KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Share #1 Posted November 8, 2019 With the new movie about the Battle of Midway coming to a screen near you, I thought it would be a good time to highlight the service of this long time Naval Aviator who started his career as an NAP ( Enlisted Pilot) prior to WWII all the way through the 1960s retiring as a Commander. During the early part of WWII he served as a Patrol Plane Commander with VP-23 flying a Catalina during the Attack on Pearl Harbor , The Battle of Midway , Guadalcanal, and doing Anti Sub patrols in Europe. He earned 2 DFCs and a bunch of Air Medals during the war. His first DFC was for an attack on a Japanese Submarine. During the Battle of Midway he rescued one of the downed crews from VB-8 . He left the warm weather in the Pacific to fly PB4Y's ( B-24's) out of Dunkeswill England searching for German subs, He ended his career as a plank owner on the USS Ranger. prior to that he was one of the first pilots to fly Crusaders in 1956. There is a box that weighs over 100 pounds with his all of the paperwork and material he accumulated during his career. I am only going to show a portion here. The pictures tell his story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted November 8, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted November 8, 2019 His CSC book that documents his service up to the time he became an officer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted November 8, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted November 8, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted November 8, 2019 His DFC citation signed by Admiral Nimitz . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted November 8, 2019 A letter written by one of the crewman from VB-8 he rescued during the Battle of Midway . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted November 8, 2019 His crew from VB-103 flying out of England, His first Air Medal awarded with VB-103 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #9 Posted November 8, 2019 His "Lucky Bastard Club " certificate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted November 8, 2019 Plank Owner certificate from the USS Ranger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted November 8, 2019 lastly the document that represents to me, his span of service. He flew everything from Bi-planes , to Jets, in this case a Crusader . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted November 8, 2019 After he retired he was very active in veterans groups and also the Battle of Midway History Round Table. He remained active until his death in 2007. This thread is dedicated to the veterans of the Battle of Midway and to all veterans who will be remembered this year on November 11th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted November 9, 2019 Share #13 Posted November 9, 2019 Beautiful group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeclown Posted November 9, 2019 Share #14 Posted November 9, 2019 Totally amazing especially that letter from the CWO that he rescued Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted November 9, 2019 Share #15 Posted November 9, 2019 Another fantastic aviation group, Kurt. Congrats! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted November 15, 2019 Share #16 Posted November 15, 2019 Kurt, Based on what you have unearthed so far, this is one fantastic group that belonged to a very lucky pilot. Having come up through the ranks beginning as an enlisted pilot who survived the Pearl Harbor attack while flying a Cataline, a slow boat with wings. He then served in the Pacific flying two decisive campaigns of 1942, still flying a Catalina; he landed and rescued a downed aircrew on the high seas in the Battle of Midway, followed by attacking an enemy sub near Guadal Canal while under fire. Besides being a competent pilot, he led a charmed life before transitioning to PB4Y's and flying out of England looking for German Subs in the Atlantic. He could have easily had a mishap in the weather along the transport routes that suppled troops and material to England and Europe. I look forward to reading what else you learn about this man, who had some big balls, continued accomplishments during World War Two, and the rest of his career as a naval aviator. Thanks for posting. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted November 21, 2019 Share #17 Posted November 21, 2019 Excellent group as always. Love all the paper to go along with the medals. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt-M Posted November 25, 2019 Share #18 Posted November 25, 2019 Thank you, Lt(jg) Burkey for your service. Must have been one hellavan aviator. Great group, Kurt. Glad it's in your care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted December 7, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted December 7, 2019 Back up in remembrance of the 78th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share #20 Posted June 4, 2020 back up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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