Alexander Vraciu
Encyclopedia
Alexander Vraciu was a leading United States Navy
fighter ace
and Congressional Medal of Honor nominee during World War II
. He once shot down six Japanese fighters in eight minutes.
n immigrant parents in East Chicago, Indiana
, Vraciu lived briefly in Romania
as a child. In early 1941, he graduated from DePauw University
and in June Vraciu enlisted as a naval aviator
in the United States Navy Reserve
. Vraciu is also a member of the Delta Chi
Fraternity.
War service
Vraciu was commissioned as a Naval Reserve Ensign
in August 1942. At the end of March 1943, he was promoted to and joined Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), under Lieutenant Commander
Edward "Butch" O'Hare
, the navy's first ace
of the war. O'Hare made Vraciu his wingman and gave him valuable advice regarding air combat.
The squadron entered combat in October 1943, flying from USS Independence
.
Vraciu scored his first victory during a strike against Wake Island
on October 10, 1943. He and O'Hare came across an enemy formation; O'Hare went below the clouds to get a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and Vraciu lost him, but followed a second Zero to Wake Island, where it landed. Vraciu strafed
the Zero on the ground. He then saw a Mitsubishi G4M
("Betty") bomber and shot it down. Vraciu later commented: "O'Hare taught many of the squadron members little things that would later save their lives. One example was to swivel your neck before starting a strafing run, to make sure enemy fighters were not on your tail." Vraciu also learned from O'Hare the "highside pass" used when attacking Betties, to avoid the lethal 20 mm cannon wielded by the tail gunner.
The squadron later transferred to USS Intrepid
, which was nicknamed "The Evil I" because of a reputation for bad luck. However, Vraciu began downing Japanese aircraft in multiples: three Betties on January 29, 1944 and four fighters over Truk Atoll on February 17. With nine victories, he became and remained VF-6's leading ace of the war.
Although he had an opportunity to rotate back to the US, Vraciu requested additional combat duty and joined VF-16 on USS Lexington
. By mid-June he had 12 kills, a record for carrier aviators at the time.
Vraciu's most successful day as an aviator occurred during the First Battle of the Philippine Sea
, also known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot", on June 19. Despite a malfunctioning supercharger
, he intercepted a formation of Japan
ese dive bombers and destroyed six in a period of eight minutes. After Vraciu landed, ordnancemen
on Lexington discovered that he had used only 360 bullets; on average, each of these six kills had followed a burst less than five seconds long.
The next day, escorting bombers in an attack on the Japanese Mobile Fleet (Kido Butai ), Vraciu downed his 19th victim, making him the foremost US Navy ace by a considerable margin, although he would hold that title for only four months.
For his actions at the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, Vraciu was nominated for the Medal of Honor
. However, when the nomination reached the desk of Admiral George D. Murray, at Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Hawaii, it was downgraded to a Navy Cross
.
Soon afterwards, Vraciu was assigned to the promotion of war bond
sales in the US. There he married his sweetheart, Kathryn Horn, with whom he would have three daughters and two sons.
Later in 1944, Vraciu managed to obtain a return assignment to the Pacific, flying F6F Hellcat
s in VF-20. After two missions with VF-20, he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during a December mission over the Philippines
. Vraciu was rescued by Filipino resistance fighters, who appointed him commander of a 180-strong guerrilla unit. Six weeks later he made contact with US forces and was returned to the Navy.
Vraciu ended the war as the US Navy's fourth highest ranking ace.
He subsequently became a test pilot
and was instrumental in forming the post-war Naval Air Reserve program. Promoted to Commander
, Vraciu led VF-51
from 1956 to 1958, winning the Navy's individual gunnery championship in 1957.
He retired in 1964 to begin a career in banking.
Vraciu now lives in Danville, California
. Although retired, he continues to be active on the lecture circuit. Vraciu made an appearance in "The Zero Killer", a January 2007 episode of the History Channel's Dogfights
series.
He has persistently declined invitations to write an autobiography. However, Vraciu cooperated with the Indiana Historical Society Press, which in March 2010 published an account of his life, titled Fighter Pilot: The World War II Career of Alex Vraciu.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and Congressional Medal of Honor nominee during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He once shot down six Japanese fighters in eight minutes.
Biography
Born to RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n immigrant parents in East Chicago, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Vraciu lived briefly in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
as a child. In early 1941, he graduated from DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
and in June Vraciu enlisted as a naval aviator
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in the United States Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
. Vraciu is also a member of the Delta Chi
Delta Chi
Delta Chi or D-Chi is an international Greek letter college social fraternity formed on October 13, 1890,at Cornell University, initially as a professional fraternity for law students. On April 29, 1922, Delta Chi became a general membership social fraternity, eliminating the requirement for men...
Fraternity.
War service
Vraciu was commissioned as a Naval Reserve Ensign
Ensign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in August 1942. At the end of March 1943, he was promoted to and joined Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), under Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Edward "Butch" O'Hare
Edward O'Hare
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare was an Irish-American naval aviator of the United States Navy who on February 20, 1942 became the U.S. Navy's first flying ace and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. Butch O’Hare’s final action took place on the night of November 26, 1943,...
, the navy's first ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of the war. O'Hare made Vraciu his wingman and gave him valuable advice regarding air combat.
The squadron entered combat in October 1943, flying from USS Independence
USS Independence (CVL-22)
The fourth USS Independence was a United States Navy light aircraft carrier, lead ship of her class.-Construction and deployment:...
.
Vraciu scored his first victory during a strike against Wake Island
Wake Island
Wake Island is a coral atoll having a coastline of in the North Pacific Ocean, located about two-thirds of the way from Honolulu west to Guam east. It is an unorganized, unincorporated territory of the United States, administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior...
on October 10, 1943. He and O'Hare came across an enemy formation; O'Hare went below the clouds to get a Japanese Mitsubishi Zero and Vraciu lost him, but followed a second Zero to Wake Island, where it landed. Vraciu strafed
Strafing
Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons. This means, that although ground attack using automatic weapons fire is very often accompanied with bombing or rocket fire, the term "strafing" does not specifically include the...
the Zero on the ground. He then saw a Mitsubishi G4M
Mitsubishi G4M
The Mitsubishi G4M 一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻 Isshiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikkō was the main twin-engine, land-based bomber used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allies gave the G4M the reporting name Betty...
("Betty") bomber and shot it down. Vraciu later commented: "O'Hare taught many of the squadron members little things that would later save their lives. One example was to swivel your neck before starting a strafing run, to make sure enemy fighters were not on your tail." Vraciu also learned from O'Hare the "highside pass" used when attacking Betties, to avoid the lethal 20 mm cannon wielded by the tail gunner.
The squadron later transferred to USS Intrepid
USS Intrepid (CV-11)
USS Intrepid , also known as The Fighting "I", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in August 1943, Intrepid participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, most notably the Battle...
, which was nicknamed "The Evil I" because of a reputation for bad luck. However, Vraciu began downing Japanese aircraft in multiples: three Betties on January 29, 1944 and four fighters over Truk Atoll on February 17. With nine victories, he became and remained VF-6's leading ace of the war.
Although he had an opportunity to rotate back to the US, Vraciu requested additional combat duty and joined VF-16 on USS Lexington
USS Lexington (CV-16)
USS Lexington , known as "The Blue Ghost", is one of 24 s built during World War II for the United States Navy. The ship, the fifth US Navy ship to bear the name, is named in honor of the Revolutionary War Battle of Lexington...
. By mid-June he had 12 kills, a record for carrier aviators at the time.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was a decisive naval battle of World War II which effectively eliminated the Imperial Japanese Navy's ability to conduct large-scale carrier actions. It took place during the United States' amphibious invasion of the Mariana Islands during the Pacific War...
, also known as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot", on June 19. Despite a malfunctioning supercharger
Supercharger
A supercharger is an air compressor used for forced induction of an internal combustion engine.The greater mass flow-rate provides more oxygen to support combustion than would be available in a naturally aspirated engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle,...
, he intercepted a formation of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese dive bombers and destroyed six in a period of eight minutes. After Vraciu landed, ordnancemen
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
on Lexington discovered that he had used only 360 bullets; on average, each of these six kills had followed a burst less than five seconds long.
The next day, escorting bombers in an attack on the Japanese Mobile Fleet (Kido Butai ), Vraciu downed his 19th victim, making him the foremost US Navy ace by a considerable margin, although he would hold that title for only four months.
For his actions at the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, Vraciu was nominated for the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. However, when the nomination reached the desk of Admiral George D. Murray, at Pacific Fleet Headquarters in Hawaii, it was downgraded to a Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
.
Soon afterwards, Vraciu was assigned to the promotion of war bond
War bond
War bonds are debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries...
sales in the US. There he married his sweetheart, Kathryn Horn, with whom he would have three daughters and two sons.
Later in 1944, Vraciu managed to obtain a return assignment to the Pacific, flying F6F Hellcat
F6F Hellcat
The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft developed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat, it was a completely new design powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800. Some tagged it as the "Wildcat's big...
s in VF-20. After two missions with VF-20, he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire during a December mission over the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Vraciu was rescued by Filipino resistance fighters, who appointed him commander of a 180-strong guerrilla unit. Six weeks later he made contact with US forces and was returned to the Navy.
Vraciu ended the war as the US Navy's fourth highest ranking ace.
He subsequently became a test pilot
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
and was instrumental in forming the post-war Naval Air Reserve program. Promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, Vraciu led VF-51
VF-51
VF-51, Fighter Squadron 51 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy known as the "Screaming Eagles". The squadron established in 1943 and retired and its personnel reassigned in 1995.- History :...
from 1956 to 1958, winning the Navy's individual gunnery championship in 1957.
He retired in 1964 to begin a career in banking.
Vraciu now lives in Danville, California
Danville, California
The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
. Although retired, he continues to be active on the lecture circuit. Vraciu made an appearance in "The Zero Killer", a January 2007 episode of the History Channel's Dogfights
Dogfights (TV series)
Dogfights is a military aviation themed TV series depicting historical re-enactments of air-to-air combat that took place in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, as well as smaller conflicts such as the Gulf War and the Six-Day War...
series.
He has persistently declined invitations to write an autobiography. However, Vraciu cooperated with the Indiana Historical Society Press, which in March 2010 published an account of his life, titled Fighter Pilot: The World War II Career of Alex Vraciu.