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Bruce Avery Van Voorhis (January 29, 1908 - July 6, 1943) was a United States Navy aviator who was shot down in the Pacific theater during World War II. For his action on July 6, 1943, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. ==Biography== Van Voorhis was born on January 29, 1908 in Aberdeen, Washington and grew up in Nevada. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in June 1925. Following graduation from the Academy on June 6, 1929, Ensign Van Voorhis reported for duty in the battleship . That assignment lasted until November 1930 when he transferred to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida for aviation training. He received his wings on September 3, 1931 and was assigned to the as a member of Observation Squadron 4B (VO-4B). In June 1934, he transferred to Bombing Squadron 5B on board the aircraft carrier , and soon thereafter, to VB-2B attached to . From July 1935 until May 1937, he served in the Panama Canal Zone and flew patrols from Coco Solo with Patrol Squadron 2F (VP-2F). The following June, Van Voorhis returned to carried-based aviation and served first in , then in , and finally back to ''Enterprise''. In June 1940, Van Voorhis joined the aviation unit assigned to the light cruiser where he served for a year. In July 1941, he reported for duty at the Naval Air Station, Anacostia, where he served until November 1942. In December 1942, Van Voorhis, a Lieutenant Commander since July, assumed command of VP-14, but soon thereafter took command of VB-102. While serving in that capacity, LCDR Van Voorhis was killed near Hare Island of the Kapingamarangi Atoll, the southernmost of the Eastern Caroline Islands. After a 700-mile flight alone, LCDR Van Voorhis launched successive bombing and strafing attacks on the enemy ground installations. During his attack, he succeeded in destroying a radio station, anti-aircraft emplacements, and at least one airborne fighter as well as three others on the water. However, the strength of Japanese aerial opposition eventually forced Van Voorhis lower and lower until the anti-aircraft barrage, the fighters, or perhaps his own bomb blasts, caused the aircraft to crash. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Van Voorhis is buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis County, Missouri. He has a headstone at Arlington National Cemetery which reads "In Memory of Bruce Van Voorhis". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bruce Van Voorhis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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