This Military Service Page was created/owned by
PO1 Jeff Frey (Ace)
to remember
McCampbell, David S., CAPT.
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Contact Info
Home Town Bessemer, AL
Last Address Riviera Beach, FL
Date of Passing Jun 30, 1996
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Wall/Plot Coordinates 60 3150
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Captain McCampbell passed away in Florida after a lengthy illness.
McCampbell is the United States Navy's all-time leading flying ace and top F6F Hellcat ace with 34 aerial victories. He was the third-highest American scoring ace of World War II and the highest-scoring American ace to survive the war. He also set a world single mission aerial combat record of shooting down nine enemy planes in one mission, on October 24, 1944, at the beginning of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the Philippines.
Other Comments:
Commander of the "Fabled Fifteen" Nickname given to Commander Air Group 15 during WWII, due to, during 20,000 hours of combat operations, destroying more aircraft(318 airborne / 348 on the ground) and sinking of more enemy ships than any other Air Group of the war.
Most aerial victories by an American Pilot on one combat tour, with 34.
Navy's all-time leading "Ace" with 34 aerial victories.
19 June 44, during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" scored 7 aerial victories to become an "Ace in a Day"
24 October 44, repeated the feat with 9 aerial victories. The only American to become an "Ace in a Day" twice.
Only Fast Carrier Task Force Pilot to be honored with the Medal Of Honor.
Namesake of the USS McCampbell(DDG-85)
Namesake of the terminal at the Palm Beach International Airport.
NOTE: Click Medals/Ribbons to "display as table". Each individual award write-up can be read by selecting the award. Scans of the awards also in the Photo Gallery.
Western Caroline Islands Operation/Battle of Peleliu
From Month/Year
September / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S. Marines of the First Marine Division and later soldiers of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought to capture an airstrip on the small coral island. This battle was part of a larger offensive campaign known as Operation Forager which ran from June–November 1944 in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Major General William Rupertus, USMC—commander of 1st Marine Division—predicted the island would be secured within four days. However, due to Japan's well-crafted fortifications and stiff resistance, the battle lasted over two months. In the United States, it was a controversial battle because of the island's questionable strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
