James H. Flatley
| James Henry Flatley Jr. | |
|---|---|
Then-Lieutenant Commander James H. "Jimmy" Flatley Jr. in 1942 in the cockpit of a Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter.
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| Nickname(s) | Jimmy |
| Born |
June 17, 1906 Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Died | July 9, 1958 (aged 52) Bethesda, Maryland |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1929-1958 |
| Rank | Vice Admiral |
| Commands held |
Fighter Squadron 10 (VF-10) Carrier Air Wing 5 (CAW-5) USS Block Island (CVE-106) USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Navy Distinguished Service Medal Presidential Unit Citation |
Vice Admiral James Henry "Jimmy" Flatley Jr. (June 17, 1906 - July 9, 1958) was a World War II naval aviator and tactician for the United States Navy.
Flatley was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and graduated from St. Norbert College. He was a 1929 United States Naval Academy graduate who earned his wings in 1931. An early squadron assignment found him with Patrol Squadron 4 (VP-4F), flying Douglas PD and Consolidated P2Y flying boats. In December 1941 he was with Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) flying the Brewster F2A Buffalo, the Navy’s first monoplane fighter.
Flatley was an aerial-gunnery expert and World War II squadron and air group commander. As executive officer of Fighter Squadron 42 (VF-42), he was one of the key participants in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942—the first carrier-vs.-carrier duel. A few days before, Flatley had been ordered back to the United States to form a new fighter squadron, but he managed to get permission to stay for the coming battle. Flatley was awarded the Navy Cross for "extraordinary heroism and conspicuous courage" during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
After Coral Sea, he returned to the United States to form Fighter Squadron 10 (VF-10), flying F4F Wildcats. The squadron was nicknamed the "Grim Reapers," and as commanding officer Flatley became a "Reaper Leader." There were successes at Guadalcanal, but also several losses which left him frustrated.
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