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Nicole Summers, MMFN
to remember
Anderson, Robert Harold, LT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Eau Clair, WI
Last Address Eau Clair, WI
Date of Passing Jun 06, 1945
Location of Interment Forest Hill Cemetery - Eau Claire, Wisconsin
LT Anderson died while on a training flight in Norfolk, VA.
Other Comments:
Name of Award
Navy Cross
Year Awarded
1944
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Robert Harold Anderson (NSN: 0-106429), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Bomber in Bombing Fighting Squadron EIGHTY (VBF-80), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV19), while participating in an aerial flight against enemy forces on 14 December 1944, in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands. Lieutenant Anderson led a division of planes in an eight-plane formation and when an enemy formation of twenty-seven planes was encountered, he led the attack on the enemy formation despite the numerical odds and during the ensuing engagement shot down five enemy planes and probably shot down another enemy plane. When his wingman was under attack by an enemy plane and while he was almost out of ammunition, he dove on the enemy plane and forced the enemy plane to break off from the attack. His courage and skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0909 (January 13, 1945)
Action Date: December 14, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Company: Bombing Fighting Squadron 80 (VBF-80)
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19)
Name of Award
Distinguished Flying Cross
Devices
Year Awarded
1945
Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Robert Harold Anderson (NSN: 0-106429), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against the enemy shipping off the coast of Indo-China on 10 January 1945. Leading a division of carrier based fighter planes against an enemy convoy, he personally scored a direct 1,000-pound bomb hit on a large tanker causing it to explode and later sink. His courage, skill and leadership, coupled with complete disregard for his personal safety, were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: 10-Jan-45
Description The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the Battles for Leyte Gulf, and formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.
It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from 23–26 October 1944, between combined US and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in Southeast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The IJN failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never afterwards sailed to battle in comparable force. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted of four separate engagements between the opposing forces: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions.
It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze attacks. By the time of the battle, Japan had fewer aircraft than the Allied forces had sea vessels, demonstrating the difference in power of the two sides at this point of the war.
