Donald N. Aldrich

Donald Nathan Aldrich (24 October 1917 – 3 May 1947) was a United States Marine Corps Reserve captain and World War II flying ace.After his father died in 1933, his family was forced to sell the Waco, and Aldrich enrolled in the Armour Institute to study engineering.Aldridge unsuccessfully attempted to join the United States Army Air Corps, but was declined as they did not accept married men at the time.[2][4] Aldrich became a captain in June 1943 and joined VMF-215 as a division leader, flying the Vought F4U Corsair, in the Solomon Islands campaign.On 3 May, Aldrich was given leave to visit his family in Chicago, but encountered engine trouble while en route to Naval Air Station Glenview.Intercepted by vastly superior numbers of enemy aircraft while flying escort for our bombers during strikes over the strongly defended Vunakanau and Lakunai Airfields on 20 and 26 January, Captain Aldrich fought gallantly against tremendous odds, immediately plunging to the attack and destroying four of the hostile planes.Disregarding severe personal wounds and damage inflicted on his plane during an escort mission over Tobera Airfield on 28 January, he continued the fierce engagement despite overwhelming aerial opposition and shot four hostile craft from the sky.Destroying a total of fifteen Japanese aircraft during this period of intense aerial operations, he contributed essentially to the protection afforded our bombers and his bold tactics and brilliant combat record reflects the highest credit upon Captain Aldrich and the United States Naval Service.
Aldrich in 1944
Aldrich's grave at Oak Woods Cemetery
Moline, IllinoisChicagoIllinoisOak Woods CemeteryRoyal Canadian Air ForceUnited States Marine CorpsCaptainVMF-215World War IINavy CrossDistinguished Flying CrossAir MedalPurple HeartUnited States Marine Corps Reserveflying aceUnited States Army Air CorpsSolomon Islands campaignVought F4U CorsairFenger High SchoolArmour InstituteVisking2nd lieutenantMitsubishi A6M ZeroBallaleVunakanau AirfieldLakunai AirfieldToberaNakajima Ki-44 TojoMarine Corps Air Station El ToroMarine Corps Air Station Cherry PointQuanticoNaval Air Station GlenviewAshburn AirportUnited States Naval Aviator Badge5⁄16" Gold StarNavy Presidential Unit CitationAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal3⁄16" silver star3⁄16" bronze starWorld War II Victory MedalCanadian Volunteer Service MedalAncestry.comflying acesRichard BongThomas McGuireDavid McCampbellGabby GabreskiGregory BoyingtonRobert S. JohnsonCharles H. MacDonaldGeorge PreddyJoe FossRobert M. HansonJohn C. MeyerCecil E. HarrisEugene A. ValenciaLance C. WadeDavid C. SchillingGerald R. JohnsonNeel E. KearbyJay T. RobbinsDominic Salvatore GentileFred J. ChristensenRay Shuey WetmoreJohn J. VollKenneth A. WalshWalker MahurinThomas J. Lynch Robert B. WestbrookGlenn E. DuncanPatrick D. FlemingCornelius N. NooyJohn Lucian SmithAlexander VraciuArthur J. BenkoMarion E. CarlLeonard K. CarsonGlenn T. EaglestonWilbur J. ThomasWalter C. BeckhamHerschel GreenJohn C. "Pappy" HerbstCharles OlderHubert ZemkeJohn B. EnglandDonald BlakesleeDuane BeesonJohn F. Thornell Jr.Gerald W. JohnsonJames S. Varnell Jr.John T. GodfreyBud AndersonWilliam T. Whisner Jr. Douglas BakerBill HarrisIra C. KepfordCharles R. StimpsonGeorge S. WelchWilliam D. DunhamDon M. BeerbowerRichard A. PetersonJames E. SwettDavid Lee "Tex" HillJack T. BradleySamuel J. BrownEdward "Porky" CraggKenneth H. DahlbergJames A. GoodsonRobert W. FoyRalph K. HoferCyril F. HomerHarold L. SpearsList of United States World War II acesList of top World War II aces