Kenneth A. Walsh
| Kenneth Ambrose Walsh | |
|---|---|
 
Kenneth A. Walsh, Medal of Honor recipient
|
|
| Born |
November 24, 1916 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | July 30, 1998 (aged 81) |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1933–1962 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | VMF-124 |
| Battles/wars |
World War II, Pacific Theater Korean War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross with 6 Gold Stars |
Kenneth Ambrose Walsh (November 24, 1916 – July 30, 1998) was the fourth ranking United States Marine Corps fighter ace in World War II with a record of 21 enemy planes destroyed.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Walsh enlisted in the Marines on December 15, 1933, at age 17, becoming a mechanic and radioman. Upon receiving his Wings of Gold in April 1937 he was still a private, but was promoted to corporal soon thereafter. He flew scout-observation aircraft over the next four years before assignment to VMF-121 in North Carolina. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was a technical sergeant, becoming a warrant officer in May 1942, and was commissioned a year later. He was also one of a handful of Marine aviators qualified as an aircraft carrier landing signal officer.
Assigned to VMF-124, Walsh was one of the most experienced pilots in the Corps' first Vought F4U Corsair squadron. The unit arrived at Guadalcanal in February 1943 and was immediately committed to combat. He claimed his first three Japanese planes on April 1, 1943 and two more in his next combat, May 13, 1943, becoming the first Corsair ace.
Walsh brought his score to 20 by the end of August 1943, including two combats over the Solomon Islands that earned him the Medal of Honor. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt presented him the medal on February 8, 1944.
Walsh returned to combat in 1945, flying with VMF-222, scoring his last kill at Okinawa on June 22, 1945.
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