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Contact Info
Home Town St. Paul
Last Address Edward Duran Mattson Place of Birth: St. Paul, Minnesota Home of record: Deerwood, Minnesota
Date of Passing Nov 22, 1983
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Edward Duran Mattson
USS YORKTOWN CV-5, Battle of the Coral Sea
The air-to-air action was sustained and violent. Veteran strike leader Commander Takahashi would not return from this fight. When Lt. (j.g.) Duran Mattson landed his Wildcat after this action his crew found the Grumman fighter riddled with 21 shell holes from 20mm cannon fire and countless machine-gun bullet holes. The battle of Midway woud be next. VF-3 Line up at Midway: 4th Division, Bu No 5153 - Side No 21; pilot - Lt ED Mattson; call sign Scarlet 21. The USS Yorktown CV-5 sunk during the Battle of Midway, 7 June 1942.
USS YORKTOWN AIR CREWS After Midway, most of the remaining VF-3/42 pilots and their planes went over to USS Hornet to replace that ship’s VF-8 losses (ten of the VF-8 fighters ditched in the open sea due to, charitably, navigation errors. Thach commanded the new organization, called VF-3-42-8. The USS Hornet CV-8 sunk in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, (Solomon Islands) 27 October 1942.
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Edward Duran Mattson (NSN: 0-82774), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THREE (VF-3), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. While flying combat patrol over our surface ships, Lieutenant Mattson led his wingman in aggressive attacks against a large formation of Japanese dive bombers and fighters. Although coming under fire of an enemy fighter, he pressed home his attack with courageous skill and determination until he succeeded in shooting down one Japanese dive bomber, thereby contributing greatly to the frustration of the enemy's offensive. His gallant initiative and conscientious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Navy Cross Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edward Duran Mattson (NSN: 0-82774), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FORTY-TWO (VF-42), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against the enemy from 5 to 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. In company with three other fighters on 5 May, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Mattson participated in a prompt and resolute attack against an enemy four-engine patrol bomber with the result that the bomber was quickly shot down and the detection of our forces by the enemy was prevented. On 7 May, as part of a fighter escort, he provided protection from enemy aircraft for our scout bombers throughout their attack on an enemy Japanese carrier in the Coral Sea, enabling our forces to successfully attack and sink that vessel. Again, while on combat air patrol protecting our own forces in the Coral Sea on 8 May, he braved punishing machine gun and cannon fire to press home an aggressive attack against four enemy fighters attacking our forces and succeeded in dispersing them. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Mattson's conduct throughout these engagements was marked by skill, determination and complete disregard for his own personal safety.
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VA-42 was established on September 1, 1950 the squadron was designated Fighter Squadron 42 (VF-42). The unit was redesignated (VA-42) on November 1, 1953 the squadron designation remained the same until it was disestablished on September 30, 1994.
Green Pawn" nickname
The insignia for VA-42, the "Green Pawn", was originally approved by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for Bombing and Fighting Squadron 75 (VBF-75) on October 28, 1946. When VBF-75 was redesignated VF-4B on November 15, 1946, the insignia was carried over for use by Fighting Squadron 4B (VF-4B).
On September 1, 1948 VF-4B was redesignated Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42). This squadron continued to use the Green Pawn insignia until it was disestablished on June 8, 1950. When a new Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42) was established on September 1, 1950 they adopted the Green Pawn insignia that had been used by the former VF-42. In 1953 the insignia was carried over to VA-42 following its redesignation from VF-42.
The Green Pawn insignia is a simple, uncluttered and highly recognizable design. The symbol of the pawn was chosen because it has the most potential power of any piece on the chess board. The pawn is canted at a 45 degree angle inside a shield design. It is also said that the aircrews said they were called the Green Pawns for two reasons: it was the Fleet Replacement Squadron (Responsible for training new aircrew and aircraft maintainers; thereby, they were green, or new); and their squadron was a pawn which could be pushed around by the fleet and the senior commands.
Colors are as follows: green pawn; background of the shield is white outlined in green; and the scroll is white outlined in green with green lettering.
Chain of Command Battle of the Coral Sea: USS Yorktown CV-5 Yorktown Air Group VF-42 (Fighting 42) LTJG Edward Duran Mattson
Other Memories Awarded the Navy Cross. United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FORTY-TWO (VF-42), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5)
