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Contact Info
Home Town St. Paul, Minn
Last Address McLean, VA
Date of Passing Jan 19, 2012
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Captain Warren Andrew Skon, USN Ret. Navy ace pilot in WWII,
Awarded the Navy Cross,
4 Distinguished Flying Crosses
and 8 Combat Air Medals
Capt. Skon was a highly decorated pilot who took part in several major air-combat operations during his two years as a naval aviator in the Pacific. He participated in the Navy's first nighttime fighter actions from an aircraft carrier and was awarded the Navy Cross, the Navy's highest award for wartime valor.
He was credited with shooting down seven Japanese airplanes during the war, making him an ace. (An ace is a pilot who downs at least five enemy aircraft.) Andy Skon was a pilot assigned to VF-2, one of the highest scoring Hellcat units of WWII. They called themselves the "Red Rippers" Andy scored all his victories in 1944 downing four Zeke's, two Val's, and a Tony, during the only cruise of VF-2 on the Hornet.
In 1943, when he was assigned to the USS Enterprise, Capt. Skon was the wingman to Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare, who was the Navy's first flying ace and who received the Medal of Honor in 1942.
On the night of Nov. 26, 1943, a formation of Japanese torpedo bombers was detected flying toward the Enterprise and other ships in what the Navy called Task Force 58 near the Gilbert Islands. O'Hare, Capt. Skon and other pilots scrambled into action to confront the enemy planes, downing several in the Navy's first nighttime airborne firefight.
Capt. Skon (then an ensign) was awarded the Navy Cross for his role in intercepting the enemy airplanes and repelling the attack. No ships in the U.S. group were seriously damaged.
The Navy Cross citation praised Capt. Skon's "outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty" and said his "fighting spirit in the face of great peril was largely responsible for saving the carrier task group from serious damage."
The award was bittersweet, however, because in the midst of the battle, O'Hare was shot down and lost at sea. Neither he nor his plane was ever found.
The last person O'Hare spoke to, by radio, was Capt. Skon. As they were converging on a plane, Capt. Skon later told an Associated Press reporter, "Butch said, 'You take the side you want!' I said, 'I'll take the port.'
" 'Roger,' he said, and that was the last word he said.
"Then I saw tracers around his plane. I saw it sheer off and drop quickly below us."
O'Hare, for whom Chicago's O'Hare International Airport was later named, was one of the few Medal of Honor recipients to return to action and later die in battle.
Capt. Skon was later assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the Pacific. Flying a F6F Hellcat, he shot down three Japanese planes, including two dive bombers, within a nine-day period in June 1944 that later became known as the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot.”
He downed two Japanese fighter planes on July 3, 1944, and two more on Sept. 21, for a total of seven. He damaged four other aircraft in aerial combat and, although it could not be confirmed, was believed to have shot down an eighth plane.
After the war, Capt. Skon was a Navy flight instructor and commanding officer of Navy fighter groups. He managed a Defense Department project in connection with the White House Communications Agency from 1967 to 1970. When he retired from the military in 1973, he was the Navy’s assistant inspector general.
In addition to the Navy Cross, Capt. Skon’s decorations included four awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal and eight Air Medals.
Other Comments:
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 Ensign Warren Andrew Skon, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron TWO (VF-2), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), and deployed over Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, in action against enemy Japanese forces on 26 November 1943. When warnings were received of the approach of a large force of Japanese torpedo bombers, Ensign Skon volunteered to join a fighter section of aircraft from his carrier, the first time such a mission had been attempted at night, in order to intercept the attackers. He rendered valiant service in breaking up that phase of the attack and succeeded in dispersing the enemy aircraft. His fighting spirit in the face of great peril was largely responsible for saving the carrier task group from serious damage. Ensign Skon's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: November 26, 1943
Service: Navy Rank:
Ensign Company: Fighting Squadron 2 (VF-2)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the U.S.S. HORNET and her attached Air Groups participating in the following operations: March 29 to May 1, 1944, Palau, Hollandia, Truk; June 11 to August 5, 1944, Marianas, Bonins, Yap; September 6 to 24, 1944, Philippines, Palau: AG-2 (VF-2, VB-2, VT-2, Part of VFN-76). October 10 to November 22, 1944, Ryukyus, Formosa, Philippines, Luzon; December 14 to 16, 1944, Luzon; January 3 to 22, 1945, Philippines, Formosa, China Sea Ryukyus: AG-11 (VF-11 VB-11 VT-11). February 16 to June 10, 1945, Japan, Bonins, Ryukyus: AG-17 (F-17, VBF-17, VB-17 VT-17).
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces in the air, ashore and afloat in the Pacific War Area from March 29, 1944, to June 10, 1945. Operating continuously in the most forward areas, the USS HORNET and their air groups struck crushing blows toward annihilating Japanese fighting power; they provided air cover for our amphibious forces; they fiercely countered the enemy's aerial attacks and destroyed his planes; and they inflicted terrific losses on the Japanese in Fleet and merchant marine units sunk or damaged. Daring and dependable in combat, the HORNET with her gallant officers and men rendered loyal ser- vice in achieving the ultimate defeat of the Japanese Empire"
For the President,
signed by the Secretary of the Navy
1943-1944, VF-1A Red Rippers
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Chain of Command Andy Skon was a pilot assigned to VF-2, one of the highest scoring Hellcat units of WWII. They called them selves the "Red Rippers" Andy scored all his victories in 1944 downing four Zeke's, two Val's, and a Tony during 1944 during the only cruise of VF-2 on the Hornet.
Other Memories VF-2, THE RED RIPPERS
The Third Fighting Two (1943-1945)
The Hottest Fighter Squadron in the Pacific
The Third Fighting Two stood up on 1 June 1943 at Naval Air Station Atlantic City under the command of LCDR Bill Dean, a Naval Academy graduate. This new incarnation of Fighting Two was part of a numbered air group, unlike the Flying Chiefs who belonged to the LEXINGTON Air Group. Therefore the "Rippers" became the first World War II fighting squadron to bear the same designation as a previous unit in the war. They also deployed with several combat-experienced pilots from VF-6 and VF-10. VF-2 initially had eight FM-1s, General Motors-built Wildcats. Shortly thereafter, VF-2 received its first Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats. This would begin a fantastic sixty-year relationship between Grumman aircraft and Fighting Two. The Hellcat would become one of the most famous planes in World War II for its speed, maneuverability, and ruggedness. Fighting Two would be a big contributor to the Hellcat legend.
LCDR Dean's VF-2 spent months detached from its air group. VF-2 continued its training on the east coast until October 1943, when it headed west for San Francisco and then Hawaii. In Hawaii, its pilots participated in a Marine landing exercise, and so impressed the influential "Butch" O'Hare that he requested VF-2 replace VF-6 in his Air Group 6 on ENTERPRISE during the upcoming Gilberts campaign. From November 1943 to January 1944, VF-2 relieved VF-6 on ENTERPRISE. On board the "Big E," Fighting Two saw action in the invasion of the Gilbert Islands: Makin and Tarawa. The squadron also participated in raids against the Marshall Islands of Kwajalein, Ebeye, and Roi. CAG "Butch" O'Hare organized "bat teams" of one TBF Avenger and two F6Fs for night interceptions. O'Hare was killed on such a mission near the Gilberts on 26 November 1943 while flying with VF-2's ENS Skon. In December 1943, the "Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor where Fighting Two participated in many exercises until March of 1944. Rejoining CAG-2 aboard the new USS HORNET, Fighting Two began hunting in even more opportune skies. Limited combat occurred in late March, but in June Dean's squadron started producing aces in prodigious numbers.
11 June 1944: Strikes Against the Marianas
To keep the Japanese defenders off balance, Admiral Mitscher launched the first fighter sweep against the Marianas in the afternoon of 11 June 1944, instead of early morning on the invasion day, 12 June, as had been the American habit. At 1300, the carriers turned into the 14 knot wind and launched over 200 Hellcats. They were about 200 miles from their targets of Guam and Rota. LCDR Dean led his fliers over the Guam airfields when LTJG Howard Duff went down, a victim of AAA fire. Circling over his downed pilot, trying to guide in the SB2Cs to rescue him, Dean didn't see the 30 bandits that jumped his squadron from out of the high overcast. Warned by LTJG Wolf, Dean and his wingman, LTJG Park, "chandelled" into their attackers, got the advantage, and promptly downed three of them. Dean shot down another Zero a little later, while the alert Wolf claimed three. The planes of VF-2 involved in this mid-afternoon strike claimed 23 victories. Meanwhile HORNET's Combat Air Patrol (CAP) destroyed 3 Betty medium bombers, and a second strike on Guam downed another 10 Japanese aircraft. By day's end, while only losing Duff's plane, Fighting Two had scored 37 victories.
In the next few days, they struck at the Bonin Islands and Iwo Jima to destroy any Japanese aircraft there that might be used to attack the Marines landing on Saipan. Here, LCDR Dean only sent out pilots without any victories so that they could catch up. They made the most of it as LT Barnard scored 5, LTJG Noble 3, LTJG Carroll 3, and four other pilots accounted for 6 more. On 18 June, many VF-2 pilots took part in extended searches that went out 380 miles with a 50 mile cross-leg. These searches pushed the limits of the Hellcats and the pilots: they took five or more hours, and the Hellcats carried a six-hour fuel supply. No one found the Japanese fleet.
19-20 June 1944: The Marianas Turkey Shoot
During the fleet engagement on 19 June, Fighting Two was credited with 47 victories, including six by a former enlisted pilot, ENS "Spider" Webb. Only one F6F was damaged beyond repair. "Spider" Webb downed six over Guam following his famous radio call "I've got 40 Japs surrounded!" By dawn of 20 June, they knew that they had downed a huge number of the enemy's naval aircraft, but so far they hadn't found the carriers. About 1600, a contact was made. The Japanese were 200 miles to the west, a long round-trip flight, especially in the late afternoon. Admiral Mitscher ordered the strike; for maximum punch, even the Hellcats carried 500-pound bombs. Former Fighting Two pilot Connie Hargreaves, a minister's son, described his part in the mission in an article after the war:
?The pilots of Fighting Two flew out to the sighting area, but no Japanese carriers. The CAG ordered them to press on, beyond the safe turn-around point. Just as the sun was setting they spotted the Jap fleet. There was no aerial opposition, just heavy AAA. Bill Dean took his division in first, then Hargreaves' division commenced their dives. After release, they tried to form up, but the darkness was absolute: no moon, no city lights reflecting off the clouds, just their instruments and the running lights of other U.S. planes. The pilots joined up with any "friendly" fighter. As they flew back to the east, first the dive-bombers, then the torpedo bombers began to ditch as they ran out of fuel.
Hargreaves began to question his navigation, but finally spotted the wakes of the American fleet below. Procedure called for the landings to be made in darkness, with only the dim blue deck lights and the LSO's paddles to guide the planes in. But not many pilots had actually made night carrier landings, and when a number of bombers crashed on landing, Mitscher gave his famous order to "turn on the lights." With a little more gas than some of the others, Hargreaves circled a little longer. When he got the "cut," he landed uneventfully, but was almost killed as the next plane landed poorly, missed Hargreaves' plane by inches, and knocked another onto a quad AA gun. ?
It was a somber night in HORNET's ready room as only six VF-2 pilots gathered there; but many others had landed on other carriers. Others were fished out of the water. It turned out that all of Hargreaves' gang were safe that night, but they lost five aircraft.
Five days later Fighting Two bettered its record by destroying 67 enemy planes in a one-day period during a sweep over Iwo Jima. One F6F was lost and one damaged beyond repair. LTJG Hargreaves shot down four on a single morning sortie; later that afternoon, on CAP, he got another to become an ace-in-a-day.
12 September 1944: ENS Tillar Shortens the War by Two Months
On the morning of 12 September 1944, Air Group 2 was bombing an island off Cebu; recently arrived ENS Thomas Cato Tillar of VF-2 took off from HORNET before dawn in his Hellcat. He became embroiled in a dogfight with three Japanese fighters, downed one of them, and was shot down himself. ENS Tillar ditched safely and clambered aboard his life raft. He had been slightly injured in the crash, but the sea was calm and he hoped for a prompt rescue. He found himself about 600 yards from the small island of Apid, which was about 10 miles from Leyte. Before long, some Filipinos in outriggers came to get him, communicating their friendliness by their gestures and their actions. They brought him to shore, where about 200 people were waiting. A young man who looked about eighteen introduced himself as "Sosa" and offered to interpret. The others had brought Tillar's gear ashore, stowing it in a shed labeled "APID WATER TANK." Sosa explained that the Americans had built the tank and that Apid was the name of the island. Tillar got on well with the locals, passing out razor blades, candy, and other things to the islanders, who had no use for the Japanese. Sosa surprised the downed ensign by showing him his Philippine Army papers, indicating him to be a PFC, age 26. He had been captured by the Japanese and imprisoned on Luzon. After escaping about eighteen months previously, he had been hiding out on Apid. At about 1500, much to Tillar's relief, they heard aircraft engines overhead. Tillar signaled with his mirror, but the planes flew on. Increasingly aware of his injured shoulder and his exhaustion, Tiller started to become frightened.
Heading back to the village, they heard more planes again: F6Fs flying low and slow. Tillar signaled frantically with mirror, tracer bullets and a Very gun. As the planes circled, an outrigger came ashore carrying a lieutenant of the Filipino guerillas. The officer wore civilian clothes, clean trousers, and a pink sport shirt. He told Tillar that he welcomed the presence of American carriers in the area and asked to be supplied with weapons and medical supplies. Distracted by the approach of a Curtiss SO2C rescue seaplane, Tillar asked the officer about the number of Japanese soldiers on the large islands in the area. "Only 15,000 on Cebu and none on Leyte." Thinking that this information might be of some modest use to U.S. intelligence officers, Tillar tried to remember the details. Meanwhile, the seaplane touched down on the water and taxied in. Tillar rafted out to be picked up by Mike Spinelli, pilot of the SO2C. As darkness closed in, they returned in the seaplane to the cruiser WICHITA, where a groggy Tillar was interviewed by Admiral Turner Joy. At first, he was almost incoherent; but when stimulated by a tumbler of whiskey that the Admiral ordered for him, he related all his experiences. Admiral Joy became very interested in the information about the slight Japanese troop strength in the central Philippines. Soon his exhaustion did Tillar in, and he staggered to a bunk and slept for 12 hours.
Meanwhile, Admiral Joy sent the information to Admiral Halsey. By the next day, 13 September, Halsey recommended that the proposed invasions of Yap and Mindanao be cancelled, in favor of a direct strike on Leyte - that much closer to Manila and to Tokyo. With General MacArthur's concurrence, Halsey's bold new plan went up the chain to General Marshall, President Roosevelt, and other top Allied planners, then in conference at Quebec. They agreed as well, and 5 weeks later, the Americans waded ashore on Leyte - two months earlier than in the original plans. Ensign Tillar didn't do it all by himself, but his report surely made the decision to accelerate the Leyte invasion much easier.
On 22 September 1944, VF-2 closed their victory log when "Spider" Webb downed a Tony over Manila. During the 1943-44 period, Fighting Two's box score was:
strikes: 184
sorties: 2050
combat hours: 14,090
ships destroyed: 50,000 tons
enemy planes shot down: 216
enemy planes destroyed on the ground: 245
Total Enemy Planes Destroyed: 506
own planes lost in aerial combat: 3
own planes lost to enemy anti-aircraft fire: 4
Total Own Combat Losses: 7
This translates into an 87-to-1 air combat kill ratio. The squadron, which featured pilots with callsigns like "Blood". "Zeak", "Razor", "The Kid", and "Supermouse" was featured in an article in LIFE Magazine on 23 October 1944. The article describes Fighting Two during this period:
Many of the veteran Navy pilots who took part in the first Manila raid flew their first combat missions in the Gilbert Islands less than a year ago. But in the months since Tarawa some terrific records have been compiled by Navy fliers. The hottest fighter squadron in the Pacific fight now is "Fighting Two."
From Makin to Manila, Fighting Two shot down 261 Japanese planes at a loss of only three pilots, destroyed approximately 200 more on the ground, battered or sunk some 50,000 tons of shipping, collected 117 major decorations. Among the squadron's 50-odd pilots, 26 have shot down at least five Japanese planes.
