Edward O'Hare | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant Edward Butch O'Hare in a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat. The wartime censor has blanked out the famous "Felix the Cat" squadron insignia on this photo (colorized photo). | |
| Nickname(s) | "Butch" |
| Born | March 13, 1914 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | November 26, 1943 (aged 29) Near the Gilbert Islands † |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1937–1943 |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander |
| Commands | Fighting 3 (VF-3), Air Group 6 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry O'Hare (March 13, 1914 – November 26, 1943) was an American naval aviator of the United States Navy, who on February 20, 1942, became the Navy's first fighter ace of the war when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he was credited with shooting down five enemy bombers and became the first naval aviator recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.[1]
O'Hare's final action took place on the night of November 26, 1943, while he was leading the U.S. Navy's first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. During this encounter with a group of Japanese torpedo bombers, O'Hare's Grumman F6F Hellcat was shot down; his aircraft was never found. In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS O'Hare (DD-889) was named in his honor.
On September 19, 1949, the Chicago-area Orchard Field Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport, six years after O'Hare perished. An F4F Wildcat, in a livery identical to the aircraft ("White F-15") flown by O'Hare, is on display in Terminal 2. The display was formally opened on the seventy-fifth anniversary of his Medal of Honor flight.[2]