David Perry McCampbell (1910 - 1996)

Born 16 Jan 1910 in Bessemer, Jefferson, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Susan (Rankin) McCampbell — married 11 Jun 1936 (to 1944) in Glendale, Los Angeles, California, United States

Husband of Sara Jane (Heliker) McCampbell — married 18 Feb 1945 (to 1976) in Washington D.C., United States

Husband of Frieda (Bouffleur) McCampbell — married 24 Sep 1977 in Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Died 30 Jun 1996 at age 86 in Riviera Beach, Palm Beach, Florida, United States

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David McCampbell was awarded the Medal of Honor.

David McCampbell was awarded the Navy Cross.

David McCampbell was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

David McCampbell was awarded the Legion of Merit.

David McCampbell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

David McCampbell was awarded the Air Medal.

David McCampbell is Notable.

Biography

Captain David McCampbell 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 as commander of the famed Air Group 15 of the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) . He was the third-highest American scoring ace of World War II and the highest-ranking American ace of any branch 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. With award of the Navy Cross on October 25, 1944, he is the only man ever to earn BOTH of the Navy's top two awards in successive days.

Sources

• Wikipedia Page for David McCampbell [1]
• Hall of Valor Project [2] shows his seven medals for valor during the war.
• https://www.historynet.com/relentless-in-battle.htm
• Find A Grave Index [3]
• U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [4]
• 1910 United States Federal Census [5] shows David McCampbell and his parents Andrew J. and LaValle McCampbell.