Lt. Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare, one of America’s first aces of World War II, photographed beside a Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter. On February 20, 1942, the carrier USS Lexington was launching her planes to attack the Japanese bastion of Rabaul in the Southwest Pacific. The “Lady Lex” was discovered by a Japanese search plane, a large four-engine Kawanishi flying boat, which radioed the location of the Lexington. The snooper was soon dispatched by the skipper of Lexington’s fighters, Lt. Commander John Thach, another Navy great of World War II. Later that afternoon, the Japanese sent nine bombers to attack the carrier. Commander Thach led six F4F’s to the intercept. Soon, nine more Japanese bombers were reported on their way to the Lexington’s position. Butch O’Hare was in one of six other Wildcats that took off to intercept the enemy planes before they could get within range of the Lexington. Heading towards the approaching attackers, Butch O’Hare was the first to spot the vee of enemy planes. He and his wingman dove to cut-off the Japanese from the Lexington. The four other Wildcats were too far away to intercept before the enemy planes would be over the Lexington. During their dive on the nine bombers, O’Hare’s wingman discovered his guns were jammed. He had to turn away from the attack, which left Butch O’Hare alone between the Japanese attackers and the Lexington. O’Hare didn’t hesitate. Maneuvering his stubby Wildcat into firing position time and time again, all the while attracting the concentrated defensive fire of the nine enemy bombers, Butch O’Hare demonstrated incredible courage, coolness and skill while he downed five of the nine enemy planes. After the fifth bomber headed toward its watery grave, Commander Thach arrived on the scene with the other Wildcat pilots. This was fortunate as O’Hare’s F4F was out of ammunition. After the surviving attackers departed, O’Hare landed back on the Lexington, a ship for which he is credited as saving. For his selfless, gallant actions of February 20, 1942, he would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
On the night of November 27, 1943, America lost the great Butch O’Hare. His F6F Hellcat was shot down during a night mission, and possibly by friendly fire.
Chicago’s O’Hare Airport is named in his honor. There is a display in the terminal dedicated to Butch O’Hare, complete with a Wildcat fighter.
Photograph credit: National Archives
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