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Nicole Summers, MMFN
to remember
Ault, William Bowen, CDR.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Enterprise, OR
Last Address with VT-6 deployed in the Pacific.
Remembered at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial - Philippines
Casualty Date May 08, 1942
Cause KIA-Body Not Recovered
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Sea
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Buried at Sea - N/A, Pacific Ocean
Wall/Plot Coordinates Lost at sea with his SBD Dauntless.
Military Service Number 57 445
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
In the later Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, as Lexington's Air Group Commander, Ault led Lexington's bombers into combat in the successful May 7 attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho, sinking the light carrier fifteen minutes after the first attack. The Shoho was the first Japanese aircraft carrier sunk in World War II.
Early in the morning on 8 May, Ault led the Lexington airwing's attack on the Japanese fleet carrier Shokaku. The attack was successful; the Shokaku was damaged severely enough to warrant its removal from battle and its return to base at Chuuk.
Both Ault and his radio-gunner, Aviation Radioman 1st Class William T. Butler, apparently suffered wounds when Zero fighters attacked the group commander's SBD Dauntless. Ault attempted to return to a friendly carrier deck, not realizing that the Lexington had taken mortal damage in his absence. Unaware of Lexington's distress, he radioed the ship at 14:49, to tell her that he had only enough gasoline for 20 minutes.
Yorktown, which had taken over communications for "Lady Lex," heard Ault's broadcast but failed to pick him up on her radar. Informed that he was on his own but wished "Good luck." Ault changed course to the north, in a last vain attempt to be picked up on radar. Yorktown again wished him good luck.
Ault, perhaps aware of the fate that lay ahead, radioed : " O.K. So long, people. We put a 1,000 pound hit on the flat top. " No further word was received from Lexington's air group commander, and neither he nor Aviation Radioman Butler was ever seen again. No remains of his aircraft have yet been found.
Comments/Citation:
On September 25, 1943, the airfield at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was named for Commander Ault.
The USS Ault (DD-698), an Allen M. Sumner class destroyer in the United States Navy launched 26 March 1944, was also named for him.
Navy Cross Citation-
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2)
General Orders: Commander In Chief Pacific Fleet: Serial 13 (June 16, 1942)
" The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Commander William Bowen Ault (NSN: 0-57445), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Combat Plane and Group commander of a Navy Air Group attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Air Battle of the Coral Sea, on 7 and 8 May 1942.
...
Commander Ault led the air attack, carried out in the face of severe anti-aircraft barrage and heavy fighter opposition, which resulted in the complete destruction of one enemy carrier on 7 May and major damage to another on 8 May. His failure to return from the latter encounter and his courageous conduct throughout the duration of these actions were an inspiration to the entire air group.
...
Commander Ault's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. "
