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Oswald A. Powers (1915–1942) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II. ==Naval career== Oswald Aaron Powers was born in Marine City, Michigan, on 25 November 1915. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as a seaman 2nd class, V-5, USNR, on 6 November 1940 at the United States Naval Reserve Aviation Base Grosse Ile at Grosse Ile, Michigan, and was placed on inactive duty that same day. Reporting for elimination flight training at Grosse Ile on 15 November 1940, he satisfactorily completed that instruction on 14 December 1940, and was retained on active duty. Appointed aviation cadet, USNR, on 5 February 1941, to rank from 1 February 1941, he was transferred to Naval Air Station Pensacola at Pensacola, Florida, on 6 February 1941, and was issued a good discharge as a seaman 2nd class on 9 February 1941 to accept his appointment as aviation cadet. Reporting to Naval Air Station Pensacola on 10 February 1941, Powers accepted his appointment and executed the oath of office the same day. Detached on 15 July 1941 and transferred to Naval Air Station Miami at Miami, Florida, for "further active duty undergoing training,"〔This quote, from the ''Dictionary of American Fighting Ships'' (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o4/oswald_a_powers.htm) is unattributed.〕 Powers was appointed a "naval aviator (heavier than air)" on 12 August 1941. Released from "active duty involving training"〔 on 5 September 1941, he reported to Naval Air Station Miami that same day, the same day he also accepted his appointment and executed the oath of office as ensign, A-V(N), USNR. Five days later, on 10 September 1941, Ensign Powers was detached from NAS Miami and was transferred to the Advanced Carrier Training Group, United States Pacific Fleet, at Naval Air Station San Diego in San Diego, California, reporting for "active duty involving flying under training"〔 on 3 October 1941. Detached from Naval Air Station San Diego on 4 November 1943, he reported to Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3), based aboard the aircraft carrier USS ''Saratoga'' (CV-3), on 5 November 1941. After a Japanese submarine torpedoed ''Saratoga'' on 11 January 1942 and her subsequent departure for repairs at Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington, VT-3 was based ashore, first at Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, standing alert duty for island defense, then at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, whence the squadron trained and continued to stand alerts. On 30 May 1942, assigned to the air group of aircraft carrier USS ''Yorktown'' (CV-5), replacing Torpedo Squadron 5 (VT-5) aboard ''Yorktown'', VT-3 flew aboard as ''Yorktown'' departed Pearl Harbor to participate in what would become known as the Battle of Midway. On 4 June 1942, ''Yorktown'' launched VT-3 and Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3), covered by fighters from Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-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 VT-3 the last of the three American carrier torpedo squadrons to execute brave low-level attacks against the Japanese carriers. Japanese Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 00 carrier fighters, however, overwhelmed the six-plane VF-3 covering element, and, in concert with heavy antiaircraft fire from the Japanese carriers and their screening ships, shot down ten of the twelve VT-3's Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers participating in the raid. Ensign Powers and his radio gunner, Seaman 2nd Class Joseph E. Mandeville, perished in the attack. Powers was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his "self-sacrificing gallantry and fortitude...in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service..."〔 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「Oswald A. Powers」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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