From News Services
Thursday, July 4 1996; Page B04
The Washington PostRIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- David McCampbell, 86, the Navy's all-time leading ace with 34 aerial victories during World War II and medals including the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor, died June 30 in a nursing home here. The cause of death was not reported.
In 1944, Capt. McCampbell was commander of Air Group 15, in charge of fighters, bombers and torpedo bombers aboard the aircraft carrier Essex. His squadron saw almost six months of continuous combat and participated in two major air-sea battles, the first and second battles of the Philippine Sea.
In October 1944, Capt. McCampbell shot down nine enemy planes in one mission. "I just kept on shooting," he said. When he landed his Grumman Hellcat, his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and the plane had only enough fuel to keep it aloft for 10 more minutes.
Capt. McCampbell received the Medal of Honor for that action and for similar exploits in June 1944, in which his planes routed a larger enemy force and in which he got seven kills.
Referring to the October fight, the citation for the Medal of Honor pointed out that "during a major fleet engagement . . . assisted by but one plane, [Capt. McCampbell] intercepted and daringly attacked a formation of 60 hostile land-based craft approaching our forces. Fighting desperately but with superb skill against such overwhelming air power, he shot down nine Japanese planes and, completely disorganizing the enemy group, forced the remainder to abandon the attack before a single aircraft could reach the fleet." Capt. McCampbell's 34 victories made him the armed services' fourth-leading ace of all time behind three Army Air Forces pilots: Maj. Richard I. Bong, who had 40 kills; Maj. Thomas McGuire, 38; and Col. Francis S. Gabreski, 34.5. Victories are divided if more than one pilot is credited with shooting down a plane.
In addition to the nation's highest military honor, Capt. McCampbell's awards included the Navy Cross, the Navy's second-highest award for valor; a Silver Star; and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, his assignments included command of the carrier Bon Homme Richard and a stint as plans division chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He retired from active duty in 1964.
Capt. McCampbell, who was born in Bessemer, Ala., grew up in West Palm Beach, Fla. He attended Staunton Military Academy in Virginia and Georgia Tech in Atlanta before being appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. There, he was a champion swimmer and diver, and he graduated with a degree in marine engineering in 1933.
