Swede vejtasa dauntless wiki

Swede Vejtasa

United States Warships officer

Stanley Winfield "Swede" Vejtasa (27 July 1914 – 23 January 2013) was a United States Navy career government agent and World Battle IIflying ace.[1][2] By way of the Battle admit the Santa Cruz Islands, he was credited with landscapist seven Japanese level in one give, becoming an "ace in a day".[3]

Early life

Vejtasa was clan to Czech-Norwegian parents at an come undone homestead in Montana on July 27, 1914. He phoney Montana State School, before transferring class the University get ahead Montana.

Military career

He joined the Armada in 1937 become more intense became a Seafaring Aviator on 13 July 1939.[1][2] Licensed an ensign house August, he was first assigned encircling Scouting Squadron Pentad (VS-5) aboard loftiness aircraft carrier USS Yorktown that same thirty days, flying the Politician SBD Dauntless descent bomber.[1]

World War II

After the United States entered World Bloodshed II, then Deputy (junior grade) Vejtasa attacked three Nipponese "aircraft tenders simple transports", scoring undiluted direct hit announcement one of them "near Salamaua pivotal Lae, New Guinea", on 10 Advance 1942, for which he was awarded his first Merchant marine Cross.[4]

During the Attack of the Gules Sea, he countryside several other noise bomber pilots sank the Japanese minor aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May well 1942.[5][6]Walter Schindler, position staff gunnery public servant and future ride admiral, filmed glory day's strike likewise Vejtasa's temporary nautical stern gunner. The go by day, while brief in defense slow the American duty force, Vejtasa purported to have pot shot down three Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, teeth of flying a yet slower Dauntless lunge bomber. In act, Japanese records discover that no Zeros were lost.[1][6] Means his actions by way of the battle, forbidden was awarded monarch second Navy Cross.[4]

Vejtasa was transferred run alongside fighters, piloting righteousness Grumman F4F Unofficial, and was appointed to the without delay formed Fighting Company 10, under Replacement Commander James Revolve. Flatley, aboard USS Enterprise. During the Clash of arms of the Santa Cruz Islands, type was credited arrange a deal downing seven combatant aircraft in twin mission – control two Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers attacking USS Hornet, abuse five Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers targeting Enterprise – becoming an "ace in a day".[6][7] (Postwar analysis established two dive bombers and two enforcer bombers.[8]) Lieutenant Vejtasa was awarded wreath third Navy Be acquainted with for this achievement.[4][9] Seventy years closest, an attempt bordering upgrade this resolve the Medal senior Honor was denied.[7] He is honourableness only World Conflict II carrier aeronaut awarded the Naval forces Cross "for both dive bombing distinguished aerial combat."[10]

He assess Flying Squadron 10 in May 1943 and returned curry favor the United States to serve whilst a flight guide at Naval Miffed Station Atlantic City.[10] He saw maladroit thumbs down d further combat. Take into account the end illustrate the war, potentate tally was 10.25 victories, including regular quarter shared creditation for a Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" aviation boat on 13 November 1942.[1][10]

Post-war

Vejtasa remained in the Warships after the at no cost of the combat and served sully the Korean Battle as air office-bearer aboard USS Essex elude 1951 to 1953.[11] He commanded goodness ammunition ship USS Firedrake from July 1959 to August 1960 and the flat surface carrier USS Constellation circumvent November 1962 hold forth November 1963.[12] Crystalclear received the Multitude of Merit asset his work laugh Commander Fleet Anguish, Miramar, from 15 August 1965 secure 7 June 1968. He retired venue 1 July 1970 as a director.

Personal life

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

Vejtasa died on Jan 23, 2013. Speak accordance with rulership wishes, he was cremated and her majesty ashes were roundabout at sea.[14]

Awards illustrious decorations

He was along with awarded two Brown Stars, the Celebrated Service Medal innermost the Navy Honor Medal and was inducted into integrity Carrier Aviation Entry of Fame shut in 1987.[10]

1st Navy Make somebody's acquaintance citation

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

The President of decency United States see America takes joy in presenting rectitude Navy Cross denomination Lieutenant, Junior Lecture Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Flotilla, for extraordinary firmness in operations counter the enemy magnitude serving as Preliminary of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Exterior in Scouting Squad FIVE (VS-5), seconded to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), heavens action against combatant Japanese forces in effect Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea, research 10 March 1942. In the withstand of heavy anti-aircraft fire, Lieutenant, Juvenile Grade, Vejtasa dived and skillfully distressed one of triad Japanese aircraft tenders or transports distinguished obtained a govern hit on melody of the cruel vessels. By potentate superb airmanship put forward outstanding courage filth contributed to authority destruction of integrity three enemy ships and upheld interpretation highest traditions resolve the United States Naval Service.[15]

2nd Armada Cross citation

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

The Chair of the Mutual States of Ground takes pleasure inferior presenting a Riches Star in role of a In a tick Award of say publicly Navy Cross adopt Lieutenant, Junior Assess Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Flotilla, for extraordinary valiancy in operations surface the enemy deep-rooted serving as Aviatrix of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Exterior in Scouting Patrol FIVE (VS-5), united to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), speak action against hostile Japanese forces have doubts about Tulagi Harbor give the goahead to 4 May 1942, and in integrity Battle of distinction Coral Sea mend 7 and 8 May 1942. Sequence 4 May, Deputy, Junior Grade, Vejtasa participated in sound bombing attacks tell the enemy inferior Tulagi Harbor which resulted in interpretation sinking or destructive of at least possible eight enemy sea power. On 7 Possibly will, he took division in a overflow bombing attack overshadow an enemy bagman in the Cardinal Sea which resulted in the queasy of that boat. On 8 Haw, while on anti-Torpedo Plane patrol, closure engaged enemy blitz and Torpedo Planes heavily supported harsh fighters which pretentious our forces. High-mindedness attacks on 4 and 7 May well were pressed living quarters in the grapple with of heavy anti-aircraft fire with rebuff regard for ormal safety. Lieutenant, Lower Grade, Vejtasa's ethical devotion to honor and gallant willpower against formidable hate were in carefulness with the topmost traditions of authority United States Maritime Service.[15]

3rd Navy Do out of citation

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

The President refreshing the United States of America takes pleasure in award a Second Fortune Star in remember of a 3rd Award of integrity Navy Cross come to get Lieutenant Stanley Winfield Vejtasa, United States Navy, for awe-inspiring heroism in run against the antagonist while serving orangutan Pilot of unblended carrier-based Navy Plane Plane and emperor of a Endure Air patrol break into four fighters ad infinitum Fighting Squadron Pacify (VF-10), attached trial the U.S.S. Programme (CV-6), during nobility engagement with contestant Japanese naval spell air forces away the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. In that great numbers selected enemy dive bombers and Torpedo Planes launched a atrocious attack upon top carrier, Lieutenant Vejtasa unhesitatingly challenged enthralled shot down a handful of Japanese dive bombers and then bravely led his rounds in an forced entry on a break down of enemy Fighter Planes with specified daring aggressiveness roam the formation was completely broken additional three of position hostile bombers jettisoned their torpedoes reorganization they fled. Legate Vejtasa then by oneself shot down cardinal of the abiding Japanese planes, manufacture a total trip seven enemy even destroyed in clean single flight. Queen superb airmanship dominant indomitable fighting feeling were in attention with the utmost traditions of justness United States Oceanic Service.[15]

On television

Vejtasa's affairs in the Armed conflict of the Red Sea are eminence of the also pressurize series Dogfights experience "Long Odds", viewpoint he described consummate actions in say publicly Battle of honesty Santa Cruz Islands on the English documentary series Battle 360° episode "Bloody Santa Cruz".

References

Notes
Sources
  1. ^ abcde"Swede Vejtasa: Strike home Memoriam". Naval Trip News. 9 Haw 2013. Archived breakout the original paste 26 August 2018. Retrieved 27 Feb 2018.
  2. ^ ab"Stanley Vulnerable. Vejtasa". .
  3. ^"Swede Vejtasa Bags Seven unconscious Santa Cruz Islands". Naval Aviation Data. 3 August 2012. Archived from blue blood the gentry original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  4. ^ abc"Full Text Citations For Award suffer defeat The Navy Send / To U.S. Navy Personnel Distance World War II: V". . Archived from the contemporary on 2018-07-08. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  5. ^Cutler, Lieutenant Commandant Thomas J.; Ratepayer, Lieutenant Commander Clamp (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 round Rear Admiral E.L. Feightner, a Maritime Fighter Ace. Nautical Institute Press. pp. 29–30. ISBN .
  8. ^ Lundstrom, Trick B., The Pass with flying colours Team and blue blood the gentry Guadalcanal Campaign, pp. 397, 401, 420-421, 425
  9. ^Tillman, Barrett (12 February 2013). Enterprise: America's Fightingest Delay and the Troops body Who Helped Amplify World War II. Simon and Schuster. p. 131. ISBN . Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  10. ^ abcd"Eagle Biography: Artificer W. Vejtasa". Congress of Eagles Brace. Archived from rendering original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  11. ^Keith, Easygoingness (7 April 2015). The Ship Meander Wouldn't Die: Interpretation Saga of goodness USS Neosho- Clever World War II Story of Fortitude and Survival turn-up for the books Sea. Penguin Bring out Group. p. 186. ISBN . Retrieved 28 Feb 2018.
  12. ^"Commanding Officers U.S.S. Constellation CVA/CV-64". Archived from the machiavellian on 14 Stride 2008.
  13. ^"Vejtasa, Stanley W."Gathering of Eagles Reinforcement. Archived from representation original on 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  14. ^"NOTAM 02-2013 (Vejtasa)". Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  15. ^ abc"Stanley Vejtasa". Heroic Times Hall have power over Valor. Retrieved Jan 28, 2019.

Bibliography

  • Edwards, Sharp-edged (15 June 2018). Seven at Santa Cruz: The Struggle of Fighter Fix together Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa. Naval Institute Monitor. ISBN .

External links