Osborne B. Wiseman
Encyclopedia
Osborne Beeman Wiseman was a naval aviator
United States Navy
during World War II who was awarded the Navy Cross
posthumously for his heroism in the Battle of Midway
.
. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
on 22 June 1934, and graduated on 2 June 1938. After sea duty in the aircraft carrier
and the destroyer
, Wiseman was transferred to the Naval Air Station Pensacola
, Florida
, for flight training. Detached on 17 March 1941, having won his wings, Wiseman joined Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3), embarked in Saratoga.
After that carrier was torpedo
ed by the off Oahu
on 11 January 1942 and sent to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington
, for repairs and alterations, her aviation units were transferred ashore to operate from Ford Island
. When returned to Pearl Harbor
for repair of the damage sustained early in May at the Battle of the Coral Sea
, her units were transferred from the ship and replaced by some of Saratogas old units — Bombing Squadron 3, Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3), and Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3). Wiseman reported on board Yorktown in time to take part in the pivotal Battle of Midway.
On the first day of the carrier action, 4 June, Lt.(j.g.) Wiseman flew two sorties — one against the carrier that morning and one against that afternoon. The latter, by that point, was the last of the four enemy flattops afloat, and the strike in which Wiseman participated proved to be the coup de grâce
administered to that ship. Japanese "Zero
" fighters, however, swarmed over the Dauntlesses
of VB-3 and VB-6, exacting some measure of revenge for the pounding administered to Hiryu. In that melee, Wiseman's plane was shot down. Neither he nor his gunner were seen again.
Having played a major part in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific, Lt.(jg.) Wiseman was awarded the Navy Cross
, posthumously, for his heroism and devotion to duty.
was named in honor of Lt.(jg.) Wiseman, sponsored by his widow, Mrs. June Holton.
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...
United States Navy
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...
during World War II who 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 for his heroism in the 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...
.
Biography
Wiseman was born on 20 February 1915 in Zanesville, OhioZanesville, Ohio
Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on 22 June 1934, and graduated on 2 June 1938. After sea duty in the 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...
and the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, Wiseman was transferred to the Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, for flight training. Detached on 17 March 1941, having won his wings, Wiseman joined Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3), embarked in Saratoga.
After that carrier was torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed by the off Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
on 11 January 1942 and sent to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
, for repairs and alterations, her aviation units were transferred ashore to operate from Ford Island
Ford Island
Ford Island is located in the middle of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It is connected to the main island by the Ford Island Bridge. Before the bridge was built, Ford Island could only be reached by a ferry boat which ran at hourly intervals for cars and foot passengers. The island houses several naval...
. When returned to Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
for repair of the damage sustained early in May at the Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
, her units were transferred from the ship and replaced by some of Saratogas old units — Bombing Squadron 3, Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3), and Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3). Wiseman reported on board Yorktown in time to take part in the pivotal Battle of Midway.
On the first day of the carrier action, 4 June, Lt.(j.g.) Wiseman flew two sorties — one against the carrier that morning and one against that afternoon. The latter, by that point, was the last of the four enemy flattops afloat, and the strike in which Wiseman participated proved to be the coup de grâce
Coup de grâce
The expression coup de grâce means a death blow intended to end the suffering of a wounded creature. The phrase can refer to the killing of civilians or soldiers, friends or enemies, with or without the consent of the sufferer...
administered to that ship. Japanese "Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
" fighters, however, swarmed over the Dauntlesses
SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver...
of VB-3 and VB-6, exacting some measure of revenge for the pounding administered to Hiryu. In that melee, Wiseman's plane was shot down. Neither he nor his gunner were seen again.
Having played a major part in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific, Lt.(jg.) Wiseman 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, for his heroism and devotion to duty.
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...
was named in honor of Lt.(jg.) Wiseman, sponsored by his widow, Mrs. June Holton.