Andrew Kenneth Waterman Andrew Kenneth Waterman , born in Lewis County , Kentucky , on 20 December 1913 , enlisted in the United States Navy on 21 November 1932 at Buffalo , New York . Navy career . After instruction at the Naval Training Station , Newport , Rhode Island , he served successive tours of sea duty in USS Nitro ( AE - 2 ) , USS New Mexico ( BB - 40 ) , and USS Relief ( AH - 2 ) before he underwent aviation training at the Fleet Air Base , Coco Solo , Panama Canal Zone . After he attained the rate of aviation machinist ' s mate 3d class in December 1935 and extended his enlistment in November 1936 , " Waterman " served with Utility Squadron 1 into mid - 1939 . Transferred to Patrol Squadron ( VP ) 21 in August 1939 , " Waterman " joined that unit in time to make the transpacific flight from Hawaii to the Philippines of VP - 21 ' s PBY - 4 ' s to reinforce the Asiatic Fleet ' s patrols out of Cavite and Olongapo . For his role in that movement , " Waterman " received a commendation from Commander , Patrol Wing ( PatWing ) 2 , Rear Admiral Arthur L . Bristol , Jr . , on 2 October 1939 . The admiral praised " Waterman ' s " " through planning , attention to detail , and exceptional ability " that indicated a " high degree of efficiency " instrumental in the success of that important mission . Transferred to VP - 1 in September " 1940 " — three months before the establishment of PatWing 10 on 16 December 1940 - - " Waterman " remained with the Asiatic Fleet ' s air arm for the rest of his life . PatWing 10 flew reconnaissance and patrol missions from Cavite ' s Sangley Point seaplane base or from tender - supported Olongapo up to the outbreak of war with Japan on 8 December 1941 . After that day — with the Asiatic Fleet on the defensive against the relentless pressure applied by the invading Japanese — PatWing 10 ' s lumbering PBY ' s conducted their reconnoitering and patrol missions in the face of increasingly heavy antiaircraft fire and fighter opposition . Bombing Japanese Shipping . On occasion , the PBY ' s were pressed into service as bombers ; and it was on such a mission that " Waterman " was killed . Before midnight on 26 December 1941 , a six - plane attack group of PBY ' s from VP - 101 ( the redesignated VP - 1 ) departed their advance base at Ambon , Netherlands East Indies , and set course for the Philippines . The Catalina flying boats were slated to hit Japanese shipping reportedly in the harbor at the island of Jolo , in the Sulu Archipelago . " Waterman " — who had by that time advanced to the rate of aviation machinist ' s mate 1st class — was flying as waist gunner and first mechanic in the PBY - 4 flown by Ens . Elwyn L . Christman , USNR . Soon after the PBY ' s arrived over Jolo Harbor , antiaircraft fire from shore emplacements greeted them with gunfire assessed by Ens . Christman as " very accurate . " Gunfire from the enemy ships below proved less troublesome , but soon the guns stopped firing when attacking Japanese fighter aircraft hove into view . " Waterman " and Aviation Machinist ' s Mate 2d Class Joseph Bangust , the waist gunners , stood by their machine guns and downed the first attacker . While in a 60 - degree dive aimed at a cruiser below , Christman released his bombs at 5 , 000 feet before heading the lumbering PBY westward to clear the area . One fighter , however , pursued doggedly . Shot Down by a Japanese Zero . In the ensuing running fight , the PBY fared badly . On one pass , the fighter ' s cannon shells tore into the plane ' s gasoline tank ; and the volatile fuel spilled from the ruptured area . On another pass , the fighter ' s fire ignited the gasoline and set the Catalina ablaze . Christman headed for the water to land and abandon ship ; two men , Radiomen 2 Class Landers and Bangust , bailed out at 300 feet while Christman and his second and third pilots rode the plane down . " Waterman " , after manning his single . 30 - caliber machine gun with great dexterity , had been mortally wounded , probably in the fighter ' s last pass . The burning PBY made a landing , and the remaining living crewman abandoned the aircraft and struck out for shore . There was no time to extricate " Waterman ' s " body from the blazing Catalina . Awarded the Navy Cross . " Waterman " was awarded a posthumous Navy Cross for " extraordinary heroism and courage " as plane captain of Christman ' s PBY . His citation noted his " loyal and conscientious devotion to duty " during the engagement in which he lost his life in the service of his country . Namesake . The USS Waterman ( DE - 740 ) was named in his honor . The ship was laid down on 24 February 1943 at San Pedro , California , by the Western Steel and Pipe Co . ; launched on 20 June 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . June M . Waterman , the widow of Aviation Machinist ' s Mate 1st Class " Waterman " ; and commissioned on 30 November 1943 .