• Battle of Midway

Date of birth:

June 13th, 1919 (Covina/California, United States)

Date of death:

June 4th, 1942

Mentioned on:

United States Memorial for the Missing Honolulu

Nationality:

American

Jack Winton Wilke enlisted in the Naval Reserve on 13th January 1941. After undergoing flight training, he was commissioned as Ensign on 1st November 1941. Wilke was first assigned to a patrol squadron, but later reported to Torpedo Squadron 8 on board USS Hornet in the Pacific. In the pivotal Battle of Midway, 4 and 5 June 1942, he joined his squadron in attacking the Japanese invasion force without air cover, and "pressed home his attack in the face of withering fire from enemy Japanese fighters and antiaircraft batteries." All the planes and all the flyers but one, Ens. George H. Gay, of this gallant squadron were lost; but their attack had diverted Japanese fighters from dive bombing attacks which might have prevented the eventual U.S. Navy victory.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Ensign

Unit:

Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8), Naval Air Station Midway, U.S. Navy

Awarded on:

January 1943

"For extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Radioman/Bombardier of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), embarked from Naval Air Station Midway during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 and 5 June 1942. In the first attack against an enemy carrier of the Japanese invasion fleet, Ensign Wilke pressed home his attack in the face of withering fire from enemy Japanese fighters and anti-aircraft forces. Because of events attendant upon the Battle of Midway, there can be no doubt that he gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. His courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Awarded posthumously. Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 310.

• - Sterner C.D., Recipients of The Navy Cross, 1916 - Present
  - Department of the Navy -- Naval Historical Center 805 Kidder Breese SE -- Washington Navy Yard Washington DC 20374-5060
  - Jack Wilke - Recipient -
  

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Battle of Midway