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Curtis W. Howard (1917–1942) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II. ==Naval career== Curtis William Howard was born to Captain and Mrs. Jasper V. Howard (Medical Corps), USN, on Guam on 31 August 1917. He was appointed a midshipman from the State of California on 4 June 1934 and attended the United States Naval Academy. While there, he boxed, earning him the nickname "Punchy", and contemporaries considered him "possessed of a good sense of humor, exceptional perscipacity, and an able brain,"〔This quotation, from the ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'' (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c16/curtis_w_howard.htm) is unattributed.〕 who "promises to become an apt officer".〔This quotation, from the ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'' (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c16/curtis_w_howard.htm) is unattributed.〕 Graduating with the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1938, Howard received his commission as an ensign on 2 June 1938. Howard reported to the heavy cruiser USS ''Pensacola'' (CA-24) on 30 June 1938, and served aboard her until 11 September 1939. On 19 September 1939, he reported to the destroyer USS ''Greer'' (DD-145) at the Philadelphia Navy Yard at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where ''Greer'' was undergoing preparations for recommissioning on 4 October 1939 to become a part of the Neutrality Patrol ordered soon after World War II began in Europe. Detached from ''Greer'' on 5 July 1940, Ensign Howard reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola at Pensacola, Florida, on 29 July 1940 to commence flight "instruction in heavier-than-air craft."〔This quotation, from the ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'' (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c16/curtis_w_howard.htm) is unattributed.〕 He continued "duty involving flying under instruction"〔This quotation, from the ''Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships'' (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c16/curtis_w_howard.htm) is unattributed.〕 there, and, ultimately, was designated a naval aviator on 23 January 1941. Detached from Naval Air Station Pensacola on 7 February 1941, he then served at Naval Air Station Miami at Miami, Florida, from 25 March 1941 to 7 April 1941, after which he reported to Torpedo Squadron 3, assigned to the air group of the aircraft carrier USS ''Saratoga'' (CV-3), on 7 April 1941. On 8 October 1941, he was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade, to rank from 8 June 1941. The United States entered World War II on 7 December 1941. After an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine torpedoed ''Saratoga'' on 11 January 1942 and ''Saratoga''s subsequent departure for repairs at Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington, Torpedo Squadron 3 was based ashore, first at Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, standing alert duty for defense of the island of Oahu, then at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, whence the squadron trained and continued to stand alerts. On 30 May 1942, assigned to the air group of the aircraft carrier USS ''Yorktown'' (CV-5), replacing Torpedo Squadron 5 aboard that carrier, Torpedo Squadron 3 flew on board as ''Yorktown'' departed Pearl Harbor to participate in what would become known as the Battle of Midway. During that battle, on 4 June 1942, ''Yorktown'' launched Torpedo Squadron 3 and Bombing Squadron 3, covered by fighters from Fighting Squadron 3, to attack the Japanese aircraft carrier force in concert with a strike from aircraft carriers USS ''Enterprise'' (CV-6) and USS ''Hornet'' (CV-8). Circumstances, however, dictated that only the ''Yorktown'' Air Group attacked as a unit, with Torpedo Squadron 3 following Torpedo Squadron 8 and Torpedo Squadron 6 as the last of the three torpedo squadrons to execute their brave low-level attacks. Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 00 carrier fighters, however, overwhelmed the six-plane Fighting Squadron 3 covering element, and, in concert with heavy antiaircraft fire from the Japanese aircraft carriers and their screening ships, shot down ten of the twelve Torpedo Squadron 3 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers. Howard, piloting one of the Devastators, and his radio gunner, Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Charles L. Moore, perished in the attack. 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「Curtis W. Howard」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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