Delbert W. Halsey

This article is about the United States Navy officer and Navy Cross recipient. For the United States Navy destroyer escort, see USS Delbert W. Halsey (DE-310). For Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey, see William Halsey, Jr..

Delbert Wayne Halsey
Ensign Delbert W. Halsey is standing fifth from right in this photograph of pilots of Bombing Squadron 6 in front of an SBD Dauntless dive bomber aboard aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) in January 1942
Born	December 8, 1919(1919-12-08) Baker, Montana
Died	June 4, 1942(1942-06-04) (aged 22) Pacific Ocean, near Midway Atoll
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1940–1942
Rank	Ensign
Unit	Bombing Squadron 6
Battles/wars	World War II *February 1, 1942 raid on Marshall Islands *February 25, 1942 raid on Wake Island *Battle of Midway
Awards	Navy Cross, Air Medal

Delbert W. Halsey (1919–1942) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II.

Naval career

Delbert Wayne Halsey was born in Baker, Montana, on December 8, 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on December 9, 1940 and was appointed Aviation Cadet on March 6, 1941, undergoing training at Naval Air Station Pensacola at Pensacola, Florida, and at Naval Air Station Miami at Miami, Florida.

Appointed Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, on September 25, 1941, he reported to Bombing Squadron 6 on board aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), piloting Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers. He participated in the aerial attack against the Japanese-held Marshall Islands on February 1, 1942, during which he earned the Air Medal.

On February 25, 1942, Halsey participated in a raid on Wake Island, during which he pursued and attacked an airborne Japanese four-engine flying boat. When the flying boat accelerated and began to outrun his dive bomber, he reported it to nearby F4F Wildcat fighters, which were able to shoot it down.^[1]

Halsey was lost in action on June 4, 1942 in the Battle of Midway. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and service at Midway.

Commemoration

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Delbert W. Halsey (DE-310), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Ensign Halsey.

	Biography portal
	United States Navy portal

Notes

1. ^ Stafford, pp. 66-67.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• USN Combat Narrative: Early Raids in the Pacific Ocean
• United States Navy Memorial: Ship's Tribute: USS Enterprise (CV-6) Lost At Sea Log 6/4/1942
• Stafford, Edward P. The Big E: The Story of the USS Enterprise. 1957.

Persondata
Name	Halsey, Delbert W.
Alternative names
Short description	United States Navy Navy Cross recipient
Date of birth	December 8, 1919
Place of birth	Baker, Montana
Date of death	June 4, 1942
Place of death	Pacific Ocean near Midway Atoll