We have a bit more to thank this Thanksgiving ... Thanks Butch for your service and sacrifice. Rest in Peace.
Lt Butch O'Hare26 November 1943: At sunset, Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry O’Hare, United States Navy, Commander Air Group 6, took off from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) as part of an experimental three-plane night fighter team. Two Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighters of VF-2, piloted by O’Hara and Ensign Andy Skon, flew formation with a radar-equipped Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, call sign “Tare 97,” flown by Lieutenant Commander Phil Phillips. O’Hara was flying his personal airplane, Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat Bu. No. 66168, marked with “00” on the sides of its fuselage, the traditional identification of an air group commander’s (“CAG”) airplane.
The Avenger’s radar operator would guide the two fighters to intercept the groups of Japanese Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” torpedo bombers that had been making nightly attacks against the ships of Task Force 50.2. The U.S. Navy task force was operating in the waters northeast of Tarawa, supporting Operation Galvanic. The night fighter team engaged several enemy bombers with the TBF’s pilot Phillips, credited with shooting down two G4Ms with his forward-firing .50-caliber machine guns. Butch O’Hare and Andy Skon, both fired on other enemy bombers with their Hellcats’ six machine guns.
At about 7:30 p.m., the TBF was flying below at about 1,200 feet (365 meters), staying below the cloud bases, while the two F6Fs rejoined the formation. The TBF’s gunner, Al Kernan, saw both Hellcats with O’Hara approaching to join the the Avenger’s right wing. When O’Hara was about 400 feet (120 meters) away, the gunner saw a third airplane appear above and behind the two fighters. The Japanese G4M opened fire on O’Hara’s fighter with it’s 7.7 mm nose-mounted machine gun. Kernan returned fire with the TBF’s turret-mounted .50-caliber machine gun. The G4M quickly disappeared into the darkness.
Butch O’Hare’s F6F was seen to turn out of the formation, passing to the left underneath Skon’s fighter. Skon called O’Hara by radio but there was no response. The CAG’s Hellcat went into a dive then disappeared into the darkness. Skon tried to follow O’Hare, but had to pull out at about 300 feet (90 meters) to avoid crashing into the ocean. Neither O’Hare or his airplane were ever seen again. He is believed to have gone into the water at 7:34 p.m., 26 miles (42 kilometers) north-northwest of the carrier Enterprise.
Lieutenant Commander Edward H. O’Hare was listed as Missing in Action. One year after his disappearance, the status was officially changed to Killed in Action. One of the best known fighter pilots in the United States Navy, he was a hero to the people of America. He had been awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat during the early months of the war, nominated for a second Medal of Honor, and awarded the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. (Bryan R. Swopes, This day in Aviation)
On the ramp at NAS Kanehoe following some air-to-air motion picture work for the press
On the ramp at NAS Kanehoe Butch with his boss LCDR John S "Jimmy" Thach following some air-to-air motion picture work for the press
Butch and Jimmy at the O Club
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