Bruce Van Voorhis
| Bruce Avery Van Voorhis | |
|---|---|
Medal of Honor
|
|
| Born |
January 29, 1908 Aberdeen, Washington |
| Died | July 6, 1943 (aged 35) Over the Solomon Islands |
| Place of burial | Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery St. Louis County, Missouri |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1929 - 1943 |
| Rank | Commander (posthumous) |
| Commands held | Bombing Squadron 102 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Bruce Avery Van Voorhis (January 29, 1908 - July 6, 1943) was a United States Navy aviator who was shot down in the Pacific theater during World War II. For his action on July 6, 1943, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Van Voorhis was born on January 29, 1908 in Aberdeen, Washington and grew up in Nevada. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in June 1925.
Following graduation from the Academy on June 6, 1929, Ensign Van Voorhis reported for duty in the battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41). That assignment lasted until November 1930 when he transferred to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida for aviation training.
He received his wings on September 3, 1931 and was assigned to the USS Maryland as a member of Observation Squadron 4B (VO-4B). In June 1934, he transferred to Bombing Squadron 5B on board the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4), and soon thereafter, to VB-2B attached to USS Saratoga (CV-3). From July 1935 until May 1937, he served in the Panama Canal Zone and flew patrols from Coco Solo with Patrol Squadron 2F (VP-2F). The following June, Van Voorhis returned to carrier-based aviation and served first in USS Enterprise (CV-6), then in USS Yorktown (CV-5), and finally back to Enterprise. In June 1940, Van Voorhis joined the aviation unit assigned to the light cruiser USS Honolulu (CL-48) where he served for a year. In July 1941, he reported for duty at the Naval Air Station, Anacostia, where he served until November 1942.
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