The current guardian of this Remembrance Page is Roger Overton-Family.
If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page,
please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s)
HERE
This Remembrance Profile was originally created by Mike Overton - Family
Contact Info
Home Town Southbury, Ct.
Last Address Annapolis, MD
Date of Passing Sep 24, 2001
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
TBD ???
Other Comments:
"Ace" Navy Pilot Edward White Overton Jr. Highly Decorated WWII Flier and CIA Officer Awarded both the Navy Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross twice
LtCdr. OVERTON, EDWARD WHITE, JR.
During World War II, he was stationed in the Pacific theater as a Navy pilot and received two awards of the Navy Cross for extraordinary bravery while facing intense anti-aircraft fire. He also received two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and eight awards of the Air Medal.
Navy Cross (first award) Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Edward White Overton, Jr., United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Division Leader in Fighting Squadron FIFTEEN (VF-15, attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese forces during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 19 June 1944. Engaging the outnumbering enemy aerial groups closing our surface forces, Lieutenant Commander Overton pressed home his attacks and, skillfully maneuvering his plane in the face of intense enemy opposition, shot down two enemy fighters, an enemy dive bomber, probably destroyed two more enemy fighters and assisted in destroying, damaging or dispersing the remainder although his fuel tank was on fire and his plane badly damaged. Promptly assuming command when the squadron commander failed to return, he rendezvoused the remainder of our planes and then elected to stay in the area until darkness in order to search for missing pilots despite the proximity of an enemy airfield and the constant threat from hostile anti-aircraft fire. By his superb airmanship, fighting spirit and devotion to duty, he contributed essentially to the defense of our forces in the area and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander Fast Carrier Task Force: Serial 0280 (August 3, 1944) & Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 338 (May 1945) Action Date: 19-Jun-44 Service: United States Naval Reserve Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15) Division: U.S.S. Essex (CV-9)
Born: May 24, 1920 at New York, New York
Home Town: Manhassett, Long Island, New York
Navy Cross (second award) 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 Commander [then Lieutenant] Edward White Overton, Jr., 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 FIFTEEN (VF-15), attached to the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese surface forces over the Sibuyan Sea during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands on 25 October 1944. Undaunted by intense anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant Commander Overton carried out an attack against major hostile fleet units, scoring a direct bomb hit on a Japanese battleship and contributing to the success of the mission. By his skill as an airman and devotion to duty throughout, Lieutenant Commander Overton upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 0429 (December 16, 1944) & Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 338 (May 1945) Action Date: 25-Oct-44 Service: United States Naval Reserve Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15) Division: U.S.S. Essex (CV-9) Born: May 24, 1920 at New York, New York Home Town: Manhassett, Long Island, New York
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Description The Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, also known as Operation Forager, was an offensive launched by United States forces against Imperial Japanese forces in the Mariana Islands and Palau in the Pacific Ocean between June and November, 1944 during the Pacific War. The United States offensive, under the overall command of Chester Nimitz, followed the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign and was intended to neutralize Japanese bases in the central Pacific, support the Allied drive to retake the Philippines, and provide bases for a strategic bombing campaign against Japan.
Beginning the offensive, United States Marine Corps and United States Army forces, with support from the United States Navy, executed landings on Saipan in June, 1944. In response, the Imperial Japanese Navy's combined fleet sortied to attack the U.S. Navy fleet supporting the landings. In the resulting aircraft carrier Battle of the Philippine Sea (the so-called “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”) on 19–20 June, the Japanese naval forces were decisively defeated with heavy and irreplaceable losses to their carrier-borne and land-based aircraft.
Thereafter, U.S. forces executed landings on Guam and Tinian in July, 1944. After heavy fighting, Saipan was secured in July and Guam and Tinian in August, 1944. The U.S. then constructed airfields on Saipan and Tinian where B-29s were based to conduct strategic bombing missions against the Japanese mainland until the end of World War II, including the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In the meantime, in order to secure the flank for U.S. forces preparing to attack Japanese forces in the Philippines, in September, 1944, U.S. Marine and Army forces landed on the islands of Peleliu and Angaur in Palau. After heavy and intense combat on Peleliu, the island was finally secured by U.S. forces in November, 1944.
Following their landings in the Mariana and Palau Islands, Allied forces continued their ultimately successful campaign against Japan by landing in the Philippines in October, 1944 and the Volcano and Ryukyu Islands beginning in January, 1945.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
November / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Awarded the Navy Cross: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Edward White Overton, Jr., Lieutenant, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron FIFTEEN (VF-15, embarked from the U.S.S. ESSEX (CV-9), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Marianas Islands on 19 June 1944. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
