Willis E. Hardy, Commander, USN (Ret)
March 3, 1920 - September 15, 2017

Cmdr. Willis E. (Bill) Hardy, US Navy, Retired passed away peacefully at age 97 in the loving company of his family on September 15, 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years Marilyn Burke Hardy; daughters Charlee Hardy (Ed) and Sandra Hardy Reigel (Don); grandchildren Erik Launder, Sean Launder (Vicki), Emily Beeks, Andrew Hutchins, and Elizabeth Reigel Kramer (Wesley). He is also survived by brother John Hardy (Sue), sister Betty Jacobs (Johnnie), and many nephews and nieces--particularly Ed Hardy (Paula), who was very close to his uncle. He was predeceased by daughter Annette Hardy Hutchins and six siblings.

Cmdr. Hardy was a long-time resident of San Juan Capistrano, CA and a native Californian. He was born in Corning, CA in 1920 to Willis and Lulu Hardy, the oldest of nine children. He graduated from San Diego Academy, and was working his way through Southern California Junior College by milking cows when the call of adventure enticed him to join the US Navy in 1939.

He rose quickly through the ranks of the Navy during the early days of World War II, and he earned the rank of ensign as a new naval aviator. As a member of the Navy’s VF-17 squadron, he joined the USS Hornet aircraft carrier and proceeded to distinguish himself on numerous occasions as a fearless warrior in the Pacific Theater of the war.

He flew Corsair aircraft in early war missions and supported the United States Marine Corps in the 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima through preemptive aerial bombing destruction of gun caves on Mount Suribachi. As a lieutenant junior grade, Cmdr. Hardy earned the distinction of Ace in a Day by shooting down five enemy aircraft that were on an aerial suicide mission in the Pacific. That day’s dogfight was fierce, and after the fray he and his wingman navigated in their F6F Hellcats back to their carrier with perilously low fuel levels in the dark, with no visual cues and only intermittent radio signals as guidance. They eventually made it back to the carrier by following the large phosphorescent waves in the wake of the blacked-out carrier.

Cmdr. Hardy participated in more daring aerial combat missions in World War II and earned the nickname “Medals.” He was credited with 6-1/2 downed enemy aircraft, one probable enemy aircraft down, and 2-1/5 damaged enemy aircraft. During the Korean War, he trained Navy night fighter pilots. After the conclusion of the Korean war, he served on the USS Corson (APV-37). He was awarded the China Service Medal for his role as fighter director officer for photoreconnaissance flight missions over the People’s Republic of China in 1954, and was subsequently promoted to lieutenant commander. The following year he was promoted to executive officer of the Navy’s VF-51 squadron.

In 1959, Cmdr. Hardy retired from the United States Navy as a commander, was an avid antique restorer, and had a successful career in aerospace for North American Rockwell and the Collins Radio Division. He was a proud member and advocate of the American Fighter Aces Association, where he served in a variety of roles including president. He has been honored for his service by a number of organizations and institutions, including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. His military service decorations included the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four gold stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS
Memorial donations in honor of Cmdr. Bill Hardy can be made to the American Fighter Aces Association, c/o Matt Hayes, Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way South, Seattle, WA 98108-4094

Source: McCormick & Son Mortuary, Laguna Hills, CA

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Middle name provided by FaG Contributor BarryC, #47806468