dive bombing attacks were deliberate and premeditated, since he well knew and realized the dangers of such tactics, but went far beyond the call of duty in order to further the cause which he knew to be right. The next morning, 8 May, as the pilots of the attack group left the ready room to man planes, his indomitable spirit and leadership were well expressed in his own words, “Remember the folks back home are counting on us. 1 am going to get a hit if 1 have to lay it on their flight deck.” He led his section of dive bombers down to the target from an altitude of 18,000 feet, through a wall of bursting antiaircraft shells and into the face of enemy fighter planes. Again, completely disregarding the safety altitude and without fear or concern for his safety, Lt. Powers courageously pressed home his attack, almost to the very deck of an enemy carrier and did not release his bomb until he was sure of a direct hit. He was last seen attempting recovery from his dive at the extremely low altitude of 200 feet, and amid a terrific barrage of shell and bomb fragments, smoke, flame and debris from the stricken vessel.