Bruce Godfrey Brackett

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

Brackett's first assignment was to Cruiser Scouting Squadron (VCS) 9 on board USS Honolulu (CL-48) to which he reported on June 22. The light cruiser operated out of Pearl Harbor through 1941 and was moored in the Navy Yard when the Japanese attacked on December 7. Honolulu suffered only minor hull damage and was initially assigned convoy escort duty between the United States, Australia, and Samoa.

World War II assignments

Promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) in June 1942, Brackett spent the summer months of 1942 in the Aleutian Islands on board Honolulu. He was promoted to lieutenant on October 1, 1942 and began to fly combat scouting missions with Task Force (TF) 67 during the Battle of Tassafaronga in November and out of Espiritu Santo early in 1943.

Flying the “Tokyo Express”

From December 16, 1942 to January 14, 1943, Lt. Brackett flew hazardous missions to seek out the "Tokyo Express," the nightly reinforcement runs of warships down the slot that separated two chains of islands in the Solomons group. On his missions, he distinguished himself by valor when faced with heavy Japanese antiaircraft fire. Without regard to his personal safety, he illuminated hostile targets for PT boat squadrons to attack.

Silver Star

During the nights of January 14 and January 15, he was shot down over Savo Island while assisting the PT boats engaging a nine-destroyer "express" run. Lt. Brackett was officially declared dead on January 23, 1943 and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his heroism.

Namesake

The USS Brackett (DE-41), laid down as BDE-41 on January 12, 1943 and launched as DE-41 on August 1, 1943, was named in his honor.