Date of birth:

July 19th, 1916 (Gowrie/Iowa, United States)

Date of death:

June 21st, 1942

Nationality:

American

Edward Robert Sellstrom was born in Gowrie, Iowa, on 19 July 1916, and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnisota, in 1939. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve as Seaman second class at Minneapolis on 14 January 1941 and was appointed Aviation Cadet at Pensacola, Florida, on 20 March 1941. On 15 September 1941, he was commissioned Ensign, US Navy Reserves (USNR). After duty in the Advanced Carrier Training Group, Pacific Fleet, he was assigned to Fighter Squadron 3, on board carrier U.S.S. Lexington. Ensign Sellstrom was killed in an airplane crash on 21 June 1942.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Ensign

Unit:

Fighter Squadron 3 (VF-3), U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2), U.S. Navy

"For extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy forces in the Pacific War Area when his ship was attacked by eighteen Japanese bombing planes on 20 February 1942. Ensign Sellstrom intercepted an enemy four-engine bomber, and after a determined pursuit through clouds and rain, he assisted in shooting down this enemy plane despite combined machine gun and cannon fire. Later the same day, during an attack directed at his carrier by nine enemy bombers, he intercepted and attacked a formation of the enemy aircraft, and as a result of his skillful marksmanship and courage, and again, despite the enemy machine gun and cannon fire, he shot down one enemy bomber. Ensign Selstrom's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

• Photo 1: Gustavus Adolphus College Alumni Association
• - Sterner C.D., Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present
  - Department of the Navy- Naval Historical Center 805 Kidder Breeze SE -- Washington Navy Yard Washington DC 20374-5060