Pritchard, John A.

Date of birth:: January 12th, 1914 (Redfield/South Dakota, United States)
Date of death:: November 30th, 1943
Nationality:: American

Biography

John A. Pritchard was born January 12th, 1914 in Redfield. In 1931 he graduated from Beverley Hills High School in Californië. He was employed by the Los Angeles Times as Distict Collector. Between March 1st, 1932 and August 17th, 1934 he served with the U.S. Navy and subsequently attended Naval Academy Prep School before joining the U.S. Coast Guard on August 20th . August 1940, John Pritchard took pilot’s training at the Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola and was posted to the Coast Guard Air Station in Miami as Coast Guard Aviator. During the rescue operation of an aircrew in November 1943 John Pritchard was reported Missing In Action and was officially declared dead on November 30th, 1943.

Promotions:
June 2nd, 1941: Lieutenant (junior grade);
June 15th, 1942: Lieutenant.

Career:
March 1st, 1932 - August 17th, 1934: U.S. Navy;
August 17th, 1934: Naval Academy Prep School;
August 20th, 1934 - June 2nd, 1938: U.S. Coast Gurad Academy;
?: Line Officer Cutter U.S.C.G. "Haida", Bering Sea Patrol;
August 1940: Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola, Florida;
February 15th, 1941: Coast Guard Aviator No. 82;
?: Coast Guard Air Station Miami;
February 1942: Aviation Officer CGC Northland, Greenland Patrol;
?: Coast Guard Air Station Miami;
?: CGC Northland, Greenland Patrol.

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Navy and Marine Corps Medal (NMCM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: U.S.C.G.C. Northland

Citation:
"For heroic conduct while serving aboard the U.S.C.G.C. NORTHLAND during the rescue on 23 November 1942, of three members of the Royal Canadian Air Force stranded on the Greenland Ice Cap for thirteen days. Volunteering to lead a rescue party from the ship, Lieutenant Pritchard proceeded with his men by motor launch on the fringe of heavy ice, close aboard the glacier outlet to the bay and, fully aware of the ever-present danger of calving Ancretok Glacier, landed on the shore. Accompanied by his men, he daringly worked his way up a mountainside to the glacier and established contact with the marooned airmen by lights and voice. Realizing that speed was imperative, he and his party pressed on, crossing several hundred yards of heavily crevassed area after dark in order to reach the exhausted fliers, and finally succeeded in bringing them safely to the ship. Lieutenant Pritchard's intelligent planning, fearless leadership and great personal valor aided materially in the gallant rescue of the stranded men and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Awarded posthumously.

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: U.S.C.G.C. Northland

Citation:
"For heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a plane which rescued Army fliers stranded on the Greenland Ice Cap on November 28, and 29, 1942. Knowing full well the dangers involved in landing on, and taking off from, the ice in a heavily loaded plane, and the probable consequences in a possible failure, Lieutenant Pritchard started in his plane from Comanche Bay, East Greenland, and proceeded to the Ice Cap on which the Army fliers were stranded. Upon reaching the vicinity of the marooned airman, he maneuvered his plane to a safe landing on the Ice Cap took aboard two of the injured men and, with superb airmanship, successfully took of for his ship, arriving safely. The following day, he again volunteered to resume rescue operations for the remaining Army fliers and reached them withoud mishap. After getting one more of the men on board, he again took off successfully and started for his ship, but failed to return.By his courage, skill and fearless devotion to duty, Lieutenant Pritchard upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Awarded posthumously.