John David Wingfield

John Davis Wingfield (4 November,1916 - 8 May, 1942), was born in Richmond, Virginia and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve at Washington, D.C., on 15 November, 1940.

Navy career

He was appointed an aviation cadet on 5 February, 1941. Following flight training at Jacksonville and Miami, Florida. He was appointed a naval aviator on 20 August, 1941 and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve on 5 September, 1941.

After further training in the Advanced Carrier Training Group, Pacific Fleet, he reported for duty to Scouting Squadron Two on 28 December, 1941.

Awarded the Navy Cross

He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal and the Navy Cross: "For extraordinary heroism and valiant disregard for his own personal safety as pilot of a scouting plane in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on 8 May, 1942. With keen determination in pursuing his objective, "Ensign Wingfield", when his bomb failed to release during his initial dive on an enemy Japanese carrier, gallantly returned to the scene of attack without protection or support to complete his assigned mission." He failed to return from this mission.

Namesake

USS Wingfield (DE-194) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down on 7 October 1943 at Newark, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation; launched on 30 December 1943; sponsored by Mrs. E. E. Wingfield; and commissioned on 28 January 1944.

References

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/w9/wingfield.htm Wingfield]