| Birth: | Nov. 2, 1917
Saint Paul
Ramsey County
Minnesota, USA | | Death: | Jun. 5, 1942, At Sea | 
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Born in St. Paul Minnesota, he attended St. Thomas Military Academy, graduated in 1935. He enlisted in the Marine Corps for flight training and finished at the top of his class in 1940. On June 4, 1942 Captain Fleming's Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 241 was ordered to attack the Japanese Fleet off of Midway Island. His commanding officer was killed and his aircraft limped back with 171 holes in it after he failed to drop a bomb on the aircraft carrier "Akagi". The next day he was promoted tosquadron commander and returned to the battle. He directed his squadron in a coordinated glide-bombing and dive-bombing assault upon the Japanese. He pressed his aircraft to an altitude of 500 feet in a screaming dive at the Japanese cruiser "Mikuma". The enemy ship was struck with the bomb, then by Captain Fleming's plane. He and his plane was last seen crashed to the sea in flames. Captain Richard Fleming was the only man to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor during this crucial battle. His Medal was awarded posthumously to his mother by President Roosevelt on November 24, 1942. (bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith)
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Note: Entered the service from Minnesota. | | | Burial:
Honolulu Memorial
*
Honolulu
Honolulu County
Hawaii, USA
Plot: Tablets of the missing
*Memorial Site [?] |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Record added: Jul 31, 2003
Find A Grave Memorial# 7724933 |
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katzizkidz
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