Returning from our recent trip to Florida, we had a connecting flight out of O'Hare. We had some time to kill so we grabbed some dinner and browsed the area of Terminal 2. Pictured is a full sized F4 Wildcat on display.
The same one, piloted by the namesake of Chicago's Airport, Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare.
I'd heard the story of O'Hare's feats in WWII but had largely forgotten most until we came upon this display. He had quite the upbringing. His father was a known associate of Al Capone and Butch ended up as the Navy's First Ace in the war. Butch's father was a lawyer who worked closely with Al Capone before turning against him and helping convict Capone of tax evasion.
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry O'Hare was an American naval aviator of the United States Navy, who on February 20, 1942, became the Navy's first fighter ace of the war when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he was credited with shooting down five enemy bombers and became the first naval aviator recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.[1]
O'Hare's final action took place on the night of November 26, 1943, while he was leading the U.S. Navy's first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. During this encounter with a group of Japanese torpedo bombers, O'Hare's Grumman F6F Hellcat was shot down; his aircraft was never found.
On September 19, 1949, the Chicago-area Orchard Field Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport, six years after O'Hare perished. An F4F Wildcat, in a livery identical to the aircraft ("White F-15") flown by O'Hare, is currently on display in Terminal 2. The display was formally opened on the seventy-fifth anniversary of his Medal of Honor flight.
The same one, piloted by the namesake of Chicago's Airport, Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare.
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry O'Hare was an American naval aviator of the United States Navy, who on February 20, 1942, became the Navy's first fighter ace of the war when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he was credited with shooting down five enemy bombers and became the first naval aviator recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.[1]
O'Hare's final action took place on the night of November 26, 1943, while he was leading the U.S. Navy's first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. During this encounter with a group of Japanese torpedo bombers, O'Hare's Grumman F6F Hellcat was shot down; his aircraft was never found.
On September 19, 1949, the Chicago-area Orchard Field Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport, six years after O'Hare perished. An F4F Wildcat, in a livery identical to the aircraft ("White F-15") flown by O'Hare, is currently on display in Terminal 2. The display was formally opened on the seventy-fifth anniversary of his Medal of Honor flight.