By: HISTORY.com Editors

1942

Pilot Edward O’Hare becomes first American WWII flying ace

Published: November 16, 2009

Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Lt. Edward O’Hare takes off from the aircraft carrier Lexington in a raid against the Japanese position at Rabaul—and minutes later becomes America’s first WWII flying ace, shooting down five enemy bombers.

In mid-February 1942, the Lexington sailed into the Coral Sea. Rabaul, a town at the very tip of New Britain, one of the islands that comprised the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea, had been invaded in January by the Japanese and transformed into a stronghold—in fact, one huge airbase. The Japanese were now in prime striking position for the Solomon Islands, next on the agenda for expanding their ever-growing Pacific empire. The Lexington‘s mission was to destabilize the Japanese position on Rabaul with a bombing raid.

World War II History

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt committed American forces to the Allied cause in World War II.

Aboard the Lexington was U.S. Navy fighter pilot Lt. Edward O’Hare, attached to Fighting Squadron 3 when the United States entered the war. As the Lexington left Bougainville, the largest of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific for Rabaul, ship radar picked up Japanese bombers headed straight for the carrier. O’Hare and his team went into action, piloting F4F Wildcats. In a mere four minutes, O’Hare shot down five Japanese G4M1 Betty bombers—bringing a swift end to the Japanese attack and earning O’Hare the designation “ace” (given to any pilot who had five or more downed enemy planes to his credit).

Although the Lexington blew back the Japanese bombers, the element of surprise was gone, and the attempt to raid Rabaul was aborted for the time being. O’Hare was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery—and excellent aim. In 1949, Chicago officials named the O'Hare International Airport after him.

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Citation Information

Article title
Pilot Edward O’Hare becomes first American WWII flying ace
Website Name
History
Date Accessed
August 07, 2025
Publisher
A&E Television Networks
Last Updated
May 27, 2025
Original Published Date
November 16, 2009

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