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N0KFQ > TODAY 20.02.08 08:31l 38 Lines 1705 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: Today in History - Feb 20
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To : TODAY@ALLUS
February 20, 1942
Pilot O'Hare becomes first American WWII flying ace
On this day, Lt. Edward O'Hare takes off from the aircraft
carrier Lexington in a raid against the Japanese position at
Rabaul-and minutes later becomes America's first flying ace.
In mid-February 1942, the Lexington sailed into the Coral Sea.
Rabaul, a town at the very tip of New Britain, one of the islands
that comprised the Bismarck Archipelago, had been invaded in
January by the Japanese and transformed into a stronghold--in
fact, one huge airbase. The Japanese were now in prime striking
position for the Solomon Islands, next on the agenda for
expanding their ever-growing Pacific empire. The Lexington's
mission was to destabilize the Japanese position on Rabaul with a
bombing raid.
Aboard the Lexington was U.S. Navy fighter pilot Lt. Edward
O'Hare, attached to Fighting Squadron 3 when the United States
entered the war. As the Lexington left Bougainville, the largest
of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific (and still free from
Japanese control), for Rabaul, ship radar picked up Japanese
bombers headed straight for the carrier. O'Hare and his team went
into action, piloting F4F Wildcats. In a mere four minutes,
O'Hare shot down five Japanese G4M1 Betty bombers--bringing a
swift end to the Japanese attack and earning O'Hare the
designation "ace" (given to any pilot who had five or more downed
enemy planes to his credit).
Although the Lexington blew back the Japanese bombers, the
element of surprise was gone, and the attempt to raid Rabaul was
aborted for the time being. O'Hare was awarded the Medal of Honor
for his bravery--and excellent aim.
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