Richard Halsey Best

Richard Halsey Best (March 24, 1910 – October 28, 2001) was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II.By early 1942, after the war in the Pacific had begun, he had advanced to executive officer (XO), a standard navy term for second-in-command, under his close friend and USNA classmate, William Hollingsworth, known as "Holly," as commander.[4] On December 7, 1941, Best was aboard Enterprise awaiting her return to port when he learned (along with most of VB-6) that several of his squadmates on morning search had flown into the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.At about 10:22, the Enterprise dive bombers (minus three that had dropped out with engine trouble) started to attack the two nearest Japanese carriers, Kaga and Akagi.The first bomb, likely dropped by Lieutenant(jg) Edwin John Kroeger, hit the water opposite the Akagi's bridge.[12] Best's gunner, James Francis Murray, believed that he "saw the flash of [Best's] bomb through the smoke as it struck [Hiryū] amidships forward of the island.[14] The Citation said "Defying extreme danger from concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and powerful fighter opposition, Lieutenant Commander Best, with bold determination and courageous zeal, led his squadron in dive-bombing assaults against Japanese naval units.Flying at a distance from his own forces which rendered return unlikely because of probable fuel exhaustion, he pressed home his attacks with extreme disregard for his own personal safety.His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to duty contributed greatly to the success of our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service".Defying extreme danger from concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and powerful fighter opposition, Lieutenant Commander Best, with bold determination and courageous zeal, led his squadron in dive-bombing assaults against Japanese naval units.Flying at a distance from his own forces which rendered return unlikely because of probable fuel exhaustion, he pressed home his attacks with extreme disregard for his own personal safety.His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to duty contributed greatly to the success of our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
VB-6 pilots in January 1942: Best is seated 3rd from the left.
SBD-2s on Enterprise , April, 1942, Hornet in the background
The flight deck of USS Enterprise on May 15, 1942: The first SBD is either Best's ("B-1") or that of the CO of VS-6 ("S-1").
A group photo of the American dive bomber pilots of VB-6 from Enterprise , three of whom fatally damaged Akagi . Best is sitting in the center of the front row. The other two who attacked Akagi with Best were Edwin J. Kroeger (standing, eighth from the left) and Frederick T. Weber (standing, sixth from the right). [ 8 ]
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Bayonne, New JerseySanta Monica, CaliforniaArlington National CemeteryUnited States NavyLieutenant commanderWorld War IIPacific WarBattle of MidwayNavy CrossDistinguished Flying Crossdive bombersquadronUSS EnterpriseEnglandWisconsin13th Wisconsin InfantryAmerican Civil WarCaliforniaOregonNew JerseySBD-2sUnited States Naval AcademyBruce McCandlessHenry MunsonLloyd MustinUSS RichmondNaval Air Station PensacolaFloridaFighting Squadron Two (VF-2B)USS LexingtonGrumman F2FPanamaHawaiiNaval Air Station North Islandflight officerexecutive officerEnterpriseJapanese attack on Pearl HarborEugene E. LindseyMarshall IslandsKwajaleinTaroa IslandMaloelap AtollWake IslandMarcus IslandUSS HornetDoolittle RaidBattle of the Coral SeaUSS YorktownPBY CatalinaLt.Cdr. Wade McCluskyTBD-1 DevastatorF4F-4 WildcatFighting Squadron 6 (VF-6)DauntlessesNakajima B5N2Frederick Thomas WeberHiryūThomas MoorerWilliam D. HouserMedal of Honorhemoptysisflight surgeonsodium hydroxidelatent tuberculosischemical pneumonitisgranulomaFitzsimons General HospitalAurora, ColoradotuberculosisDouglas Aircraft CorporationRand CorporationBattlehawks 1942LucasFilm GamesMidwayEd SkreinJoseph RochefortGeorge GayNaval Aviator BadgeCombat Action RibbonNavy Presidential Unit CitationAmerican Defense Service MedalFleet claspAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalbronze starsWorld War II Victory MedalNavy Distinguished Marksman Ribbon