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Donald Losey (Fallhiker), MM1
to remember
Galt, Dwight, LT.
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Contact Info
Date of Passing Mar 21, 1996
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Lieutenant (jg) Dwight Beebe Galt:
Navy Ace with 5 Aerial Victories to his credit.
Born in Hyattsville, Maryland on March 31, 1920
He took his flight training at NAS Pensecola and NAS Opa Locka Florida. After graduation on January 5, 1943 he received his commission as an Ensign.
On May 1, 1943 Ens. Galt was attached to the newly formed Fighter Squadron 31 (VF-31) under the command of Lt. Cmd. Robert Winston at NAS Atlantic City New Jersey. He served with VF-31 on board the USS Cabot from January 1944 through October 1944. During his tour of duty aboard USS Cabot he became a Naval Ace downing 5 enemy aircraft.
Engagements flown in which Lieutenant (jg) Galt shot down enemy aircraft:
Medals Awarded to Lieutenant (jg) Galt while serving with VF-31
Distinguished Flying Cross
Gold Star in lieu of 2nd Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
Other Comments:
Galt, Dwight Beebe (Jr.)
b. 31 Mar 1920 - d. 21 Mar 1996 75 yrs. R67/217
Washington Post, April 3, 1996
Dwight B. Galt Jr.
Senate Official
Dwight B. Galt Jr., 75, a Placida, Fla., resident who had worked for the Daily Digest of the Senate for 29 years before retiring in 1978 as its editor, died March 21 at a hospital in Venice, Fla. He had lymphoma.
Mr. Galt, who moved to Florida in 1978, was born in Hyattsville and attended the University of Maryland.
He served in the Pacific during World War II, flying F6F Hellcat fighters from the carrier Cabot.
His wife, Bettie, died in 1986. Survivors include a son, Dwight III, of Silver Spring; two daughters, Deborah H.G. Vahle of White Plains, Md., and Kathryn Galt of Alexandria; and eight grandchildren.
Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)/Battle of Guam
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
August / 1944
Description Guam, ringed by reefs, cliffs, and heavy surf, presents a formidable challenge for an attacker. But despite the obstacles, on 21 July, the Americans landed on both sides of the Orote peninsula on the western side of Guam, planning to cut off the airfield. The 3rd Marine Division landed near Agana to the north of Orote at 08:28, and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade landed near Agat to the south. Japanese artillery sank 20 LVTs, and inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans, especially on the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, but by 09:00 men and tanks were ashore at both beaches. The 77th Infantry Division had a more difficult landing. Lacking amphibious vehicles, they had to wade ashore from the edge of the reef where they were dropped by their landing craft. The men stationed in the two beachheads were pinned down by heavy Japanese fire, making initial progress inland quite slow.
US Marines move inland.
By nightfall, the Americans had established beachheads about 6,600 feet (2,000 m) deep. Japanese counterattacks were made throughout the first few days of the battle, mostly at night, using infiltration tactics. Several times, they penetrated the American defenses and were driven back with heavy loss of men and equipment. Lieutenant General Takeshi Takashina was killed on 28 July, and Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata took over the command of the defenders.
Supply was very difficult for the Americans in the first days of the battle. Landing ships could not come closer than the reef, several hundred yards from the beach, and amphibious vehicles were scarce. However, the two beachheads were joined up on 25 July, and the Orote airfield and Apra harbor were captured by 30 July.
The counterattacks against the American beachheads, as well as the fierce fighting, had exhausted the Japanese. At the start of August, they were running out of food and ammunition and had only a handful of tanks left. Obata withdrew his troops from the south of Guam, planning to make a stand in the mountainous central and northern part of the island. But with resupply and reinforcement impossible because of American control of the sea and air around Guam, he could hope to do no more than delay the inevitable defeat for a few days.
Rain and thick jungle made conditions difficult for the Americans, but after an engagement at Mount Barrigada from 2-4 August, the Japanese line collapsed; the rest of the battle was a pursuit to the north. As in other battles of the Pacific War, the Japanese refused to surrender, and almost all were killed. On 10 August, after three weeks of combat, organized Japanese resistance ended, and Guam was declared secure. The next day, Obata committed ritual suicide.
