A l'il tale from Chicago.

[herosrest]

During World War II, many gained fame in one way or another.
Butch O'Hare was a fighter pilot on a carrier in the Pacific.
During a squadron mission he realized his fuel tank had not been topped off
and he could not complete his. His flight leader told him to leave formation.
Returning to this carrier, he saw a Japanese squadron heading to attack the fleet.
With all the fighter squadrons gone, the fleet was almost defenseless.
His was the only opportunity to distract and divert them.
Single-handedly, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes and attacked them.
American fighter planes were rigged with cameras, pictures taken let pilots improve tactics.
Butch dove shot until his ammunition was gone, then tried to clip a wing or tail or anything that would make the enemy planes unfit to fly.
He did anything he could to keep them from reaching the American ships.
Finally, the Japanese squadron took off in another direction, and Butch O'Hare and his fighter, both badly shot up, limped back to the carrier.
He told his story, but not until the film from the camera on his plane was developed, did they realize the extent he really went to, to protect his fleet.
He was recognized as a hero and given one of the nation's highest military honors.
And, as you may know, O'Hare Airport in Chicago was named after him.

**********************************************

Prior to this time, in Chicago, there was a man called Easy Eddie.
He was working for a man you've all heard about, Al Capone.
Al Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic, but he was notorious for the murders he'd committed and the illegal thing's he'd done.
Easy Eddie was Al Capone's lawyer and he was very good.
In fact, because of his skill, he was able to keep Al Capone out of jail.
To show his appreciation, Al Capone paid him very well.
He not only earned big money, he would get extra things, like a residence that filled an entire Chicago city block.
The house was fenced, and he had live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day.

Easy Eddie had a son. He loved his son and gave him all the best things while he was growing up; clothes, cars, and a good education.
And, because he loved his son he tried to teach him right from wrong.
But one thing he couldn't give his son was a good name, and a good example. Easy Eddie decided that this was much more important than all the riches he had given him.

So, he went to the authorities in order to rectify the wrong he had done.
In order to tell the truth, it meant he must testify against Al Capone, and he knew that Al Capone would do his best to have him killed.
But he wanted most of all to try to be an example and to do the best he could to give back to his son, a good name.
So, he testified.................Within the year, he was shot and killed on a lonely street in Chicago.

**********************************************

These may sound like two unrelated stories, but Butch O'Hare was Easy Eddie's son.

[mireland]

well..er..ok...

[j.m@talk]

Well fornicate a duck!

[herosrest]

Why bother the ducks, go the whole hog..

[zybch]

Mmmm, pork!

[mireland]

nothing like a good pork...

[drewster]

This is what I found on him :-
http://www.acepilots.com/usn_ohare.html

[herosrest]

[mobo57]

Fascinating story hero… and great link. I work with a lady who’s grandfather was a Tuskegee airman. Wow… she’s building a site on him and his exploits which should be up soon. I guess I should document my grandfather’s and grandmother’s time also. He spend the whole war in the South Pacific, on the Enterprise and the Ranger. She was an Army surgical nurse in a hospital unit. They got moved to a forward position down in New Guinea and at times didn’t know if they were in enemy territory or not…

[herosrest]

l have spent time recently getting my head around the 1942 Southwest Pacific theatre operations of WWll.
Particularly the 8th Pursuit Group squadrons deployment from Us to Northern Territories and operations in Papua New Guinea (lndonesia) supporting the Aussie capaign along the Kokoda trail, the Coral Sea battle, Guadalcanal and Milne Bay. It is an incredible tale. lncredible people. So young.
The service and engineering forces performed herculean endevour.


Here is a very worthwhile site: http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/

And an interesting tale: http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/usaaf/berylstevenson.htm

[herosrest]

Port Moresby - March 31, 1942(Allied Side) Australian George Johnston: "Jap Bomber falls to pieces!
An extraordinary incident this afternoon.
A big Japanese bomber was overhead on reconnaissance in cloudy weather - the same plane that tried unsuccessfully to drop bombs yesterday. None of our fighters went up and the AA never fired a shot, but suddenly the bomber was seen to be falling after losing part of a wing or tail plane. It crashed into the hills in a big cloud of smoke.The bodies of the crew were found in the wreckage - including the body of a high ranking Japanese officer in full uniform and wearing his sword!"

This incident is also mentioned in The Decisive Factor where RAAF pilot Turnbull pointed a stick at the plane, did a mumbo jumbo dance and was dumb founded when the plane crashed.

[j.m@talk]

Uhh ?