FEBRUARY 20

On this date in 1942, a U.S. Navy pilot flew his fighter into a formation of nine Japanese bombers heading for his aircraft carrier.  He used up what ammunition he had downing several and damaging others so that they were turned away.  He made it back to his ship.  For this action, in April he became the first from the Navy to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II.

In November 1943, he led the Navy's first night air attack off of an aircraft carrier.  He was shot down and killed in the encounter with Japanese torpedo bombers.

Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare was immortalized in 1949 in the naming of one of the busiest airports in the world.  When you fly to or through Chicago, think of one of our great national heroes.
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