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Contact Info
Home Town St. Paul
Last Address Edward Duran Mattson Place of Birth: St. Paul, Minnesota Home of record: Deerwood, Minnesota
Date of Passing Nov 22, 1983
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Edward Duran Mattson
USS YORKTOWN CV-5, Battle of the Coral Sea
The air-to-air action was sustained and violent. Veteran strike leader Commander Takahashi would not return from this fight. When Lt. (j.g.) Duran Mattson landed his Wildcat after this action his crew found the Grumman fighter riddled with 21 shell holes from 20mm cannon fire and countless machine-gun bullet holes. The battle of Midway woud be next. VF-3 Line up at Midway: 4th Division, Bu No 5153 - Side No 21; pilot - Lt ED Mattson; call sign Scarlet 21. The USS Yorktown CV-5 sunk during the Battle of Midway, 7 June 1942.
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.
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 Edward Duran Mattson (NSN: 0-82774), 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. While flying combat patrol over our surface ships, Lieutenant Mattson led his wingman in aggressive attacks against a large formation of Japanese dive bombers and fighters. Although coming under fire of an enemy fighter, he pressed home his attack with courageous skill and determination until he succeeded in shooting down one Japanese dive bomber, thereby contributing greatly to the frustration of the enemy's offensive. His gallant initiative and conscientious devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
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 Edward Duran Mattson (NSN: 0-82774), 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. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against the enemy from 5 to 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. In company with three other fighters on 5 May, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Mattson participated in a prompt and resolute attack against an enemy four-engine patrol bomber with the result that the bomber was quickly shot down and the detection of our forces by the enemy was prevented. On 7 May, as part of a fighter escort, he provided protection from enemy aircraft for our scout bombers throughout their attack on an enemy Japanese carrier in the Coral Sea, enabling our forces to successfully attack and sink that vessel. Again, while on combat air patrol protecting our own forces in the Coral Sea on 8 May, he braved punishing machine gun and cannon fire to press home an aggressive attack against four enemy fighters attacking our forces and succeeded in dispersing them. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Mattson's conduct throughout these engagements was marked by skill, determination and complete disregard for his own personal safety.
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1942
To Month/Year
December / 1942
Last Updated: Dec 24, 2023
Personal Memories
Memories Battle of the Coral Sea. The air-to-air action was sustained and violent. Veteran strike leader Commander Takahashi would not return from this fight. When Lt. (j.g.) Duran Mattson landed his Wildcat after this action his crew found the Grumman fighter riddled with 21 shell holes from 20mm cannon fire and countless machine-gun bullet holes. The battle of Midway woud be next.
