Richard Fleming
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Richard Eugene Fleming (1917 - 1942)

Capt. Richard Eugene Fleming
Born in Saint Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, United Statesmap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at age 24 in At Seamap
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Profile last modified | Created 8 Dec 2021
This page has been accessed 67 times.

Biography

Roll of Honor
Capt. Richard Fleming was Killed in Action during World War II.

Biography

Richard was born in 1917. He passed away in 1942. Mother M. E. Fleming of St.Clair

World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in St. Paul Minnesota, he attended St. Thomas Military Academy, graduated in 1935. He enlisted in the Marine Corps for flight training and finished at the top of his class in 1940. On June 4, 1942 Captain Fleming's Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 was ordered to attack the Japanese Fleet off of Midway Island. His commanding officer was killed and his aircraft limped back with 171 holes in it after he failed to drop a bomb on the aircraft carrier "Akagi." The next day he was promoted to squadron commander and returned to the battle. He directed his squadron in a coordinated glide-bombing and dive-bombing assault upon the Japanese. He pressed his aircraft to an altitude of 500 feet in a screaming dive at the Japanese cruiser "Mikuma." The enemy ship was struck with the bomb, then by Captain Fleming's plane. He and his plane was last seen crashed to the sea in flames. Captain Richard Fleming was the only man to receive the Medal of Honor during this crucial battle. His Medal was awarded posthumously to his mother by President Roosevelt on November 24, 1942.

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J J Jensen
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in St. Paul Minnesota, he attended St. Thomas Military Academy, graduated in 1935. He enlisted in the Marine Corps for flight training and finished at the top of his class in 1940. On June 4, 1942 Captain Fleming's Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 was ordered to attack the Japanese Fleet off of Midway Island. His commanding officer was killed and his aircraft limped back with 171 holes in it after he failed to drop a bomb on the aircraft carrier "Akagi." The next day he was promoted tosquadron commander and returned to the battle. He directed his squadron in a coordinated glide-bombing and dive-bombing assault upon the Japanese. He pressed his aircraft to an altitude of 500 feet in a screaming dive at the Japanese cruiser "Mikuma." The enemy ship was struck with the bomb, then by Captain Fleming's plane. He and his plane was last seen crashed to the sea in flames. Captain Richard Fleming was the only man to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor during this crucial battle. His Medal was awarded posthumously to his mother by President Roosevelt on November 24, 1942.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith

posted 8 Dec 2021 by J J Jensen   [thank J J]
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Categories: Minnesota Military Honor List of Dead and Missing | Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii | Medal of Honor | Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota | Killed in Action, United States of America, World War II