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'''David McCampbell''' was the top-scoring fighter pilot of the [[United States Navy]].  During one tour of duty aboard the USS ''Essex'' in [[World War II]], he shot down 34 [[Japanese]] planes and was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]].  He also holds the American record for most planes shot down in a single flight (nine).

'''David McCampbell''' was the top-scoring fighter pilot of the [[United States Navy]].  During one tour of duty aboard the USS ''Essex'' in [[World War II]], he shot down 34 [[Japanese]] planes and was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]].  He also holds the American record for most planes shot down in a single flight (nine).

David McCampbell was born in Bessamer, [[Alabama]] on January 16, 1910, and was appointed to the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis]] in 1929.  He joined the swim team, becoming the Eastern Intercollegiate diving champion in 1932, and graduated in 1933 with a degree in marine engineering.  Because regular commissions were limited, McCampbell didn’t get an active assignment until June 1934, as an aircraft gunnery observer aboard a [[destroyer]].

David McCampbell was born in Bessamer, [[Alabama]] on January 16, 1910, and was appointed to the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis]] in 1929.  He joined the swim team, becoming the Eastern Intercollegiate diving champion in 1932, and graduated in 1933 with a degree in marine engineering.  Because regular commissions were limited, McCampbell didn't get an active assignment until June 1934, as an aircraft gunnery observer aboard a [[destroyer]].

After entering flight training in 1937, he became a naval aviator a year later.  He spent two years on the [[aircraft carrier]] USS ''Ranger'' and was then transferred to the USS ''Wasp'', where he served as a Landing Signal Officer until the ''Wasp'' was torpedoed and sunk off [[Guadalcanal]].  After being rescued, he was reassigned to [[Florida]] as an LSO instructor.

After entering flight training in 1937, he became a naval aviator a year later.  He spent two years on the [[aircraft carrier]] USS ''Ranger'' and was then transferred to the USS ''Wasp'', where he served as a Landing Signal Officer until the ''Wasp'' was torpedoed and sunk off [[Guadalcanal]].  After being rescued, he was reassigned to [[Florida]] as an LSO instructor.

By October, when the Navy was readying for the invasion of the [[Philippines]], McCampbell had raised his score to 19, tying with [[Alex Vraciu]] for top scoring ace of the Navy.  On the day of the invasion, McCampbell downed a [[Mitsubishi Ki-46|Dinah]] and a [[Nakajima Ki-27|Nate]], becoming the first US Navy pilot, and the first carrier pilot, to score more than twenty aerial victories.  Four days later, Japanese naval units responded to the landings, sparking the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], the largest naval battle of World War II.  On the first day of the battle, planes from the ''Essex'' sank the battleship ''Musashi'' (sister ship to the ''[[Yamato (battleship)|Yamato]],'' which was damaged in the same action), and McCampbell flew the mission that would win him the [[Medal of Honor]].  After launching a strike on the Japanese ships, the ''Essex'' detected incoming Japanese planes, and McCampbell led seven Hellcats to defend the ship.  He and his wingman, Lieutenant Roy Rushing, went high and ran into 40 Japanese fighters ([[Mitsubishi Zero|Zeros]] and [[Nakajima Ki-43|Oscars]]).  A running battle followed, with McCampbell and Rushing making repeated passes on the enemy formation.  Before dwindling fuel forced them to return to the ''Essex'', McCampbell shot down nine planes (and probably shot down two others), while Rushing downed six.  More importantly, not a single enemy plane got close enough to drop a bomb, the surviving planes turning back in the face of the American fighters.  The following day, Commander McCampbell coordinated a strike which sank a Japanese aircraft carrier, a cruiser, and two destroyers.<ref>''Aircraft vs. Aircraft'', by Norman Franks, Barnes & Noble Books, 1998</ref>

By October, when the Navy was readying for the invasion of the [[Philippines]], McCampbell had raised his score to 19, tying with [[Alex Vraciu]] for top scoring ace of the Navy.  On the day of the invasion, McCampbell downed a [[Mitsubishi Ki-46|Dinah]] and a [[Nakajima Ki-27|Nate]], becoming the first US Navy pilot, and the first carrier pilot, to score more than twenty aerial victories.  Four days later, Japanese naval units responded to the landings, sparking the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], the largest naval battle of World War II.  On the first day of the battle, planes from the ''Essex'' sank the battleship ''Musashi'' (sister ship to the ''[[Yamato (battleship)|Yamato]],'' which was damaged in the same action), and McCampbell flew the mission that would win him the [[Medal of Honor]].  After launching a strike on the Japanese ships, the ''Essex'' detected incoming Japanese planes, and McCampbell led seven Hellcats to defend the ship.  He and his wingman, Lieutenant Roy Rushing, went high and ran into 40 Japanese fighters ([[Mitsubishi Zero|Zeros]] and [[Nakajima Ki-43|Oscars]]).  A running battle followed, with McCampbell and Rushing making repeated passes on the enemy formation.  Before dwindling fuel forced them to return to the ''Essex'', McCampbell shot down nine planes (and probably shot down two others), while Rushing downed six.  More importantly, not a single enemy plane got close enough to drop a bomb, the surviving planes turning back in the face of the American fighters.  The following day, Commander McCampbell coordinated a strike which sank a Japanese aircraft carrier, a cruiser, and two destroyers.<ref>''Aircraft vs. Aircraft'', by Norman Franks, Barnes & Noble Books, 1998</ref>

The ''Essex'' concluded her cruise in November.  The “Fabled Fifteen” under McCampbell had established an impressive combat record, with 318 enemy aircraft shot down (34 by McCampbell himself) and 296,500 tons of enemy shipping sunk, including the ''Musashi'', three aircraft carriers, and a heavy cruiser.  In addition to the [[Medal of Honor]], McCampbell was awarded the [[Navy Cross]], the [[Silver Star]], and the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]].  Not only was he the top-scoring ace of the U.S. Navy, he holds the American record for most aerial victories in a single tour of duty.  If the ''Essex'' had been sent into combat again, it’s entirely possible that David McCampbell would have been the top-scoring fighter pilot in United States history.

The ''Essex'' concluded her cruise in November.  The “Fabled Fifteen” under McCampbell had established an impressive combat record, with 318 enemy aircraft shot down (34 by McCampbell himself) and 296,500 tons of enemy shipping sunk, including the ''Musashi'', three aircraft carriers, and a heavy cruiser.  In addition to the [[Medal of Honor]], McCampbell was awarded the [[Navy Cross]], the [[Silver Star]], and the [[Distinguished Flying Cross]].  Not only was he the top-scoring ace of the U.S. Navy, he holds the American record for most aerial victories in a single tour of duty.  If the ''Essex'' had been sent into combat again, it's entirely possible that David McCampbell would have been the top-scoring fighter pilot in United States history.

After the war, McCampbell continued his naval career.  His postings included senior naval aviation advisor to the [[Argentina|Argentine]] Navy for three years, executive officer of the USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'', flight test coordinator at the Naval Air Test Center in [[Maryland]], and captain of the carrier USS ''Bon Homme Richard''.  In 1960, he took an assignment at the [[Pentagon]] working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in 1964, he retired, after thirty years in the Navy.  David McCampbell died on June 30, 1996 at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, after a long illness.  He is interred at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, Berkeley Books, 2000</ref>

After the war, McCampbell continued his naval career.  His postings included senior naval aviation advisor to the [[Argentina|Argentine]] Navy for three years, executive officer of the USS ''Franklin D. Roosevelt'', flight test coordinator at the Naval Air Test Center in [[Maryland]], and captain of the carrier USS ''Bon Homme Richard''.  In 1960, he took an assignment at the [[Pentagon]] working for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in 1964, he retired, after thirty years in the Navy.  David McCampbell died on June 30, 1996 at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, after a long illness.  He is interred at [[Arlington National Cemetery]].<ref>''Aces'', by William Yenne, Berkeley Books, 2000</ref>