Leonard W . Thornhill Leonard W . Thornhill , born on August 17 , 1915 in Lamison , Alabama , was appointed to the U . S . Naval Academy on June 19 , 1934 , graduated on June 2 , 1938 , and was commissioned an ensign . Navy career . After serving at sea in USS Pennsylvania ( BB - 38 ) until September 1939 and in USS J . Fred Talbott ( DD - 156 ) until July 1940 , he was transferred to Pensacola , Florida , for flight training . " Thornhill " received his naval aviator ' s wings on January 23 , 1941 and soon thereafter reported for duty at the Naval Air Station at Opa - Locka , Florida . Following another assignment ashore at San Diego , California , " Thornhill " joined carrier - based Torpedo Squadron ( VT ) 2 on August 13 , 1941 . After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor , " Thornhill " served with his ship , USS Lexington ( CV - 2 ) , during the first month of the war , patrolling the Johnston - Palmyra - Oahu triangle against possible enemy incursions . In February and March , he participated in the carrier ' s offensive patrols in the Coral Sea and in the attacks on Japanese installations at Salamaua and Lae located on the northern coast of New Guinea . Early May found Lexington patrolling the Coral Sea after two weeks of upkeep in Pearl Harbor . " Thornhill " piloted one of the 12 TBD - 1 torpedo bombers launched during mid - morning on May 7 to seek out and destroy Japanese forces converging on the Australian base at Port Moresby . Battle of the Coral Sea . At 1135 , VT - 2 encountered the light carrier Shoho and immediately launched a well coordinated attack in conjunction with Bombing Squadron ( VB ) 2 . While VB - 2 took some of the fighter pressure off the torpedo bombers , " Thornhill " and his comrades split formation and attacked the carrier from both directions astern . All 12 planes made their runs and drops successfully and without loss to themselves . The " Devastators " claimed nine hits from 12 drops , one of which was credited to Lt . ( jg . ) " Thornhill " . The coordinated attacks of VT - 2 and VB - 2 sent Shoho to the bottom — the first enemy carrier sunk by American forces in World War II . Second Day of the Battle . The following day , during the second phase of the Battle of the Coral Sea , " Thornhill " went aloft with VT - 2 at 0910 in search of the two remaining Japanese carriers , Shokaku and Zuikaku . After failing to encounter the enemy ships at their supposed location , " Thornhill " and his squadron mates initiated a " box search " to find their quarry . Sometime after 1100 , they found their target , fleet carrier Shokaku , At 1142 , VT - 2 commenced its attack ; and the carrier began a long , slow turn to the right which allowed each TBD - 1 to make its " run without splitting across the stern . " The attack ended just eight minutes later , and VT - 2 began the flight home claiming five hits on Shokaku — - all of which proved later to be wishful thinking . Only the dive bombers succeeded in damaging the enemy carrier . Awarded the Navy Cross Posthumously . During the return flight , VT - 2 planes began to run low on fuel as a result of their drawn - out search earlier that morning . All planes cut back power in order to make the flight most economically . Even so , Lt . ( jg . ) " Thornhill " could not make it . His " Devastator " ran out of fuel some 20 miles short of home , and he had to ditch in the ocean . Though a destroyer went to their rescue , " Thornhill " and his crew perished at sea . For his contribution to the destruction of Shoho carried out with " . . . complete disregard for his own personal safety . . . , " Lt . ( jg . ) Thornhill was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously . Namesake . USS Thornhill ( DE - 195 ) was named in his honor . The ship was laid down on October 7 , 1943 at Newark , New Jersey , by the Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock Co . ; launched on December 30 , 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . J . E . Thornhill , the mother of Lt . ( jg . ) Thornhill ; and commissioned on February 1 , 1944 .