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ragzl1 · 05-05-2015, 07:57 PM

My uncle flew off the U.S. Bennington and attacked mainland Japan for two days.

He flew a Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber.

He dropped a bomb straight down the stack of a Japanese battleship and it rolled over and went to the bottom of the harbor with all on board.

The 50 caliber guns on the wings would cut a man in half.

In this battle he drew short straw and had to have the cameras on his plane to record the damage tof the Japanese ships. He had to make the last pass threw the harbor. His gunner on the back took a bullet in the leg. One could only imagine every swinging dick on the ground was throwing hot lead at him when he passed thru taking pictures. Some of these pictures ended up in Life magazine.

He had the Navy mail his medal to him instead of the President handing it to him. My grandmother was upset that he did not go to Washington. He believed that he was just lucky and that the real heros were the ones that did not come home.

The following was his award he received:

Navy Cross

Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Walter Middlesworth Downs, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron ONE (VB-1), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at Kure Naval Base in Japan, on 28 July 1945. Flying through intense anti-aircraft fire from numerous warships and from strategically-placed shore batteries, Ensign Downs courageously carried out a low-altitude bombing attack against an ISE Class battleship, scoring one direct hit and inflicting extensive damage on the hostile vessel. Recovering from the run well under 1,000 feet, he flew close aboard two large enemy carriers to permit his gunner-photographer to obtain damage assessment photographs. By his skill as an airman and aggressive fighting spirit, Ensign Downs contributed to the success of an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet at Kure were either damaged or sunk. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 02024 (October 8, 1945)

Action Date: July 28, 1945

Service: Navy

Rank: Ensign

Company: Bombing Squadron 1 (VB-1)

Division: U.S.S. Bennington (CV-20)

Thought you plane nerds might like this story !!

John

05-05-2015, 07:57 PM	#640
ragzl1 JOHN Drives: 13 ZL1, 69 RS, 19 Z06, 1957 Vette Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: ILLINOIS Posts: 430 View My Garage	My uncle flew off the U.S. Bennington and attacked mainland Japan for two days. He flew a Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber. He dropped a bomb straight down the stack of a Japanese battleship and it rolled over and went to the bottom of the harbor with all on board. The 50 caliber guns on the wings would cut a man in half. In this battle he drew short straw and had to have the cameras on his plane to record the damage tof the Japanese ships. He had to make the last pass threw the harbor. His gunner on the back took a bullet in the leg. One could only imagine every swinging dick on the ground was throwing hot lead at him when he passed thru taking pictures. Some of these pictures ended up in Life magazine. He had the Navy mail his medal to him instead of the President handing it to him. My grandmother was upset that he did not go to Washington. He believed that he was just lucky and that the real heros were the ones that did not come home. The following was his award he received: Navy Cross *Awarded for actions during the World War II* The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Walter Middlesworth Downs, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber of Bombing Squadron ONE (VB-1), attached to the U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20), in action against major units of the enemy Japanese Fleet at Kure Naval Base in Japan, on 28 July 1945. Flying through intense anti-aircraft fire from numerous warships and from strategically-placed shore batteries, Ensign Downs courageously carried out a low-altitude bombing attack against an ISE Class battleship, scoring one direct hit and inflicting extensive damage on the hostile vessel. Recovering from the run well under 1,000 feet, he flew close aboard two large enemy carriers to permit his gunner-photographer to obtain damage assessment photographs. By his skill as an airman and aggressive fighting spirit, Ensign Downs contributed to the success of an epic strike in which all capital ships of the Japanese Fleet at Kure were either damaged or sunk. His devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 02024 (October 8, 1945) Action Date: July 28, 1945 Service: Navy Rank: Ensign Company: Bombing Squadron 1 (VB-1) Division: U.S.S. Bennington (CV-20) Thought you plane nerds might like this story !! John Attached Images __________________ MY WIFE AND MY FIRST CAMARO. KEPT THE GIRL AND TRADED THE CAR.