For tales of high adventure between sky and sea just
read the story of Lieut. Melvin C. Roach, Navy fighter pilot. He has had
three times his share. Too bad he didn't write home about the feat that won
for him the Distinguished Flying Cross. All his parents knew about that thriller
comes from a medal sent home for safekeeping. Lieut. Roach was awarded the
medal at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, May 31, 1943 for heroism in aerial action
in the battle of Midway, June 1942. He was cited for "a daring attack at
great personal risk against enemy aircraft, approaching the USS
Yorktown."
Neither did Lt. Roach write about how he, after the
battle of Midway, was chosen as one of the 15 original Navy fliers to strafe
the air base, which the Japanese were building on Guadalcanal. The Japanese,
mistaking this strafing for a great raid, took to the jungles leaving food
and equipment behind, a bit of foolishness, which enabled the Marines, with
the help of the Navy, to establish a foothold on Guadalcanal.
The Fifth Naval Squadron, which Lieut. Roach belonged,
came out of Guadalcanal to be known round the world as the "Fighting
Five."
He took the time to write the story of a hair-raising
night in the Solomon's - a goosepimpling story to match any man's
thriller.
These are his exact words as written, nothing added,
changed, or deleted:
Webmaster Note: Lt. Roach served in Saratoga,
Yorktown, and Essex. While flying off Essex he was killed in action. 67 men
of Air Group 15 were lost in action. Air Group Fifteen's battle record is
unmatched in Naval air war history. Robert
Sourisseau
Thank You, to Bob Hunt for his help with these pages,
in Honor of his Uncle.
Next page
