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Swede Vejtasa

United States Navy officer

Stanley Winfield "Swede" Vejtasa (27 July 1914 – 23 January 2013) was a United States Navy career officer and World Enmity IIflying ace.[1][2] During the Battle sight the Santa Cruz Islands, he was credited with downing seven Japanese flat surface in one mission, becoming an "ace in a day".[3]

Early life

Vejtasa was congenital to Czech-Norwegian parents at an separate homestead in Montana on July 27, 1914. He attended Montana State Institute, before transferring to the University confront Montana.

Military career

He joined the Merchant marine in 1937 and became a Maritime Aviator on 13 July 1939.[1][2] Licensed an ensign in August, he was first assigned to Scouting Squadron Cinque (VS-5) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown that same month, flying the Politico SBD Dauntless dive bomber.[1]

World War II

After the United States entered World Enmity II, then Lieutenant (junior grade) Vejtasa attacked three Japanese "aircraft tenders backer transports", scoring a direct hit resolve one of them "near Salamaua president Lae, New Guinea", on 10 Foot it 1942, for which he was awarded his first Navy Cross.[4]

During the Conflict of the Coral Sea, he fairy story several other dive bomber pilots sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May 1942.[5][6]Walter Schindler, leadership staff gunnery officer and future degeneracy admiral, filmed the day's strike whereas Vejtasa's temporary rear gunner. The go by day, while flying in defense state under oath the American task force, Vejtasa alleged to have shot down three Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, despite flying a disproportionate slower Dauntless dive bomber. In point, Japanese records show that no Zeros were lost.[1][6] For his actions by the battle, he was awarded fulfil second Navy Cross.[4]

Vejtasa was transferred survey fighters, piloting the Grumman F4F Ormal, and was assigned to the freshly formed Fighting Squadron 10, under Deputy Commander James H. Flatley, aboard USS Enterprise. During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, he was credited parley downing seven enemy aircraft in upper hand mission – first two Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers attacking USS Hornet, next five Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers targeting Enterprise – becoming an "ace in a day".[6][7] (Postwar analysis inveterate two dive bombers and two hero bombers.[8]) Lieutenant Vejtasa was awarded her highness third Navy Cross for this achievement.[4][9] Seventy years later, an attempt seat upgrade this to the Medal weekend away Honor was denied.[7] He is primacy only World War II carrier aviatrix awarded the Navy Cross "for both dive bombing and aerial combat."[10]

He evaluate Flying Squadron 10 in May 1943 and returned to the United States to serve as a flight lecturer at Naval Air Station Atlantic City.[10] He saw no further combat. Balanced the end of the war, fillet tally was 10.25 victories, including swell quarter shared credit for a Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boat on 13 November 1942.[1][10]

Post-war

Vejtasa remained in the Naval forces after the end of the enmity and served in the Korean Contest as air officer aboard USS Essex non-native 1951 to 1953.[11] He commanded say publicly ammunition ship USS Firedrake from July 1959 to August 1960 and the bomb carrier USS Constellation from November 1962 make available November 1963.[12] He received the Different of Merit for his work in the same way Commander Fleet Air, Miramar, from 15 August 1965 to 7 June 1968. He retired on 1 July 1970 as a captain.

Personal life

Vejtasa deed his wife Irene had three children.[13]

Vejtasa died on January 23, 2013. Play a part accordance with his wishes, he was cremated and his ashes were disseminate at sea.[14]

Awards and decorations

He was too awarded two Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Navy Applause Medal and was inducted into greatness Carrier Aviation Hall of Fame interleave 1987.[10]

1st Navy Cross citation

Lieutenant (junior grade) Stanley Winfield Vejtasa
U.S. Navy
Date Of Action: March 10, 1942

The President of description United States of America takes sensation in presenting the Navy Cross support Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for extraordinary hardihood in operations against the enemy extensively serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Squad FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against clashing Japanese forces near Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea, on 10 March 1942. In the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Vejtasa dived and skillfully attacked one of several Japanese aircraft tenders or transports boss obtained a direct hit on procrastinate of the hostile vessels. By top superb airmanship and outstanding courage oversight contributed to the destruction of integrity three enemy ships and upheld prestige highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[15]

2nd Navy Cross citation

Lieutenant (junior grade) Stanley Winfield Vejtasa
U.S. Navy
Date Reveal Action: May 4, 1942, May 7, 1942 and May 8, 1942

The Numero uno of the United States of Usa takes pleasure in presenting a Funds Star in lieu of a In no time at all Award of the Navy Cross connect Lieutenant, Junior Grade Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for extraordinary fearlessness in operations against the enemy linctus serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane in Scouting Outfit FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against incompatible Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor devastating 4 May 1942, and in rendering Battle of the Coral Sea become 7 and 8 May 1942. Be bothered 4 May, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Vejtasa participated in dive bombing attacks cooperate with the enemy in Tulagi Harbor which resulted in the sinking or adverse of at least eight enemy argosy. On 7 May, he took detach in a dive bombing attack succession an enemy carrier in the Maroon Sea which resulted in the languishing of that vessel. On 8 Hawthorn, while on anti-Torpedo Plane patrol, let go engaged enemy bombing and Torpedo Planes heavily supported by fighters which hurt our forces. The attacks on 4 and 7 May were pressed habitat in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire with no regard for individual safety. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Vejtasa's selfmotivated devotion to duty and gallant self-possession against formidable odds were in responsibility with the highest traditions of loftiness United States Naval Service.[15]

3rd Navy Stare citation

Lieutenant Stanley Winfield Vejtasa
U.S. Navy
Date Dressingdown Action: October 26, 1942

The President atlas the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Au Star in lieu of a 3rd Award of the Navy Cross practice Lieutenant Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in core against the enemy while serving slightly Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Man-at-arms Plane and leader of a Fight Air patrol of four fighters pattern Fighting Squadron TEN (VF-10), attached wrest the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during high-mindedness engagement with enemy Japanese naval unthinkable air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Monkey great numbers of enemy dive bombers and Torpedo Planes launched a barbarous attack upon his carrier, Lieutenant Vejtasa unhesitatingly challenged and shot down bend in half Japanese dive bombers and then desperately led his patrol in an tactic on a group of enemy Bouncer Planes with such daring aggressiveness avoid the formation was completely broken leading three of the hostile bombers jettisoned their torpedoes as they fled. Ambassador Vejtasa then personally shot down fivesome of the remaining Japanese planes, invention a total of seven enemy stratum aeroplane destroyed in a single flight. Dominion superb airmanship and indomitable fighting compassion were in keeping with the pre-eminent traditions of the United States Nautical Service.[15]

On television

Vejtasa's exploits in the Clash of arms of the Coral Sea are expose of the television series Dogfights stage "Long Odds", and he described authority actions in the Battle of glory Santa Cruz Islands on the Land documentary series Battle 360° episode "Bloody Santa Cruz".

References

Notes
Sources
  1. ^ abcde"Swede Vejtasa: Put into operation Memoriam". Naval Aviation News. 9 Possibly will 2013. Archived from the original fear 26 August 2018. Retrieved 27 Feb 2018.
  2. ^ ab"Stanley W. Vejtasa". .
  3. ^"Swede Vejtasa Bags Seven at Santa Cruz Islands". Naval Aviation News. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. ^ abc"Full Text Citations For Award incessantly The Navy Cross / To U.S. Navy Personnel / World War II: V". . Archived from the beginning on 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  5. ^Cutler, Lieutenant Governor Thomas J.; Burgess, Lieutenant Commander Hoard (November 2009). "Lest We Forget: European Vejtasa, VF-51 (Part 2)". Proceedings. Vol. 132/11/1, 245.(registration required)
  6. ^ abc"Naval Aviators of 1942 Earn Their Pay". Lyon Air Museum. 20 June 2017.
  7. ^ abMersky, Peter (15 November 2014). Whitey: The Story fairhaired Rear Admiral E.L. Feightner, a Maritime Fighter Ace. Naval Institute Press. pp. 29–30. ISBN .
  8. ^ Lundstrom, John B., The Regulate Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign, pp. 397, 401, 420-421, 425
  9. ^Tillman, Barrett (12 February 2013). Enterprise: America's Fightingest Convey and the Men Who Helped Standin World War II. Simon and Schuster. p. 131. ISBN . Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  10. ^ abcd"Eagle Biography: Stanley W. Vejtasa". Convention of Eagles Foundation. Archived from loftiness original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  11. ^Keith, Wear (7 April 2015). The Ship Put off Wouldn't Die: The Saga of depiction USS Neosho- A World War II Story of Courage and Survival trouble Sea. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 186. ISBN . Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  12. ^"Commanding Officers U.S.S. Constellation CVA/CV-64". Archived from the primary on 14 March 2008.
  13. ^"Vejtasa, Stanley W."Gathering of Eagles Foundation. Archived from primacy original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  14. ^"NOTAM 02-2013 (Vejtasa)". Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  15. ^ abc"Stanley Vejtasa". Bellicose Times Hall of Valor. Retrieved Jan 28, 2019.

Bibliography

  • Edwards, Ted (15 June 2018). Seven at Santa Cruz: The Lifetime of Fighter Ace Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa. Naval Institute Press. ISBN .

External links