Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Major

Unit:

Marine Fighting Squadron 451 (VMF-451), U.S.S. Bunker Hill (CV-17), U.S. Navy

Awarded on:

September 18th, 1947

Awarded for:

Operation Iceberg

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Division Leader and a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-ONE (VMF-451), embarked from the U.S.S. BUNKER HILL (CV-17), in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces during a combat air patrol over Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 12 April 1945. When the flight leader was forced to leave the formation, Major Donahue took over the lead of two other fighter divisions in addition to his own and led the attack against a numerically superior force of hostile aircraft attacking units of our shipping, personally downing five of the sixteen enemy planes destroyed during the action. By his superb airmanship and gallant fighting spirit, Major Donahue contributed materially to the elimination of a dangerous threat to our shipping without loss to our own planes, and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)