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John Clarence Butler

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Years of service
  
1941-1942

Awards
  
Navy Cross

Rank
  
Ensign

Battles and wars
  
World War II


Name
  
John Butler

Died
  
June 4, 1942

John Clarence Butler John Clarence Butler Birth Chart Astro Horoscope Date of Birth

Born
  
February 2, 1921 Liberty, Arizona (
1921-02-02
)

Battles/wars
  
World War II *Battle of Midway

Service/branch
  
United States Navy

Allegiance
  
United States of America

John Clarence Butler (1921–1942) was a United States Navy officer and naval aviator who had a role in World War II's Battle of Midway. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Contents

Biography

Butler was born in Liberty, Arizona to Walter and Irene Butler. After high school, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles and San Diego State University. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve on February 19, 1941, qualified for flight training, and was appointed as an Aviation Cadet on April 3.

After flight training, he reported to Second Division of Bombing Squadron Three on board aircraft carrier Yorktown (CV-5). On 4 June 1942, Butler and his squadron attacked a Japanese task force during the Battle of Midway, and succeeded in sinking three aircraft carriers. When Bulter's squadron returned to the Yorktown (CV-5) that night, his plane was not among them; his body was never recovered.

For his part in this attack, Butler was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross.

Legacy

In 1943, the destroyer escort USS John C. Butler (DE-339) was named in his honor.

The people of Buckeye also sought to memorialize Butler's contributions to the war effort. The Buckeye Municipal Airport named its airfield the "John C. Butler Memorial Field" in his honor. In addition, Buckeye's American Legion Hazelton-Butler Post No. 53 was named for him.

Awards and decorations

John Clarence Butler 's awards and decorations include:

References

John Clarence Butler Wikipedia