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to remember
Kane, William Richard (Killer), CAPT.
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Contact Info
Home Town San Rafael, CA
Date of Passing Feb 05, 1957
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates 1 958-B
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
CAPT William Kane died during a routine training flight when his plane experienced electrical trouble and crashed.
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
General Orders: Commander Fast Carrier Task Force: Serial 0247 (July 13, 1944)
Action Date: June 11 - 25, 1944 Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Commanding Officer
Regiment: Air Group 10 (AG-10)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander William Richard Kane, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commander of Air Group 10 TEN (AG-10), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action from 11 to 25 June 1944, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of the Southern Marianas Islands, from 11 to 25 June 1944. Courageously leading his Air Group on numerous attacks, including fighter sweeps and bombardment missions, against strong enemy installations, Commander Kane inflicted serious and costly damage on enemy airfields, gun emplacements and beach positions, personally destroying one enemy fighter in aerial combat and damaging another. Despite a painful wound incurred when shot down on 16 June, he participated in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea on 20 June, serving as a fighter escort for several planes seeking the location of the main Japanese Fleet and shooting down a single-engined torpedo plane and a twin float aero-reconnaissance plane. Conducting a coordinated strike against the Japanese Fleet, he shot down an intercepting enemy ZERO in the ensuing battle and, directing his fighter planes in strafing dives on the decks of an enemy carrier, reduced the anti-aircraft opposition for his dive bombers and torpedo planes during their attacks which disabled or sunk the enemy vessel. Retiring with his group through darkness to base after this strenuous and protracted engagement, he effected a forced water landing, when unable to land on his carrier. By his brilliant airmanship, courageous initiative and daring leadership, Commander Kane contributed materially to the success of our operations in these historic actions, and his great personal valor in the face of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
General Orders: Pacific Fleet Board Awards: Serial 66
Action Date: January 29 - February 4, 1944 Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] William Richard Kane, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commander of Fighting Squadron TEN (VF-10), in operations against enemy Japanese forces at Taroa and Kwajalein, from 29 January to 4 February 1944; and against Truk, 16 - 17 February 1944. Determinedly pushing through to his target at Taroa under extremely adverse conditions of weather and darkness, Commander Kane effected the rendezvous of sufficient fighters to destroy all airborne opposition and many enemy aircraft on the ground. During action against Kwajalein, he effectively led numerous strikes against the enemy, destroying an ammunition dump and other installations. Commanding the first combined fighter sweep in the initial American offensive move against the enemy stronghold at Truk, he directed his 72 fighters skillfully and coolly against enemy air opposition and anti-aircraft fire and personally shot down three enemy planes. His superb professional skill, able leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during the World War II
General Orders: Pacific Fleet Board Awards: Serial 66
Action Date: January 29 - February 4, 1944 Service: Navy
Rank: Commander
Company: Fighting Squadron 10 (VF-10)
Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant Commander] William Richard Kane, United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Commander of Fighting Squadron TEN (VF-10), in operations against enemy Japanese forces at Taroa and Kwajalein, from 29 January to 4 February 1944; and against Truk, 16 - 17 February 1944. Determinedly pushing through to his target at Taroa under extremely adverse conditions of weather and darkness, Commander Kane effected the rendezvous of sufficient fighters to destroy all airborne opposition and many enemy aircraft on the ground. During action against Kwajalein, he effectively led numerous strikes against the enemy, destroying an ammunition dump and other installations. Commanding the first combined fighter sweep in the initial American offensive move against the enemy stronghold at Truk, he directed his 72 fighters skillfully and coolly against enemy air opposition and anti-aircraft fire and personally shot down three enemy planes. His superb professional skill, able leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Attack on Pearl Harbor
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
December / 1941
Description The attack on Pearl Harbor, also known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor, the Hawaii Operation or Operation AI by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters, and Operation Z during planning, was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' entry into World War II.
Japan intended the attack as a preventive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan planned in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. Over the next seven hours there were coordinated Japanese attacks on the U.S.-held Philippines, Guam and Wake Island and on the British Empire in Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
The attack commenced at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian Time. The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four sunk. All but Arizona were later raised, and six were returned to service and went on to fight in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Important base installations such as the power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 64 servicemen killed. One Japanese sailor, Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured.
The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day, December 8, the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for non-interventionism, which had been fading since the Fall of France in 1940,[19] disappeared. Clandestine support of the United Kingdom (e.g., the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.
From the 1950s, several writers alleged that parties high in the U.S. and British governments knew of the attack in advance and may have let it happen (or even encouraged it) with the aim of bringing the U.S. into war. However, this advance-knowledge conspiracy theory is rejected by mainstream historians.
There were numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan. However, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, "a date which will live in infamy". Because the attack happened without a declaration of war and without explicit warning, the attack on Pearl Harbor was judged by the Tokyo Trials to be a war crime.
