World War II

4 Pages 900 Words

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant
Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft
carrier Lexington in the South Pacific.

One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was
airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had
forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to
complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told
him to return to the carrier.

Reluctantly he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet.
As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned
his
blood cold. A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way
toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie
and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron
and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the
fleet of the approaching danger.

There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the
fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the
formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he
charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another.
Butch
weaved in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many
planes as possible until finally all his ammunition was spent.

Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to
at least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy
planes as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate
to
do anything
he could to keep them from reaching the American ships. Finally, the
exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.

Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to
the carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event
surrounding his return. The film from the camera mounted on his plane
told the tal...