Naval aviation in world war ii david lee russell on. Not many people know this, but mccampbell actually served as a lso landing signal officer from may 1940 until the uss wasp was sunk near guadalcanal on. David mccampbell, naval aviations ace of aces who shot 34 japanese planes out of the sky during world war ii in exploits that won him the. Mcfarland, jefferson, north carolina, 2019, 273 pages.
David mccampbell, the cag and the navys most famous living aviator, considered this announcement. David mccampbell, 86, navy ace in world war ii the new. Originally published in the britannica book of the year. Uss princeton burning and sinking near uss essex off luzon at battle of leyte gulf in world war ii. He retired from the navy in 1964 with 31 years of service. Navys ace of aces at 0950 hours on october 24, 1944, radar scopes in the combat information center high in the island of the carrier uss essex flickered with the ghostly green returns that identified an incoming japanese airstrike. Mccampbell is the united states navys alltime leading flying ace and top f6f hellcat ace with 34 aerial victories. David lee russell is a retired naval air intelligence officer. David mccampbell american naval officer britannica.
Ace of aces is the dramatic david mccampbell story, complemented by stunning vintage world war ii film footage and punctuated with captain mccampbell s own words, recorded for the u. Hellcat theme 148 hasegawa f6f5 david mccampbell imodeler. Sims book greatest fighter missions, as the tenth chapter of that compilation. This is another one of my hasegawa hellcats, built as a tribute to david mccampbell, who was the us navys highest scoring ace during ww2. Fighter ace david mccampbell was a united states navy captain, fighter pilot, and a medal of honor recipient. This book explores the life and career of david mccampbell, the leader of the most successful naval air group in combat in wwii.
David mccampbell, 86, navy ace in world war ii the new york. David mccampbell, naval aviations ace of aces who shot 34 japanese planes out of the sky during world war ii in exploits that won him the medal of honor, died on sunday at the veterans affairs. Plane captain is cleaning windshield on the minzi iii when captain david s. Appointed to the naval academy from florida, he graduated in june 1933. David mccampbell, then the air group commander on board the uss essex cv9. Earlier that morning, admiral sherman himself had forbidden mccampbell from joining a dawn sortie. Hellcat pilot david mccampbell used his gunnery skills to achieve ace in a day status twice, earning the medal of honor and ultimately becoming the u. Given his responsibilities as commander of essex air group and his public prominence as a top ace, mccampbell was too valuable. Captain david mccampbell january 16, 1910 june 30, 1996 was a united states navy. For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as commander of air group 15 and for outstanding courage and valor in the face of great odds as well as leadership above and beyond the call of duty, david mccampbell is enshrined with honor into the national aviation hall of fame.