This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Shane Laemmel, MR3
to remember
Bigelow, LaVell (Navy Cross), CAPT USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Provo, UT
Last Address Provo, UT
Date of Passing Jun 18, 2007
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign LaVell Meldrum Bigelow (NSN: 0-83311), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron FIVE (VB-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea on 10 March 1942. In the face of heavy fire from a formation of Japanese cruisers and destroyers, Ensign Bigelow dived his airplane at a light cruiser and obtained a direct hit on it which resulted in serious damage to and probable destruction of that vessel. Ensign Bigelow's courage, skill, and complete disregard for his personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 318 (September 1943)
Action Date: March 10, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Ensign
Company: Bombing Squadron 5 (VB-5)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
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Navy Cross
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 Ensign LaVell Meldrum Bigelow (NSN: 0-83311), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron FIVE (VB-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in attacks on an enemy carrier in the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. These attacks, vigorously and persistently pressed home in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, and on 8 May opposed also by enemy fighters, resulted in the sinking or damaging of at least eight enemy Japanese vessels at Tulagi and the sinking of one carrier and the sinking or severe damaging of another in the Coral Sea. Ensign Bigelow's conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander In Chief Pacific Fleet: Serial 2885 (July 7, 1942)
Action Date: May 4 & 8, 1942
Service: Navy
Rank: Ensign
Company: Bombing Squadron 5 (VB-5)
Division: U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)
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Navy Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander LaVell Meldrum Bigelow (NSN: 0-83311), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19), in action against the enemy in Kure Harbor, Japan, on 28 July 1945. Lieutenant Commander Bigelow skillfully and courageously led a flight of bomber-fighters in a dive bombing attack against major units of the enemy fleet including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. During the action, he attacked an enemy warship in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from enemy warships and shore batteries. Lieutenant Commander Bigelow scored a direct hit with his bomb which contributed materially to heavy and extensive damage to the warship which later settled to the bottom of the harbor. Lieutenant Commander Bigelow's skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: July 28, 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6)
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19)
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander LaVell Meldrum Bigelow (NSN: 0-83311), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against the Japanese Empire on 19 March 1945. As the leader of a twenty-six plane fighter sweep against the airfields in the Kobe-Osaka area, he skillfully directed rocket and strafing attacks on three separate airfields, destroying or damaging field installations and parked aircraft. The attacks, conducted in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire were pressed home aggressively and without loss to his force. His personal courage and skill of leadership were outstanding and were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: March 19, 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
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Distinguished Flying Cross
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander LaVell Meldrum Bigelow (NSN: 0-83311), United States Naval Reserve, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flights in operations against the enemy in the vicinity of Kyushu, Honshu, Hokkaido, Japan, Nansei Shoto and Wake Island. As pilot of a carrier-based plane during the period 18 March 1945 to 15 August 1945, he participated in twenty strikes against enemy shipping, airfields and installations, inflicting extensive damage. His skill and courage were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: March 18 - August 15, 1945
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
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Other Comments:
Central Pacific Campaign (1941-43)/Battle of the Coral Sea
From Month/Year
May / 1942
To Month/Year
May / 1942
Description The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought during 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first action in which aircraft carriers engaged each other, as well as the first in which neither side's ships sighted or fired directly upon the other.
In an attempt to strengthen their defensive positioning for their empire in the South Pacific, Japanese forces decided to invade and occupy Port Moresby in New Guinea and Tulagi in the southeastern Solomon Islands. The plan to accomplish this, called Operation MO, involved several major units of Japan's Combined Fleet, including two fleet carriers and a light carrier to provide air cover for the invasion fleets, under the overall command of Japanese Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue. The US learned of the Japanese plan through signals intelligence and sent two United States Navy carrier task forces and a joint Australian-American cruiser force, under the overall command of American Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, to oppose the Japanese offensive.
On 3–4 May, Japanese forces successfully invaded and occupied Tulagi, although several of their supporting warships were surprised and sunk or damaged by aircraft from the US fleet carrier Yorktown. Now aware of the presence of US carriers in the area, the Japanese fleet carriers entered the Coral Sea with the intention of finding and destroying the Allied naval forces.
Beginning on 7 May, the carrier forces from the two sides exchanged airstrikes over two consecutive days. The first day, the US sank the Japanese light carrier Shoho, while the Japanese sank a US destroyer and heavily damaged a fleet oiler (which was later scuttled). The next day, the Japanese fleet carrier Shokaku was heavily damaged, the US fleet carrier Lexington was critically damaged (and was scuttled as a result), and the Yorktown was damaged. With both sides having suffered heavy losses in aircraft and carriers damaged or sunk, the two fleets disengaged and retired from the battle area. Because of the loss of carrier air cover, Inoue recalled the Port Moresby invasion fleet, intending to try again later.
Although a tactical victory for the Japanese in terms of ships sunk, the battle would prove to be a strategic victory for the Allies for several reasons. The battle marked the first time since the start of the war that a major Japanese advance had been checked by the Allies. More importantly, the Japanese fleet carriers Sokaku and Zuikaku – one damaged and the other with a depleted aircraft complement – were unable to participate in the Battle of Midway, which took place the following month, ensuring a rough parity in aircraft between the two adversaries and contributing significantly to the US victory in that battle. The severe losses in carriers at Midway prevented the Japanese from reattempting to invade Port Moresby from the ocean. Two months later, the Allies took advantage of Japan's resulting strategic vulnerability in the South Pacific and launched the Guadalcanal Campaign that, along with the New Guinea Campaign, eventually broke Japanese defenses in the South Pacific and was a significant contributing factor to Japan's ultimate defeat in World War II.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
May / 1942
To Month/Year
May / 1942
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Action Date: May 4 & 8, 1942
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 Ensign LaVell Meldrum Bigelow, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron FIVE (VB-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in attacks on an enemy carrier in the Coral Sea on 8 May 1942. These attacks, vigorously and persistently pressed home in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, and on 8 May opposed also by enemy fighters, resulted in the sinking or damaging of at least eight enemy Japanese vessels at Tulagi and the sinking of one carrier and the sinking or severe damaging of another in the Coral Sea. Ensign Bigelow's conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
