Victory
18
Biography
The name of Alex Vraciu is closely linked to the events of June 19, 1944, which went down in the annals of the US Navy as "pigeon shooting day". That day, which opened the first battle in the Philippine Sea, Admiral Ozawa's Japanese fleet launched its planes on Task Force 58, commanded by Admiral Mitscher, responsible for covering the landings in the archipelago of Marianas. It was an aerial armada that descended on American ships:no less than 242 planes, including 122 fighters and fighter-bombers.
Warned by their radars, the Americans sent the "Hellcat" into who take position far in front, to wait for the enemy. But the pilots of the Imperial Navy have lost their luster. The experienced veterans gradually disappeared in the hard fighting which, since the Battle of the Coral Sea, had rarely turned to the advantage of the Japanese. The new pilots no longer show the aggressiveness or the technical value that made their elders so formidable. Their planes are now outclassed in all areas by American aircraft, and the Grumman F6 F “Hellcat” reigns supreme above the waters of the Pacific. The battle begins, and it is a real massacre. The American pilots claim one hundred and thirty-four victories (the Japanese will admit the loss of one hundred and forty-five planes!)... The US Navy regrets the loss of only twenty-six planes!
The success of the Lexington VF-16 squadron dominates the others. Its twenty-four pilots are credited with forty-four victories, without any loss. The pilots return to the aircraft carrier, very excited. Their stories are fantastic. Multiple wins no longer count. But one pilot still surpasses the others. He swooped down the middle of a formation of “Judys” and downed six in minutes. His name is Alexander Vraciu.
Born November 2, 1918 in East Chicago (Indiana), Alex Vraciu was licensed as a civilian pilot before entering the Naval Air School in January 1942. Promoted Ensign at the end of August, he was assigned a year later to the VF-3 squadron (renamed VF-6 a few months later), whose commander, the famous "Butch" O'Hare, took him on as a wingman. It was with this unit that, on October 5, 1943, Vraciu claimed his first victory over Wake Island. He will distinguish himself, gleaning a few individual citations and a few medals, participating in difficult attacks against Japanese ships and winning victories in difficult conditions. On January 29, 1944, he shot down three Japanese bombers over Kwajalein (King's Island) and, on February 16, four Japanese fighters fell over Truk, victims of his machine guns.
In February , then Lieutenant (Junior Grade), he joined VF16 aboard the Lexington. June 19 is glory. His record went from twelve to eighteen confirmed victories and, with a 19th victory the next day, he became the No. 1 ace of the US Navy's embarked units. After a short stay in the United States, he returned to the Lexington, this time with the VF-20. He left the Pacific for good in February 1945 and became a test pilot at Patuxent River.
Alexander Vraciu, promoted to Commander, retired on January 18, 1964 and has since had happy days with his woman in Indiana.