Last Known Activity:
Arthur James Brassfield
World War II ACE
USS YORKTOWN, Battle of Midway
Ltjg Arthur J. Brassfield, a peacetime Missouri high school teacher, already has four kills from the Coral Sea. Now he faces three Japanese bombers. He blasts one at 300 yards, flips to the left, and explodes another at 150 yards. The third flees, but Brassfield chases after him and shoots him down. The high school teacher is now a fighter ace. His buddies shoot down seven more planes. The remaining Japanese planes close the range. VF-42 cumulative hours LTjg Arthur J Brassfield, USN as of May 1942 - 1,457.3 hours.
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.
ALL HANDS, JANUARY 1943:
Gets Gold Star
As Second Navy Cross
Lt. Arthur J. Brassfield, USN, has been presented with a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross.
As pilot of an airplane in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942, in company with four other friendly fighter planes, Lieutenant Brassfield intercepted a formation of 18 Japanese dive bombers approaching the Yorktown. In the face of fierce opposing fire, he personally destroyed three of the enemy craftand damaged two others. Later, during the same action with the enemy, he vigorously attacked and shot down in flames a Japanese dive bomber which was straflng survivors of a torpedo plane that had made a forced landing at sea.
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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, Junior Grade Arthur James Brassfield, 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. In company with four other friendly fighter planes, Lieutenant Brassfield intercepted a formation of 18 Japanese dive bombers approaching the YORKTOWN. Pressing home persistent and aggressive attacks in the face of fierce opposing fire, he personally destroyed three of the enemy craft and damaged two others, thereby contributing such effective resistance that only a few of the 18 planes were able to get through to our ships. Later, during the same action with the enemy, he vigorously attacked and shot down in flames a Japanese dive-bomber which was strafing survivors of a friendly Torpedo Plane which had made a forced landing at sea. His courageous devotion to duty, maintained at great personal risk against tremendous odds, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 310 (January 1943)
Action Date: 4-Jun-42
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Company: Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
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 Arthur James Brassfield, 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. LEXINGTON (CV-2), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the Air Battle of the Coral Sea from 5 to 8 May 1942. On 5 May while on combat air patrol, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Brassfield intercepted and aggressively attacked an enemy 4-engine patrol bomber, assisting in its rapid destruction. On 7 May as part of the fighter escort for our scout bombers in an attack on an enemy carrier, he provided protection against enemy aircraft throughout the delivery of the attack which resulted in the sinking of the enemy vessel. On 8 May while on combat air patrol, he, in company with his wingman, aggressively attacked a formation of enemy fighters which were harassing his own forces. By his skillful and courageous action he succeeded in dispersing the formation and in destroying one of the enemy aircraft. He then braved strong enemy fighter protection in order to attack and destroy an enemy dive bomber which was attacking our surface forces. Slightly wounded and his plane badly damaged, he nevertheless succeeded in making a safe landing on the carrier after the attacking force had been driven off. In these engagements he displayed skill, leadership, aggressiveness and complete disregard of his own safety in order that he might carry out his assigned missions. His conduct throughout these actions reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander In Chief Pacific Fleet: Serial 2050 (May 8, 1942)
Action Date: May 5 - 8, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Company: Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
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