Years of service 1940–1942 Rank Ensign | Name Delbert Halsey Awards Navy Cross, Air Medal | |
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Born December 8, 1919
Baker, Montana ( 1919-12-08 ) Battles/wars World War II
*February 1, 1942 raid on Marshall Islands
*February 25, 1942 raid on Wake Island
*Battle of Midway Died June 4, 1942, Pacific Ocean | ||
Service/branch United States Navy Allegiance United States of America | ||
Delbert W. Halsey (1919–1942) 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
Delbert Wayne Halsey was born in Baker, Montana, on December 8, 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 9, 1940, and was appointed Aviation Cadet on March 6, 1941, training at Naval Air Station Pensacola at Pensacola, Florida, and at Naval Air Station Miami at Miami, Florida.
Appointed Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, on September 25, 1941, he reported to Bombing Squadron 6 on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), piloting Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers. He participated in the aerial attack against the Japanese-held Marshall Islands on February 1, 1942, during which he earned the Air Medal.
On February 25, 1942, Halsey participated in a raid on Wake Island, during which he pursued and attacked an airborne Japanese four-engine flying boat. When the flying boat accelerated and began to outrun his dive bomber, he reported it to nearby F4F Wildcat fighters, which were able to shoot it down.
Halsey was lost in action on June 4, 1942, in the Battle of Midway. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and service at Midway.
Commemoration
The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Delbert W. Halsey (DE-310), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Ensign Halsey.