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| Story number one:
World War II produced many heroes. One was Butch O’Hare, a fighter pilot assigned to a carrier in the South Pacific. The squadron was sent on a mission, and as he got airborne, a glance at his fuel gauge showed that no one had topped off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation. As he was returning to the ship, he saw a squadron of Japanese Zeroes speeding their way toward the American fleet. With the American fighters gone, he fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn’t reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor, could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the
fleet. With no regard to his own safety, he dove into the formation of
Japanese planes. Guns blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised
enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now-broken formation
and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was gone.
But still he continued the assault. He dove at the Zeroes, trying to at
least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes
as possible and rendering them unfit to fly. He was desperate to do anything
he could to keep them from reaching the American And today, O’Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. |
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ships. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O’Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the
carrier. Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding
his return. The film from the