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The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Lt. Cdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare - Oct. 22nd, 2003
AcePilots.com ^

Posted on 10/22/2003 12:00:41 AM PDT by SAMWolf



Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


...................................................................................... ...........................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

Welcome to "Warrior Wednesday"

Where the Freeper Foxhole introduces a different veteran each Wednesday. The "ordinary" Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine who participated in the events in our Country's history. We hope to present events as seen through their eyes. To give you a glimpse into the life of those who sacrificed for all of us - Our Veterans.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Lt. Cdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare
First U.S. Navy Ace,
Medal of Honor Recipient
Savior of USS Lexington,
First Hellcat Night-Fighter


Edward H. O'Hare was born on March 13, 1914 in St. Louis, the son of "E.J." O'Hare, a wealthy businessman and attorney. His parents sent him to Western Military Academy (WMA) at age 13, where he pursued an interest in marksmanship, becoming president of the rifle club. In 1932, he graduated from WMA, and in 1933 went on to the US Naval Academy. Many of his classmates from both schools died in WWII. Upon his graduation from Annapolis he received choice duty on the USS New Mexico (BB-40). While he was interested in aviation, all new officers had to spend two years in surface ships, before specializing in aviation or submarines. Thus in 1939 he started flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, learning the basics on N3N-1 and Stearman NS-1 biplane trainers.


Lt. Cdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare


In November, his father was gunned down by Al Capone's gunmen, most likely because he had given the government information useful in its prosecution of Capone. The gangland-style murder made big headlines, and the newspapers printed numerous speculations on the circumstances of the murder. Many of these were less than flattering and implied that E.J. was involved with the mob. (Ewing & Lundstrom's excellent biography, Fateful Rendezvous: The Life of Butch O'Hare, covers these events in great detail.) Returning to Pensacola after the funeral, young O'Hare moved up to flying more advanced biplanes like the Vought O3U, the Corsair SU, and the Vought SBU-1 scout bomber (top speed 205 mph). In early 1940, he completed the required flying in patrol planes and advanced land planes.

Pre-War Carrier Flying


When he finished his naval aviation training in May, he was assigned to VF-3, the USS Saratoga's Fighting Squadron. The CO was Warren Harvey; the great John "Jimmy" Thach was XO at this time, later succeeding Harvey as CO. VF-3 was flying the Grumman F3F-1 biplane and the newer Brewster F2A-1. In July, 1940, Ed O'Hare made his first carrier landing, "just about the most exciting thing a pilot can do in peacetime." Jimmy Thach used to knock the new pilots down a notch by outflying them. He would let a rookie gain an altitude advantage, and then, while reading a newspaper or eating an apple, he would out-maneuver him and get on his tail. But when he tried this on O'Hare, he couldn't gain an advantage. Duly impressed with O'Hare's impressive flying abilities, Thach closely mentored the promising young pilot.



In early 1941, VF-3 transferred to Enterprise, while Saratoga underwent a major refit at Bremerton. While the 'Big E' was at San Diego, Warner Brothers filmed the early Technicolor movie Dive Bomber on it, featuring Errol Flynn, Ralph Bellamy, and Fred MacMurray.

July was an important time for Ed O'Hare. He met his future wife, Rita (proposing to her the first time he met her) and also made his first flight in a Wildcat. He and Rita married six weeks later, and for a honeymoon, they sailed to Hawaii in separate ships, Butch on Enterprise and Rita in a passenger liner.

Saving the Lexington


On February 20, 1942, Butch O'Hare demonstrated in real life, and when it counted most, the fighting skills he had mastered. The carrier Lexington had been assigned the dangerous task of penetrating enemy-held waters north of New Ireland. From there her planes were to make a strike at Japanese shipping in the harbor at Rabaul. Unfortunately, while still 400 miles from Rabaul, the Lexington was discovered by a giant four-engine Kawanishi flying boat. Lieutenant Commander John Thach, skipper of the Lexington's Wildcat fighters, shot down the Japanese "Snooper," but not before it had radioed the carrier's position. That afternoon Commander Thach led six Wildcats into the air to intercept nine twin-engine enemy bombers. In a determined attack each of the Wildcats destroyed a bomber and damaged two more. The ship's anti-aircraft guns finished off the rest. In the meantime, nine more Japanese bombers were reported on the way. Six Wildcats, one of them piloted by Butch O'Hare, roared off the Lexington's deck to stop them. O'Hare and his wingman spotted the V formation of bombers first and dived to try to head them off. The other F4F pilots were too far away to reach most of the enemy planes before they released their bombs. As if this weren't bad enough, O'Hare's wingman discovered his guns were jammed. He was forced to turn away. Butch O'Hare stood alone between the Lexington and the bombers.


Lieutenant Edward H. ("Butch") O'Hare, USN, (left)
and
Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, USN.
Shaking hands in front of a Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighter plane at an Oahu air base,
circa April-May 1942.
Both men were assigned to Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3),
of which Thach was Commanding Officer.


O'Hare didn't hesitate. Full throttle, he roared into the enemy formation. While tracers from the concentrated fire of the nine bombers streaked around him, he took careful aim at the starboard engine of the last plane in the V and squeezed his trigger. Slugs from the Wildcats six .50-caliber guns ripped into the Japanese bomber's wing and the engine literally jumped out of its mountings. The bomber spun crazily toward the sea as O'Hare's guns tore up another enemy plane. Then he ducked to the other side of the formation and smashed the port engine of the last Japanese plane there.

One by one he attacked the oncoming bombers until five had been downed. Commander Thach later reported that at one point he saw three of the bombers falling in flames at the same time. By now Thach and the other pilots had joined the fight. This was lucky because O'Hare was out of ammunition. The Wildcats took care of several more bombers and Lexington managed to evade the few bombs that were released. It was an amazing example of daring and shooting skill. Afterward Thach figured out that Butch O'Hare had used only sixty rounds of ammunition for each plane he destroyed. He had probably saved his ship. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and awarded the highest decoration of his country, the Congressional Medal of Honor.



With his Medal of Honor presentation, bond tours, and other commitments, Butch was out of combat from early 1942 until late 1943. On October 10, 1943, he flew with VF-6 in the air strikes against Wake Island. On this mission Alex Vraciu, the future ace, was Butch's section leader. Both O'Hare and Vraciu scored that day.

Night Fighting


In November, 1943, the Americans landed in the Gilberts (Tarawa and Makin), and the carriers were covering the landings. Equipped with the new F6F Hellcats, the US fighter pilots owned the skies, and could protect the Navy's warships from Japanese aircraft. From their bases in the Marianas, the Japanese quickly developed tactics to send torpedo-armed Bettys on night missions against the US carriers. In late November they launched these low-altitude strikes almost nightly, in a deadly attempt to get at Enterprise and other American ships.

Ed O'Hare, now Enterprise Commander - Air Group (CAG), was deeply involved in developing ad hoc counter-tactics, the first carrier-based night fighter operations of the US Navy. As the primitive radars were very bulky, they were carried on the Enterprise, on the fairly large TBF Avengers, but not on the smaller and faster Hellcats. The plan required the ship's Fighter Director Officer (FDO) to spot the incoming Bettys at a distance and send the Avengers and Hellcats toward them. The radar-equipped Avengers would then lead the Hellcats into position behind the incoming Bettys, close enough for the Hellcat pilots to spot visually the Bettys blue exhaust flames. Finally, the Hellcats would close in and shoot down the torpedo-carrying bombers. All the planes on both sides would be flying at low level. The plan was experimental, complicated, risky, and necessary - if the Bettys were to be thwarted.


F6F Hellcats


The night of November 27, 1943 was the first combat test of the plan, following an earlier mission that hadn't contacted the Japs. The 'Black Panthers', as the night fighters were dubbed, included two sections of three planes. Both included two Hellcats and one Avenger. Butch led his section from his F6F, Warren Skon flew on his wing; Lt. Cdr. Phillips piloted the TBF with radarman Hazen Rand and gunner Alvin Kernan crewing the plane. (Alvin Kernan's memoirs of his experiences as an enlisted man on US Navy carrier during WWII, Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey, describe this night in detail, from the perspective of the man who fired the Avenger's gun seconds before Butch disappeared. (The book also happens to be the best-written narrative of WWII naval aviation that I've read in a long time. I recommend it highly. But it's now out-of-print.)

The night's events were complicated and confusing: the Hellcats had trouble finding the Avenger, the FDO had difficulty putting any of them on the targets, and it was all new to everyone. Phillips, in his lightly armed Avenger, found some of the attacking Japanese bombers and surprisingly, shot two of them down. Following that brief action, in the dark, with nothing to be seen but the flaming gasoline from the downed Bettys burning on the water (for over an hour?), the O'Hare and Skon got into position behind the Avenger. About that time, the Avenger identified a Betty behind the Hellcats. Kernan fired at it. Moments later, O'Hare failed to respond to the radio; he had gone down.


TBF Avenger


What happened? There are three possible explanations:
  1. Friendly fire, i.e. Kernan mistakenly shot O'Hare down.
  2. The Japanese bomber shot O'Hare down, in a quick, lucky burst that killed Butch instantly without heavily damaging the Hellcat.
  3. When Kernan opened up, O'Hare took evasive action, the Hellcat's wingtip touched a wave and dipped into the ocean.
There is no definitive answer. In his recent, thoroughly-researched biography of O'Hare, the respected author John Lundstrom inclines toward the second explanation (Butch was shot down by the Betty), but concludes that O'Hare died in a "freak occurrence in a dangerous and complicated operation."

For their roles in protecting the carrier and in carrying out the Navy's first combat night-fighting mission, Phillips, Rand, and Kernan were awarded Navy Crosses. (Cynics ever since have concluded that the Navy, having to choose between courts-martial or medals for the Avenger crew, opted for the latter, not wanting to admit that its biggest hero had been brought down by friendly fire.)

Having read Lundstrom's book, Fateful Rendezvous: The Life of Edward O'Hare, and Kernan's memoirs, Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey, I'm inclined to accept Lundstrom's most likely explanation, and also his general conclusion. Both books are very well-written , and I recommend them to readers interested in this topic, not merely for the events of November 27, 1943.

Thanks to FReeper Diver Dave for the idea and info for this Thread



TOPICS: VetsCoR
KEYWORDS: butchohare; f4f; freeperfoxhole; michaeldobbs; oharefield; orchardfield; ord; pacific; usnavy; veterans; warriorwednesday; wildcat; wwii
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To: Valin
Man! Nothing gets by you does it? :-)

LOL. Not if I can help it!

41 posted on 10/22/2003 8:43:15 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it
Good Morning Snippy.
42 posted on 10/22/2003 8:44:08 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: snippy_about_it; SAMWolf
Morning Glory Snip & Sam~

But Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.

Today's FReeper Foxhole has been both an excellent read (as usual) and a blessing. Another precious example of a father's love . . .

43 posted on 10/22/2003 8:45:02 AM PDT by w_over_w (This is a C12 matter . . . you've got a black op that's gone off the reservation.)
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To: MEG33
Hi MEG33.

We have some feedback that the Foxhole is used by some home schoolers and has been suggested for reading by a local University Professor. It's nice to know that the FoxHole is being read and used by people. One of our purposes is to let people learn about and remember the things you don't get in your "standard" History education today.
44 posted on 10/22/2003 8:49:14 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: radu
Good Morning Radu. Still haven't straightened out your ISP?
45 posted on 10/22/2003 8:50:14 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: E.G.C.
Morning E.G.C. I've gone through a few days of random crashes again too. I ran defrag last night, we'll see if that helps.
46 posted on 10/22/2003 8:52:20 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: The Mayor
Good Morning Mayor.

Quotes and Coffee, a New Morning Feature?
47 posted on 10/22/2003 8:55:05 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: manna
Hi Manna!


48 posted on 10/22/2003 8:55:51 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: *all

Air Power
Grumman F4F (FM-2) Wildcat

In 1936 the US Navy evaluated a number of designs which were competing to be the Navy's new carrier-based fighter. Grumman built a design which, after several re-designations and airframe modifications, won the contract and eventually became the F4F Wildcat. The prototype, the XF4F-2, first flew on 2 September 1937. The prototype of an improved version, the XF4F-3, was renamed the F4F and was ordered by the Navy in August of 1939. The first five aircraft off the assembly line were sent to Canada, with the next 90 (designated "Martlet Mk I" going to the 804 Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm where, in December 1940, two Martlets made history by becoming the first American-made aircraft to down a German plane in WWII.

The first US Navy F4F-3 was flown on 20 August 1940, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 engine with 1,200 horsepower. The subsequent F4F-4, incorporating several improvements including folding wings, six guns and self-sealing fuel tanks, was delivered in November 1941. It was then that the name "Wildcat" was first given to the F4F. As war raged around the world, the Wildcat's reputation and utilization grew immensely. It flew with the US Navy and US Marines in all of the major Pacific battles, and in North Africa with the Navy.

In mid 1942, Grumman realized that it needed to concentrate on the production of its new F6F Hellcat fighter, and so it contracted with the General Motors Company to build the Wildcat under the designation FM-1. The first FM-1 flew on 31 August 1942, and over 1,150 of them were produced, hundreds of which went to the Fleet Air Arm as the "Martlet Mk V." General Motors next developed an improved version, called the FM-2 ("Wildcat Mk VI" in the Fleet Air Arm), which was powered by a Wright R-1820 engine with 1,350 horsepower. It featured a taller vertical tail than the FM-1. Over 4,700 FM-2s were built before the Wildcat was eclipsed by the more capable fighters which appeared later in the war.

Specifications:
Primary Function: Naval Fighter
Contractor: Grumman
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A
Powerplant: One 1,200 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86 double-row radial engine

Dimensions:
Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
Height: 9 ft 2.5 in (2.81 m)
Weights: - Empty: 5,758 lbs (2,612 kg) - Maximum Takeoff: 7,952 lbs (3,607 kg)

Performance:
Speed: 320 mph (512 km/h) at 19,800 ft & weight of 7975 pounds
Ceiling: 39,400 ft (12,010 m)
Range: 770 miles (1,239 km)

Armaments:
Six .50 caliber Browning machine guns;
Two 100-pound bombs




All photos Copyright of Global Aircraft.Com

49 posted on 10/22/2003 8:58:30 AM PDT by Johnny Gage (Why is it that Qucksand is slow.... and Boxing Rings are square?)
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To: snippy_about_it
Interesting story but now I have to find out more. :)

That's part of our insideous plot. Get people to want to know more. :-)

50 posted on 10/22/2003 8:58:45 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: hardhead
Morning HardHead.

Once again thank for the link.
51 posted on 10/22/2003 9:01:30 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: AntiJen
Morning Jen. Thanks for the compliments. You back at school yet?
52 posted on 10/22/2003 9:02:30 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: AntiJen; Diver Dave
DD sent me the info on Butch and his Dad quite a while ago. Sometimes it takes us a while to get around to suggestions, but we eventually do. The thread was done shortly after DD sent us the info, just didn't get it scheduled. Sorry it took so long DD.
53 posted on 10/22/2003 9:05:14 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: SAMWolf
That's part of our insideous plot.

You mean I've fallen for our own plot? Egads.

LOL.

54 posted on 10/22/2003 9:06:53 AM PDT by snippy_about_it (Fall in --> The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul.)
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To: snippy_about_it
Thanks Snippy. It's weird reading about street names I('m so familiar with. I grew up on Rockwell street only a lot farther North tha Ogden.
55 posted on 10/22/2003 9:08:17 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: bentfeather
Hi Feather.
56 posted on 10/22/2003 9:08:56 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: Valin
1938 Chester Carlson invents the photocopier. He tries to sell the machine to IBM, RCA, Kodak and others, but they see no use for a gadget that makes nothing but copies.

LOL! Great foresight by some of America's largest Corporations.

57 posted on 10/22/2003 9:11:19 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: Valin
1955 The prototype of the F-105 Thunder Chief makes its maiden flight


58 posted on 10/22/2003 9:13:17 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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To: SAMWolf
You back at school yet?

Wellllll.... Ummmmmmmm.... Supposed to be......

59 posted on 10/22/2003 9:14:01 AM PDT by Jen (Support our troops! Share the news of our military's successes that the liberal media won't report.)
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To: skeeter
Morning Skeeter.

Good to hear you enjoy visiting the Foxhole. Just watch out for the Foxholes with the cans and rocks. ;-)
60 posted on 10/22/2003 9:14:54 AM PDT by SAMWolf (Beware of quantum ducks: quark, quark.)
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