355fg Posted June 22, 2017 Share #1 Posted June 22, 2017 2nd Lt. Leonard H Whittington KIA 4 June 1942 During the battle of Midway, planes from the island were sent out on the morning of June 4th to attack the Japanese fleet. Among those sent on the mission were four B-26 Marauders armed with torpedoes. Lt. Whittington's aircraft was flying on the right side of a diamond formation as it approached the enemy fleet and was immediately attacked by the protecting Zeros. It crashed into the sea with no survivors. Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Leonard H. Whittington. Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Co-Pilot on a B-26 Medium Bomber of the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, 22d Bombardment Group (M), FAR EAST Air Force (Detached), in aerial action against enemy surface forces on 4 June 1942, during an engagement near Midway Island. Lieutenant Whittington displayed extraordinary heroism during a torpedo-bombing mission against the Japanese Navy. The success of the mission was dependent entirely upon the skill, courageousness and unfaltering devotion to duty of the crew members of the airplanes participating, who unhesitatingly entered into the attack at great personal risk tot heir own lives in the face of concentrated gunfire of the Japanese Naval forces and fighter planes. During this, the first torpedo attack ever carried out by the Army Air Forces, the airplane on which Lieutenant Whittington was co-pilot, was lost. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Second Lieutenant Whittington on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. Headquarters: Hawaiian Department, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 117 (1942) Home Town: Texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted June 22, 2017 A painting depicting the begining of the attack with the enemy carriers in the distance. Lt. Whittington's aircraft has already been hit and is streaming smoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted June 22, 2017 Lt. Whittington Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted June 22, 2017 Report Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted June 22, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted June 22, 2017 Statement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doinworkinvans Posted June 22, 2017 Share #6 Posted June 22, 2017 WOW! 355...youve been showing off some great items lately! What a beautiful, and very early purple heart. I cant imagine those early attack runs and what those airmen must have been feeling. Thank you for keeping this gentleman's story alive. Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted June 22, 2017 Share #7 Posted June 22, 2017 Ditto the above... wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted June 22, 2017 Share #8 Posted June 22, 2017 A rare Purple Heart for sure. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted June 22, 2017 Share #9 Posted June 22, 2017 Very rare indeed. Thanks for sharing and remembering his sacrifice! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted June 22, 2017 Share #10 Posted June 22, 2017 That's incredible...I had no idea that even took place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 22, 2017 Share #11 Posted June 22, 2017 WoW ! Thanks for sharing this and the excellent write up Keith, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuftStalg1 Posted June 22, 2017 Share #12 Posted June 22, 2017 Wow, just an amazing piece of history! Thx for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted June 23, 2017 Share #13 Posted June 23, 2017 A rare medal for sure. Thank you for sharing his story and posting images of his Purple Heart. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary B Posted June 23, 2017 Share #14 Posted June 23, 2017 Wonderful piece with a great history to it. As I recall, the torpedo bombers (AAF and Navy) took the brunt of the Japanese attacks which left the initial bomber strikes free from enemy engagements and gave them the opportunity to score many hits. Gary B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted June 23, 2017 Author Share #15 Posted June 23, 2017 Thanks for the comments. We knew of the upcoming battle because we had broken the Japanese Naval code. Nimitz sent whatever planes he could scrape together to the island and awaited the attack. These planes included B-17's, B-26's, TBF Avengers, some obsolete Vindicators and a mix of F4F Wildcats and Brewster Buffalo fighters. On the morning of June 4th only one loosely coordinated strike was sent out with everything they could put in the air, but with little to know training and no fighter support they had little chance of success. Less than 30 army personnel were killed during the battle. The engraving is exactly how I would expect one to be for this early in the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcmo Posted June 24, 2017 Share #16 Posted June 24, 2017 I never knew of the B26's being involved in the battle. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted June 25, 2017 Share #17 Posted June 25, 2017 Wow! That's a rare Heart. Thanks for posting that incredible Midway story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
355fg Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #18 Posted November 8, 2019 BTT - Bringing this back up with the new Midway movie out this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottplen Posted November 8, 2019 Share #19 Posted November 8, 2019 Great heart ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted November 8, 2019 Share #20 Posted November 8, 2019 A suicide mission to say the least. Being that they were recon planes were they equipped to handle torpedoes or were they rigged to do so? Did any of these men have training to do this? Did any of the four make it back? Where did the heart surface? An incredible story and true sacrifice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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