WWII The "Navy Cross Citation"
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edward Micka, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), attached to the U.S.S. RANGER (CV-4), during the occupation of French Morocco, from 8 to 11 November 1942. Leading a section of four planes in vigorous raids against hostile airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, Lieutenant Micka, grimly pressing home his attacks in the face of relentless fire, contributed materially to the destruction of seventeen enemy planes on the ground and the silencing of three machine gun emplacements. Later, he participated in a series of hazardous, low-altitude strafing runs on the airdrome at Mediouna, persistently striking at his target through bursting shells of anti-aircraft fire until, on his fifth run, he was finally shot down. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Micka's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Edward Micka; Air Group 4 - "Casablanca to Tokyo"
Edward Micka was born in Cayuga, North Dakota on 10 October 1915 to Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Sophia Micka located in Sargent County. Lt. Edward "Eddie" Micka grew up in Billings, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy 19 June 1934. Appointed midshipman from the Navy at large the following year in 1935, and was commissioned ensign 1 June 1939. He served in Minneapolis and Clemson prior to receiving his wings as a Navy pilot and was attached to Fighting Squadron 9, on board Ranger, in November 1942. On the 8th, he led three flights in support of the initial phase of Operation "Torch," the assault and occupation of Morocco. In the first two flights he led his sections against airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, destroying at least 17 hostile planes on the ground. During his third flight he led his section in direct support of the ground forces by destroying several machine gun nests. Two days later he participated in the attack on the Mediouna airdrome, conducting strafing runs at low altitudes. Lieutenant Micka lost his life on the fifth run when his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously "for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as a pilot" during Operation "Torch." He was also awarded the Purple Heart. USS Micka (DE 176) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
Lt Mica's wife Evelyn gave birth to a DAUGHTER (Not a son as the newspaper stated) her name is Barbara and she was born 1 Nov. 1942, just days before Lt Ed Micka's death.
See Lt. Micka's Web-site; https://www.fold3.com/page/283278091-edward-micka-lt-jg-kia-wwii-nafrica-fighter-pilot (Barbi Ennis Connolly, WWII Historical Researcher and 57th Bomb Wing Historian)
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edward Micka, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), attached to the U.S.S. RANGER (CV-4), during the occupation of French Morocco, from 8 to 11 November 1942. Leading a section of four planes in vigorous raids against hostile airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, Lieutenant Micka, grimly pressing home his attacks in the face of relentless fire, contributed materially to the destruction of seventeen enemy planes on the ground and the silencing of three machine gun emplacements. Later, he participated in a series of hazardous, low-altitude strafing runs on the airdrome at Mediouna, persistently striking at his target through bursting shells of anti-aircraft fire until, on his fifth run, he was finally shot down. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Micka's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Edward Micka; Air Group 4 - "Casablanca to Tokyo"
Edward Micka was born in Cayuga, North Dakota on 10 October 1915 to Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Sophia Micka located in Sargent County. Lt. Edward "Eddie" Micka grew up in Billings, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy 19 June 1934. Appointed midshipman from the Navy at large the following year in 1935, and was commissioned ensign 1 June 1939. He served in Minneapolis and Clemson prior to receiving his wings as a Navy pilot and was attached to Fighting Squadron 9, on board Ranger, in November 1942. On the 8th, he led three flights in support of the initial phase of Operation "Torch," the assault and occupation of Morocco. In the first two flights he led his sections against airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, destroying at least 17 hostile planes on the ground. During his third flight he led his section in direct support of the ground forces by destroying several machine gun nests. Two days later he participated in the attack on the Mediouna airdrome, conducting strafing runs at low altitudes. Lieutenant Micka lost his life on the fifth run when his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously "for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as a pilot" during Operation "Torch." He was also awarded the Purple Heart. USS Micka (DE 176) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
Lt Mica's wife Evelyn gave birth to a DAUGHTER (Not a son as the newspaper stated) her name is Barbara and she was born 1 Nov. 1942, just days before Lt Ed Micka's death.
See Lt. Micka's Web-site; https://www.fold3.com/page/283278091-edward-micka-lt-jg-kia-wwii-nafrica-fighter-pilot (Barbi Ennis Connolly, WWII Historical Researcher and 57th Bomb Wing Historian)
WWII The "Navy Cross Citation"
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edward Micka, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), attached to the U.S.S. RANGER (CV-4), during the occupation of French Morocco, from 8 to 11 November 1942. Leading a section of four planes in vigorous raids against hostile airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, Lieutenant Micka, grimly pressing home his attacks in the face of relentless fire, contributed materially to the destruction of seventeen enemy planes on the ground and the silencing of three machine gun emplacements. Later, he participated in a series of hazardous, low-altitude strafing runs on the airdrome at Mediouna, persistently striking at his target through bursting shells of anti-aircraft fire until, on his fifth run, he was finally shot down. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Micka's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Edward Micka; Air Group 4 - "Casablanca to Tokyo"
Edward Micka was born in Cayuga, North Dakota on 10 October 1915 to Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Sophia Micka located in Sargent County. Lt. Edward "Eddie" Micka grew up in Billings, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy 19 June 1934. Appointed midshipman from the Navy at large the following year in 1935, and was commissioned ensign 1 June 1939. He served in Minneapolis and Clemson prior to receiving his wings as a Navy pilot and was attached to Fighting Squadron 9, on board Ranger, in November 1942. On the 8th, he led three flights in support of the initial phase of Operation "Torch," the assault and occupation of Morocco. In the first two flights he led his sections against airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, destroying at least 17 hostile planes on the ground. During his third flight he led his section in direct support of the ground forces by destroying several machine gun nests. Two days later he participated in the attack on the Mediouna airdrome, conducting strafing runs at low altitudes. Lieutenant Micka lost his life on the fifth run when his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously "for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as a pilot" during Operation "Torch." He was also awarded the Purple Heart. USS Micka (DE 176) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
Lt Mica's wife Evelyn gave birth to a DAUGHTER (Not a son as the newspaper stated) her name is Barbara and she was born 1 Nov. 1942, just days before Lt Ed Micka's death.
See Lt. Micka's Web-site; https://www.fold3.com/page/283278091-edward-micka-lt-jg-kia-wwii-nafrica-fighter-pilot (Barbi Ennis Connolly, WWII Historical Researcher and 57th Bomb Wing Historian)
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Edward Micka, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), attached to the U.S.S. RANGER (CV-4), during the occupation of French Morocco, from 8 to 11 November 1942. Leading a section of four planes in vigorous raids against hostile airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, Lieutenant Micka, grimly pressing home his attacks in the face of relentless fire, contributed materially to the destruction of seventeen enemy planes on the ground and the silencing of three machine gun emplacements. Later, he participated in a series of hazardous, low-altitude strafing runs on the airdrome at Mediouna, persistently striking at his target through bursting shells of anti-aircraft fire until, on his fifth run, he was finally shot down. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Micka's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Edward Micka; Air Group 4 - "Casablanca to Tokyo"
Edward Micka was born in Cayuga, North Dakota on 10 October 1915 to Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Sophia Micka located in Sargent County. Lt. Edward "Eddie" Micka grew up in Billings, Montana. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy 19 June 1934. Appointed midshipman from the Navy at large the following year in 1935, and was commissioned ensign 1 June 1939. He served in Minneapolis and Clemson prior to receiving his wings as a Navy pilot and was attached to Fighting Squadron 9, on board Ranger, in November 1942. On the 8th, he led three flights in support of the initial phase of Operation "Torch," the assault and occupation of Morocco. In the first two flights he led his sections against airdromes at Rabat-Sale and Port Lyautey, destroying at least 17 hostile planes on the ground. During his third flight he led his section in direct support of the ground forces by destroying several machine gun nests. Two days later he participated in the attack on the Mediouna airdrome, conducting strafing runs at low altitudes. Lieutenant Micka lost his life on the fifth run when his plane was hit by antiaircraft fire. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously "for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in action as a pilot" during Operation "Torch." He was also awarded the Purple Heart. USS Micka (DE 176) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor.
Lt Mica's wife Evelyn gave birth to a DAUGHTER (Not a son as the newspaper stated) her name is Barbara and she was born 1 Nov. 1942, just days before Lt Ed Micka's death.
See Lt. Micka's Web-site; https://www.fold3.com/page/283278091-edward-micka-lt-jg-kia-wwii-nafrica-fighter-pilot (Barbi Ennis Connolly, WWII Historical Researcher and 57th Bomb Wing Historian)
