John DeWitt Lucas was the son of Frank P. Lucas and Alice Trout (not verified). He had one younger sister, Nancy. The family was living in Muncie, Indiana, in 1930 when they relocated to Alameda, California. Lucas graduated high school there in 1936. He also graduated from the University of California, College of Commerce, graduating in 1940. He was still living in Alamada at the time of his enlistment.

Lucas joined the Marine Corps in 1941, and requested flight school. He was accepted, passed elimination training, and received his wings and Second Lieutenant commission in early 1942.

Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMF-221 had been formed in July 1941, at San Diego, California. In December they were transferred temporarily to the Ewa Marine Corps Air Station, Hawaii. On Christmas Day, December 25th, 1941, they departed Hawaii on-board the USS SARATOGA, CV-3, in 14 F2A-3's Brewster "Buffaloes", quite possibly the worst fighter aircraft of World War II, to land on Midway Island. The squadron's placement at Midway was originally planned to be part of the relief force for Wake Island; a relief that never came leaving Wake at the mercy of the Japanese. However, there was no mercy forthcoming.

The newly minted Second Lieutenant boarded the USS J. FRANKLIN BELL at San Diego, California on May 9, 1942, and sailed for Pearl Harbor. He was bound for a combat squadron, VMF-221, stationed on a small Pacific island called Midway. Lucas, along with twenty other pilots and 35 enlisted men, were loaded onto the USS KITTY HAWK, an aircraft transport that was also carrying seven Wildcat fighters and nineteen SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers. Seventeen of the pilots, including Lucas, were fresh out of flight school when they arrived at Midway on May 26.

Lucas was assigned to Brewster Buffalo, plane #01542. As a member of VMF-221′s Second Division, he flew as wingman to Captain Philip White and participated in daily familiarization and training flights. But barely a week after his arrival, on June 4, 1942, Lieutenant Lucas was sitting in the cockpit of his Buffalo, preparing to enter into combat against the Imperial Japanese Navy. A little before 0600 hours, the word was given for the planes to go airborne. Lucas and Captain White followed the rest of their division (under the leadership of Captain Daniel Hennessy) to a rally point some distance away from Midway. After it was decided the Japanese were not going to mount a two-prong attack, the planes were released to join the other Marine aircraft already engaging over 100 enemy planes.

Captain Hennessy led his planes against a group of enemy bombers. Japanese Zeros, far superior to the Brewster Buffaloes, attacked and broke up the division's formation. An "After Action Report" filed by Captain White stated he last saw Lucas as they turned and made a run on the bombers. He reported, "After the first pass, I lost my wingman and the rest of the division...it is my belief that any commander that orders pilots out for combat in an F2A-3 (Brewster Buffalo) should consider the pilot as lost before leaving the ground."

Lieutenant Lucas was never seen again and no trace of him or his plane has ever been found. He undoubtedly was shot down and his plane crashed into the ocean where he lies to this day.

Lieutenant Lucas was awarded a Navy Cross for his part in the battle. His citation for this award reads as follows:

"The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant John D. Lucas (MCSN: 0-9399), United States Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE (VMF-221), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Delivering a dauntless and aggressive attack against a vastly superior number of Japanese bomber and fighter planes, Second Lieutenant Lucas aided in disrupting the plans of the enemy and lessening the effectiveness of their attack, thereby contributing materially to the success of our forces. As a result of his courageous and daring tactics and because of the circumstances attendant upon this engagement, there can be little doubt that Second Lieutenant Lucas gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. He displayed the characteristics of an excellent airman in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Lieutenant Lucas' parents were living at 1500 Fernside Blvd, Alameda, California, at the time of his death.

Second Lieutenant John D. Lucas Sn# 0-9399, earned the following badges/decorations for his service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II:
- Gold Navy Pilot's Wings
- Navy Cross Medal
- Purple Heart Medal
- Combat Action Ribbon
- Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon
- American Defense Service Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star
- World War II Victory Medal

**NOTE** - A large portion of this bio is based on information from the website missingmarines.com. They have done a fantastic job of researching approximately 3000 US Marines whose bodies were lost in the war. This writer wholeheartedly recommends their site for researchers or families of the missing. - Rick Lawrence, MSgt., USMC/USAFR {RET})