Lieutenant Edward Henry "butch" O'Hare, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on February 20, 1942 in South Pacific during World War II. At the time he was serving with Fighting Squadron 3, U.S.S. Lexington. O'Hare was 27 years old.
The medal was presented on April 21, 1942. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
O'Hare was born on March 13, 1914 in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri. O'Hare died on November 23, 1943 in South Pacific Area, at the age of 29. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in remains not recovered, Hawaii.
O'Hare is one of 474 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II and one of 78 credited to Missouri.
Official Medal of Honor citation
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 nine attacking twin-engined heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machine-gun and cannon fire. Despite his 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 five 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.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
How he died
- Manner of death: death in battle
- Age at death: 29
- Resting place: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Edward Henry "butch" O'Hare received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War II.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: United States Naval Academy, Western Military Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Missouri →
Timeline
- March 13, 1914Born in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri
- February 20, 1942Act of valor — South PacificAge 27. Fighting Squadron 3, U.S.S. Lexington
- April 21, 1942Medal of Honor presented
- November 23, 1943Died in South Pacific AreaAge 29.
- Resting placeNational Memorial Cemetery of the Pacificremains not recovered, Hawaii
Biography
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry O'Hare (March 13, 1914 – November 26, 1943) was an American naval aviator of the United States Navy, who on February 20, 1942, became the Navy's first fighter ace of the war when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Although he had a limited amount of ammunition, O'Hare was credited with shooting down five enemy bombers and became the first naval aviator recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II. O'Hare's final action took place on the night of November 26, 1943, while he was leading the U.S. Navy's first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier.
From the Wikipedia article “Edward O'Hare”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
Named in his honor
- O'Hare International Airport — commercial traffic aerodrome, airport
- USS O'Hare — destroyer
