Date of birth:

October 31st, 1915 (Storrs/Utah, United States)

Date of death:

November 15th, 1996

Nationality:

American (1776 - present, Republic)

William Edward Hall was born October 31, 1913 in Storrs, Utah. He attended Redlands University in California. In May 1938, he entered service with the US Navy Reserves in Utah. He was given flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Long Beach California and on the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. In September 1939 he was appointed Naval Aviator in the rank of Ensign.
He served in Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5) aboard U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5). Later that month he was transferred to Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2) aboard U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2). He was injured during the battle of the Coral Sea and spent the rest of 1942 in the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. Early 1943 he was employed as instructor at the Naval Air Station, Daytona Beach, Florida. As from March 1944, he served at the Naval Air Station in Miami, Florida and subsequently in the Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington. Shortly before the end of the war he served in the Night Attack Training Unit, Pacific.
In September 1946, Hall was posted to the Staff Commander Fleet Air, Western Pacific to be discharged from active duty a little later. He continued to serve in the Naval Reserve though, retiring in November 1960.
William Edward Hall passed away November 15,1996.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant (junior grade)

Unit:

Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2), U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2), U.S. Navy

"For extreme courage and conspicuous heroism in combat above and beyond the call of duty as Pilot of a scouting plane in Scouting Squadron Two (VS-2) attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. In a resolute and determined attack on 7 May, Lt. (j.g.) Hall dived his plane at an enemy Japanese aircraft carrier, contributing materially to the destruction of that vessel. On 8 May, facing heavy and fierce fighter opposition, he again displayed extraordinary skill as an airman and the aggressive spirit of a fighter in repeated and effectively executed counterattacks against a superior number of enemy planes in which 3 enemy aircraft were destroyed. Though seriously wounded in this engagement, Lt. (j.g.) Hall, maintaining the fearless and indomitable tactics pursued throughout these actions, succeeded in landing his plane safe."

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with "A".

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Received with four bronze campaign stars.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo: Department of the Navy- Naval Historical Center 805 Kidder Breeze SE -- Washington Navy Yard Washington DC 20374-5060
  
• - JORDAN, K. N., SR., Yesterday's Heroes, Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, United States, 1996.
  - Department of the Navy- Naval Historical Center 805 Kidder Breeze SE -- Washington Navy Yard Washington DC 20374-5060
  - Find a Grave
  - Military Times Hall of Valor