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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.
Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944)/Battle of Saipan
From Month/Year
June / 1944
To Month/Year
July / 1944
Description The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June–9 July 1944. The Allied invasion fleet embarking the expeditionary forces left Pearl Harbor on 5 June 1944, the day before Operation Overlord in Europe was launched. The U.S. 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Division, and 27th Infantry Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Holland Smith, defeated the 43rd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Yoshitsugu Saito.
Bombardment of Saipan began on 13 June 1944. Fifteen battleships were involved, and 165,000 shells were fired. Seven modern fast battleships delivered twenty-four hundred 16 in (410 mm) shells, but to avoid potential minefields, fire was from a distance of 10,000 yd (9,100 m) or more, and crews were inexperienced in shore bombardment. The following day the eight older battleships and 11 cruisers under Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf replaced the fast battleships but were lacking in time and ammunition.
The landings[4] began at 07:00 on 15 June 1944. More than 300 LVTs landed 8,000 Marines on the west coast of Saipan by about 09:00. Eleven fire support ships covered the Marine landings. The naval force consisted of the battleships Tennessee and California. The cruisers were Birmingham and Indianapolis. The destroyers were Norman Scott, Monssen, Colahan, Halsey Powell, Bailey, Robinson and Albert W. Grant. Careful Japanese artillery preparation — placing flags in the lagoon to indicate the range — allowed them to destroy about 20 amphibious tanks, and the Japanese strategically placed barbed wire, artillery, machine gun emplacements, and trenches to maximize the American casualties. However, by nightfall the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions had a beachhead about 6 mi (10 km) wide and 0.5 mi (1 km) deep. The Japanese counter-attacked at night but were repulsed with heavy losses. On 16 June, units of the U.S. Army's 27th Infantry Division landed and advanced on the airfield at Ås Lito (which is now the location of Saipan International Airport). Again the Japanese counter-attacked at night. On 18 June, Saito abandoned the airfield.
The invasion surprised the Japanese high command, which had been expecting an attack further south. Admiral Soemu Toyoda, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Navy, saw an opportunity to use the A-Go force to attack the U.S. Navy forces around Saipan. On 15 June, he gave the order to attack. But the resulting battle of the Philippine Sea was a disaster for the Imperial Japanese Navy, which lost three aircraft carriers and hundreds of planes. The garrisons of the Marianas would have no hope of resupply or reinforcement.
Without resupply, the battle on Saipan was hopeless for the defenders, but the Japanese were determined to fight to the last man. Saito organized his troops into a line anchored on Mount Tapotchau in the defensible mountainous terrain of central Saipan. The nicknames given by the Americans to the features of the battle — "Hell's Pocket", "Purple Heart Ridge" and "Death Valley" — indicate the severity of the fighting. The Japanese used the many caves in the volcanic landscape to delay the attackers, by hiding during the day and making sorties at night. The Americans gradually developed tactics for clearing the caves by using flamethrower teams supported by artillery and machine guns.
The operation was marred by inter-service controversy when Marine General Holland Smith, unsatisfied with the performance of the 27th Division, relieved its commander, Army Major General Ralph C. Smith. However, General Holland Smith had not inspected the terrain over which the 27th was to advance. Essentially, it was a valley surrounded by hills and cliffs under Japanese control. The 27th took heavy casualties and eventually, under a plan developed by General Ralph Smith and implemented after his relief, had one battalion hold the area while two other battalions successfully flanked the Japanese.
By 7 July, the Japanese had nowhere to retreat. Saito made plans for a final suicidal banzai charge. On the fate of the remaining civilians on the island, Saito said, "There is no longer any distinction between civilians and troops. It would be better for them to join in the attack with bamboo spears than be captured." At dawn, with a group of 12 men carrying a great red flag in the lead, the remaining able-bodied troops — about 3,000 men — charged forward in the final attack. Amazingly, behind them came the wounded, with bandaged heads, crutches, and barely armed. The Japanese surged over the American front lines, engaging both army and Marine units. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 105th Infantry Regiment were almost destroyed, losing 650 killed and wounded. However, the fierce resistance of these two battalions, as well as that of Headquarters Company, 105th Infantry, and supply elements of 3rd Battalion, 10th Marine Artillery Regiment resulted in over 4,300 Japanese killed. For their actions during the 15-hour Japanese attack, three men of the 105th Infantry were awarded the Medal of Honor — all posthumously. Numerous others fought the Japanese until they were overwhelmed by the largest Japanese Banzai attack in the Pacific War.
By 16:15 on 9 July, Admiral Turner announced that Saipan was officially secured. Saito — along with commanders Hirakushi and Igeta — committed suicide in a cave. Also committing suicide at the end of the battle was Vice-Admiral Chuichi Nagumo — the naval commander who led the Japanese carriers at Pearl Harbor and Midway — who had been assigned to Saipan to direct the Japanese naval air forces based there.
In the end, almost the entire garrison of troops on the island — at least 30,000 — died. For the Americans, the victory was the most costly to date in the Pacific War. 2,949 Americans were killed and 10,464 wounded, out of 71,000 who landed. Hollywood actor Lee Marvin was among the many American wounded. He was serving with "I" Company, 24th Marine Regiment, when he was shot in the buttocks by Japanese machine gun fire during the assault on Mount Tapochau. He was awarded the Purple Heart and was given a medical discharge with the rank of Private First Class in 1945.
