John Clarence Butler
Encyclopedia
John Clarence Butler was a United States Navy
officer and Naval aviator
who was killed in action in the World War II
Battle of Midway
. He was awarded the Navy Cross
posthumously.
Butler was born at Liberty
, Arizona
, 2 February 1921, and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve 19 February 1941. He was appointed an Aviation Cadet on 3 April; and, after flight training, he reported to Bombing Squadron 3 on board aircraft carrier
Yorktown
(CV-5).
In the epochal Battle of Midway
4 June 1942, Butler and his squadron attacked a Japanese
carrier group and despite heavy opposition succeeded in sinking three of the vital enemy flattops. His plane, however, did not return.
For his part in this gallant attack, which did much to turn the tide of the Pacific War
, Ens. Butler was awarded the Navy Cross
posthumously. In part the citation noted: "His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to the accomplishment of a vastly important objective contributed in large measure to the success achieved by our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
USS John C. Butler
(DE-339) was named in his honor.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer and Naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
who was killed in action in the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
. He was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
posthumously.
Butler was born at Liberty
Liberty, Arizona
Liberty is a small unincorporated community in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is located about 30 miles west of Phoenix and 6 miles southeast of Buckeye. Liberty is located at the intersection of South Jackrabbit Trail and West Baseline Road...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 2 February 1921, and enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve 19 February 1941. He was appointed an Aviation Cadet on 3 April; and, after flight training, he reported to Bombing Squadron 3 on board aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Yorktown
USS Yorktown (CV-5)
was an aircraft carrier commissioned in the United States Navy from 1937 until she was sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. She was named after the Battle of Yorktown in 1781 and the lead ship of the Yorktown class which was designed after lessons learned from operations with the large...
(CV-5).
In the epochal Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
4 June 1942, Butler and his squadron attacked a Japanese
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
carrier group and despite heavy opposition succeeded in sinking three of the vital enemy flattops. His plane, however, did not return.
For his part in this gallant attack, which did much to turn the tide of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, Ens. Butler was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
posthumously. In part the citation noted: "His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to the accomplishment of a vastly important objective contributed in large measure to the success achieved by our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."
Namesake
In 1943, the destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS John C. Butler
USS John C. Butler (DE-339)
USS John C. Butler was the lead ship of her class of destroyer escorts in the service of the United States Navy, named after Ensign John C. Butler , who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in the Battle of Midway.John C...
(DE-339) was named in his honor.