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William O. Burch

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William Oscar Burch Jr.
Nickname "Bill"
Born (1904-06-27)June 27, 1904
Died January 21, 1989(1989-01-21) (aged 84)[1]
Place of birth Paducah, Kentucky[1]
Place of death Virginia Beach, Virginia[1]
Buried at Eastern Shore Chapel Cemetery, Virginia Beach, VA[1]
Allegiance United States
Service/branch Seal of the United States Department of the Navy United States Navy
Years of service 1927-1962
Rank US-O8 insignia Rear Admiral
Commands held

Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5)[2]
Naval Air Station Cecil Field[3]
USS Pine Island (AV-12)
USS Tarawa (CV-40)

Naval Aviation Safety Center
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards Navy Cross ribbon Navy Cross (3)[4]
Legion of Merit ribbon Legion of Merit
Spouse(s) Emily Lou Culbertson

William Oscar Burch Jr. (June 27, 1904 – January 21, 1989) was a decorated naval aviator and triple Navy Cross recipient during who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.[6]

Early life and education[]

William Oscar Burch Jr. was born to William Oscar and Elizabeth Burch (née Metzler) in Paducah, Kentucky, 27 June 1904. He became an Eagle Scout in 1922, and in 1923 he was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1927.[7] While there, he participated in soccer, baseball, and bowling.[8] After graduating from Annapolis in 1927, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.

Early military career[]

Upon receiving his commission, Ensign Burch was assigned to the USS Medusa (AR-1) followed by the USS West Virginia (BB-48).[9] In March 1930, he reported to the Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight instruction and graduated as a Naval Aviator near the end of that year. Following flight instruction, he became a Junior Aviation Officer aboard the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38). In May 1933 he returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor until June 1935.

World War II[]

Lieutenant Commander Burch was a Flight Leader in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5) attached to the USS Yorktown (CV-5) flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber. Burch and VS-5 took part in the Invasion of Salamaua–Lae on March 10, 1942. Performing dive bombing attacks on Japanese forces, VS-5 achieved seven direct hits, resulting in the sinking of three ships. One of those direct hits were from Burch, resulting in him being awarded his first Navy Cross.[4]

Shortly after the Invasion of Salamaua–Lae Burch became the commander of Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5). Still attached to the USS Yorktown (CV-5), he led his squadron taking part in the Invasion of Tulagi on May 4, 1942. In Tulagi Harbor, Burch and his squadron damaged or destroyed eight Japanese ships.[4] A few days later they again engaged the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea. On May 7, the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō was sighted, VS-5 was sent out with other squadrons from the USS Lexington to intercept the carrier. Burch was the first pilot to successfully attack the Shōhō, dropping his 1,000 pound bomb directly through the middle of the flight deck.[10] The following day, May 8, 1942, Burch led his squadron on another attack, targeting the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku. Again, Burch successfully dropped his payload, directly hitting the deck of the Shōkaku amidships.[11] The Shōkaku sustained three direct hits, leaving her severely damaged. For his actions in the engagements at the Invasion of Tulagi and the Battle of the Coral Sea, Burch was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his second Navy Cross by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.[4][12]

Commanding Officer, Captain , USN (right), and Executive Officer, Commander William O. Burch, Jr., USN (left), on the bridge of the .

Commanding Officer, Captain Dixie Kiefer, USN (right), and Executive Officer, Commander William O. Burch, Jr., USN (left), on the bridge of the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14).

In June and August 1942, Burch served as a carrier training officer in the Pacific. Following that assignment, he served as an executive officer for the Advanced Carrier Training Group until October 1942.[9] As a prospective Commanding Officer of the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), Burch reported to Naval Station Newport. Burch was given the position of Executive Officer upon the USS Ticonderoga's commissioning in May 1944.[9] Deployed to the Atlantic as part of Task Force 38, the USS Ticonderoga was near Formosa on January 21, 1945 when she was attacked by a Japanese Kamikaze, causing a fire in the hangar deck. Executive Officer Burch was the first to man a hose and organized fire-fighting crews. For his actions on the USS Ticonderoga Burch was awarded a second Gold Star in lieu of a third Navy Cross.[4] He served in that position until June 1945.

Post war career[]

With the end of World War II, Burch's next assignment was as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale.[9] He held that role at the same time as doomed Flight 19 in December 1945.

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "William Burch Jr.". 24 Jan 1989. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/25131797/william-oscar-burch-jr-obituary-24/. 
  2. ↑ Naval History and Heritage Command (2017). The Battle of Coral Sea. Washington Navy Yard, DC: Naval History and Heritage Command. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-943604-06-7. https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/browse-by-topic/War%20and%20Conflict/WWII-Pacific-Battles/Coral%20Sea%2017504.pdf. Retrieved 21 September 2021. 
  3. ↑ "Farewell Dinner to Honor Burch". 8 November 1946. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13562305/provides-historical-info-about-william/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 "William Oscar Burch". https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/21655#29299. 
  5. ↑ Johnston, Stanley (1979). Queen of the flat-tops : the U.S.S. Lexington and the Coral Sea battle. New York: Bantam Books. p. 117. ISBN 0553126717. https://archive.org/details/queenofflattops00stan/page/116/mode. Retrieved 21 September 2021. 
  6. ↑ Moore, Stephen L. (2015). The battle for Hell's Island : how a small band of carrier dive-bombers helped save Guadalcanal (First ed.). New York, N.Y.: New American Library. p. 47. ISBN 9780451473752. https://archive.org/details/battleforhellsis0000moor/page/32/mode. Retrieved 21 September 2021. 
  7. ↑ "Boy Scout Training Has Proved Its Worth In Deeds Of Valor Performed By Former Paducah Scouts Now In the Armed Service Of Their Country". 6 Nov 1942. https://www.newspapers.com/image/503590854. 
  8. ↑ The Lucky Bag of 1927. New York City: The Shilling Press Inc.. 1927. pp. 294, 507. https://archive.org/details/luckybag1927unse/page/n7/mode. Retrieved 22 September 2021. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "Aircraft Scouting Force Shipmates: Burch, Rear Admiral". https://www.vpnavy.com/vpasf_shipmates.html. 
  10. ↑ "Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa, Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5), USS Yorktown (CV-5)". https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/stanley-swede-vejtasa-scouting-squadron-5-vs-5-uss-yorktown-cv-5. 
  11. ↑ Hoyt, Edwin P. (1976). Blue skies and blood : the Battle of the Coral Sea. New York: Pinnacle Books. p. 99. ISBN 0523009070. https://archive.org/details/blueskiesbloodba0000hoyt_a6z4. Retrieved 28 September 2021. 
  12. ↑ "Commander Burch Wins Citation for Heroism In Pacific". 9 Nov 1942. https://www.newspapers.com/image/503591419/. 
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