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SSgt Michael Frederick
to remember
Marine Capt Donald Nathan Aldrich.
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Contact Info
Home Town Chicago
Last Address Chicago
Date of Passing Mar 04, 1947
Location of Interment Oak Woods Cemetery - Chicago, Illinois
Served in the Royal Canadian Air Force 1940-1941.
Entered USMCR when Congress allowed married men to serve in the US Military after Pearl Harbor.
Captain Aldrich did three tours in the Pacific Theater in 1943-1944. During the first tour, he shot down seven Zeroes, the second he saw none, the third he shot down thirteen, including four in a single day, for a total of twenty confirmed victories. He returned to the States a hero, received a ticker tape parade, and went on a tour to sell war bonds. He was Chicago's top Ace, and the fifth highest scoring Ace in the history of the Marine Corps.
Early in the morning of March 4th, 1947, Captain Aldrich was flying home to Chicago in an F-4U Corsair bearing the markings EA-25. He attempted to land at Ashburn Field, just two miles south of Chicago Midway, when the engine in his Corsair failed. Unknown to the Captain, the runway was closed due to muddy conditions. His Corsair's main landing gear sunk into a soft spot. The plane flipped on it's back, the tail section was torn off and flung 100 yards away. Captain Aldrich was killed instantly due to a crushed chest and broken neck.
He was buried with honors at Chicago's Oak Woods cemetary. He is survived by his widow, Marjorie Aldrich, and his son Frederick.
Other Comments:
Shot down 20 Japanese planes while serving with VMF-215 as an F4U Corsair pilot. Don Aldrich had been turned down by recruiters before Pearl Harbor because he was married. Like many other eager young men of his generation, he went across the Canadian border and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in February 1941. He got his wings that November. But the RCAF put the new aviator to work as an instructor. When the U.S. entered the war, Aldrich had no trouble rejoining his countrymen, and eventually got his wings of gold as a Marine aviator, following which, he headed for the Solomons. From August 1943 to February 1944, in three combat tours, Captain Aldrich gained an impressive number of kills, 20. Although he survived the war, he died in an operational accident in 1947.
Image
Navy Cross - 1944
Name of Award Navy Cross
Year Awarded 1944
This ribbon will display Multiple Award devices automatically based on the total number of awards listed.
Details Behind Award
Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Donald N. Aldrich (0-11256), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Division Leader and a Pilot of Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED FIFTEEN (VMF-215), Marine Air Group FOURTEEN (MAG-14), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Archipelago Areas, from 5 January 1944 to 15 February 1944. Intercepted by vastly superior numbers of enemy aircraft while flying escort for our bombers during strikes over the strongly defended Vunakanau and Lakunai Airfields on 20 and 26 January, Captain Aldrich fought gallantly against tremendous odds, immediately plunging to the attack and destroying four of the hostile planes. Returning from an escort mission deep in enemy territory, he and his wingman observed five Zeros attacking one of the pilots of his formation parachuting from a damaged plane, and hurling themselves at the enemy with a fury that balanced the unequal odds, drove the Zeros away, enabling the pilot to make a safe landing. Disregarding severe personal wounds and damage inflicted on his plane during an escort mission over Tobera Airfield on 28 January, he continued the fierce engagement despite overwhelming aerial opposition and shot four hostile craft from the sky. Destroying a total of fifteen Japanese aircraft during this period of intense aerial operations, he contributed essentially to the protection afforded our bombers and his bold tactics and brilliant combat record reflects the highest credit upon Captain Aldrich and the United States Naval Service.
