February 20, 1942 was just another day for then Lieutenant Edward "Butch" O'Hare. Stationed on the USS Lexington (CV-2), he was dispatched on a sortie to investigate some Japanese aircraft that had been detected 40 to 80 miles away from the carrier. O'Hare climbed into his F4F-3 Wildcat, and took off with his squadron for a relatively routine reconnaissance mission.
O'Hare was born on March 13, 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri to E.J. and Selma O'Hare. His father was the son of Irish immigrants hailing from Chicago while his mother traced her origins from German and Dutch immigrants in St. Louis. His father was a hard worker that was determined to make the best life possible for his young son and wife. E.J. worked long days in the downtown market, came home briefly to see his family, and then headed to class at St. Louis University at night to earn his degree as a lawyer. The legal degree he would eventually earn propelled him to a position under Al Capone.
His father relocated to Chicago following a divorce from Selma. He got involved with the mob by fixing dog races around the country by manipulating the mechanical rabbit. This involvement put him in touch with Capone, greatly increasing the scope of his mob related activities. A byproduct of E.J.'s job was extensive air travel. Through his travels he was able to befriend Charles Lindbergh. He frequently rode with Lindbergh on commercial or mail flights. E.J. would often bring Butch along. Butch was given the controls on several occasions during these flights with Lindbergh. These experiences directly correlated to his love of fast and dangerous vehicles. This craving for speed was the initial trigger for Butch to consider being a pilot.
[...] This may have been to keep his son's name from being sullied, or because he finally saw the error of his ways, or perhaps as a bargaining chip to earn Butch's nomination. Regardless of the motive, E.J. aided the federal government in catching Capone for tax evasion by turning over financial records. Butch would have most likely made it in to the academy on merit alone, but the push made by his father most likely helped his cause even if in a small way. [...]
[...] US Naval Aviator: 1941 - 45. Oxford: Osprey Print. Tillman, Barrett. Wildcat Aces of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey Aerospace Print. Hargis, Robert. US Naval Aviator: 1941 - 45. Oxford: Osprey Print. Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Print. Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Print. Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. [...]
[...] Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Print. Tillman, Barrett. Wildcat Aces of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey Aerospace Print. Tillman, Barrett. Wildcat Aces of World War 2. Oxford: Osprey Aerospace Print. Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Print. Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Print. Cannon, Charles [...]
[...] The aircraft and body of Edward O'Hare were never found. The legacy of Lieutenant Commander O'Hare is one of a pioneer. He was the first Naval Aviator of WWII to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor; the first to lead a nighttime sortie from an aircraft carrier; and he became the namesake of the famed airport in Chicago. His achievements should inspire all future Navy pilots to serve gallantly and selflessly. Bibliography Ewing, Steve, and John B. Lundstrom. Fateful Rendezvous: the Life of Butch O'Hare. [...]
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