Newhafer, Richard L.

Date of birth:: March 6th, 1921
Date of death:: October 12th, 1974
Nationality:: American

Biography

Richard Newhafer was credited with downing three Japanese warplanes. He is also co-responsible for sinking the Japanese warship Ise.

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Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant (junior grade)
Unit:: 6th Fighting Squadron (VF-6), U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19), 2nd Carrier Task Force, U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: September 26th, 1945

"The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Richard L. Newhafer (NSN: 0-278461), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SIX (VF-6), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in a strike against major units of the enemy fleet, including aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and destroyers, in Kure Harbor, Japan, on 25 July 1945. In spite of a cloud layer which completely closed in the target and despite the fact that the target coordinator called off the attack and diverted striking planes to other targets because of weather, the attack was made through a small opening in the clouds bore-sighted by anti-aircraft batteries. In the face of intense anti-aircraft fire, he attacked an enemy battleship clouded in smoke. His skill and courage were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Commander 2d Carrier Task Force Pacific: Serial 01942