David McCampbell Captain David McCampbell ( January 16 , 1910 – June 30 , 1996 ) was an American naval aviator , who became the US Navy ’ s all - time leading ace with 34 aerial victories during World War II . The third - highest scoring US flying ace of World War II , he was the highest - scoring ace to survive the war . McCampbell was born in Bessemer , Alabama , and raised in West Palm Beach , Florida . He attended the Staunton Military Academy and one year at the Georgia School of Technology before his appointment to the United States Naval Academy , where he graduated with the class of 1933 . Military service . Following service aboard a cruiser , 1935 - 37 , McCampbell applied for flight training and was accepted . He received his " wings of gold " in 1938 and was assigned to Fighting Squadron Four on the East Coast . Subsequently he became a landing signal officer and survived the sinking of off Guadalcanal in September 1942 . McCampbell formed VF - 15 on September 1 , 1943 and led the squadron before being assigned as Commander of Air Group Fifteen in February 1944 to September 1944 . As Commander Air Group ( CAG ) 15 , he was in charge of fighters , bombers , and torpedo bombers aboard the aircraft carrier . From April to November 1944 , his group saw six months of continuous combat and participated in two major air - sea battles , the First and Second Battles of the Philippine Sea . During the more than 20 , 000 hours of air combat operations before it returned to the United States for a rest period , Air Group 15 destroyed more enemy planes ( 315 airborne and 348 on the ground ) and sank more enemy shipping than any other Air Group in the Pacific War . Air Group 15 ’ s attacks on the Japan ese in the Marianas and at Iwo Jima , Taiwan , and Okinawa were key to the success of the “ island hopping ” campaign . In addition to his duties as commander of the “ Fabled Fifteen , ” then Commander McCampbell became the Navy ’ s “ ace of aces ” during the missions he flew in 1944 . McCampbell flew at least four F6F Hellcat s while aboard the " Essex " : an F6F - 3 named " Monsoon Maiden " ( damaged by AAA & struck 20 May 1944 ) , another F6F - 3 named " The Minsi " ( 10½ kills ) , an F6F - 5 named " Minsi II " , and an F6F - 5 named " Minsi III " ( Bureau Number 70143 ) , in which he scored the last 23½ of his 34 kills . On June 19 , 1944 , during the " Marianas Turkey Shoot , " Commander McCampbell shot down five Japanese ' Judy ' dive - bombers , to become an " ace in a day " . Later that afternoon , during a second sortie , McCampbell flamed another two Zekes over Guam . On October 24 , 1944 , he became the only American airman to achieve " ace in a day " status twice . McCampbell and his wingman attacked a Japanese force of 60 aircraft . McCampbell shot down nine , setting a U . S . single mission aerial combat record . During this same action , his wingman downed another six Japanese warplanes . When he landed his Grumman F6F Hellcat aboard USS Langley ( Essex ' s flight deck wasn ' t clear ) , his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and his airplane had to be manually released from the arrestor wire due to complete fuel exhaustion . Commander McCampbell received the Medal of Honor for both actions , becoming the only Fast Carrier Task Force pilot to be so honored . Aerial victories . For his brilliant record in command of Air Group 15 , McCampbell received the Medal of Honor , the Navy Cross , the Silver Star , Legion of Merit with Combat “ V ” , the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Gold Stars in lieu of the second and third awards , and the Air Medal . Following World War II , McCampbell had several postings , including command of the carrier from 1959 to 1960 . He also served as the plans division chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff . Captain McCampbell retired from active duty in 1964 . He died in 1996 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery . Namesake . An " Arleigh Burke " - class AEGIS guided - missile destroyer , the , and also the passenger terminal at the Palm Beach International Airport are named in his honor . Medal of Honor citation . " The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to " McCAMPBELL , DAVID Rank and Organization : Commander , United States Navy , Air Group 15 . Place and Date : First and second battles of the Philippine Sea , June 19 , 1944 . Entered Service at : Florida . Born : January 16 , 1910 , Bessemer , Ala . Other Navy awards : Navy Cross , Silver Star , Legion of Merit , Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Gold Stars , Air Medal . Citation : For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commander , Air Group 15 , during combat against enemy Japanese aerial forces in the first and second battles of the Philippine Sea . An inspiring leader , fighting boldly in the face of terrific odds , Comdr . McCampbell led his fighter planes against a force of 80 Japanese carrier - based aircraft bearing down on our fleet on June 19 , 1944 . Striking fiercely in valiant defense of our surface force , he personally destroyed 7 hostile planes during this single engagement in which the outnumbering attack force was utterly routed and virtually annihilated . During a major fleet engagement with the enemy on October 24 , Comdr . McCampbell , assisted by but 1 plane , intercepted and daringly attacked a formation of 60 hostile land - based craft approaching our forces . Fighting desperately but with superb skill against such overwhelming airpower , he shot down 9 Japanese planes and , completely disorganizing the enemy group , forced the remainder to abandon the attack before a single aircraft could reach the fleet . His great personal valor and indomitable spirit of aggression under extremely perilous combat conditions reflect the highest credit upon Comdr . McCampbell and the U . S . Naval Service . Family . McCampbell often is listed as " David S . " but he had no middle name and hence no middle initial , as demonstrated by his Annapolis record and Medal of Honor citation . McCampbell ' s son , also named David , is also a graduate of the United States Naval Academy . He commanded the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City , Florida and retired with the rank of Commander . He also has a grandson , Christopher David McCampbell , of San Diego , Ca . Captain McCampbell was related by marriage to movie star Wayne Morris , who also became a VF - 15 ace .