Years of service 1935–1942 Rank Lieutenant | Awards Navy Cross Name Arthur Ely | |
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Born March 8, 1912
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ( 1912-03-08 ) Allegiance United States of America Battles/wars World War II
Battle of Midway Died June 4, 1942, Pacific Ocean Education United States Naval Academy Battles and wars World War II, Battle of Midway | ||
Service/branch United States Navy | ||
Arthur V. Ely (1912–1942) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II.
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Naval career
Arthur Vincent Ely, born 8 March 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1935. After aviation training he joined Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) in 1938.
Ely piloted a Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber of VT-6, operating off the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), at the Battle of Midway. He was shot down and killed on 4 June 1942 during the battle.
For his vigorous assault on Japanese forces at Midway, Ely was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
Commemoration
The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Ely (DE-309), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Lieutenant Ely.