David McCampbell
David McCampbell | |
|---|---|
David McCampbell in the cockpit, c. 1943 | |
| Born | January 16, 1910 Bessemer, Alabama, US |
| Died | June 30, 1996 (aged 86) Riviera Beach, Florida, US |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1933–1964 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Commands | USS Bon Homme Richard USS Severn Carrier Air Group 15 VF-15 |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Navy Cross Silver Star Legion of Merit with "V" device Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (2) |
Captain David McCampbell (January 16, 1910 – June 30, 1996) was a United States Navy captain, naval aviator, and a Medal of Honor recipient. He retired from the navy in 1964 with 31 years of service.
McCampbell is the United States Navy's all-time leading flying ace (called Ace of the Aces in the Navy) 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 United States 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.