William C. Lawe
Encyclopedia
William Clare Lawe was a United States Navy
sailor who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for his role in the Battle of Midway
during World War II
. Subsequently, a U.S. Navy destroyer was named in his honor.
. He enlisted in the United States Navy
on April 27, 1928 in Detroit
, and attained the rate of aviation metalsmith third class (AM3c). Lawe was assigned to a part of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8
) which received the new Grumman
TBF-1
(Avenger) torpedo plane. This detachment from VT-8 temporarily left carrier
Hornet
(CV-8) to train in the TBFs. They eventually arrived at Luke Field, Hawaii
, for final training prior to rejoining their squadron mates in Hornet.
As American cryptoanalysts found that the Japanese
planned an assault on strategic Midway Atoll
, preparations proceeded rapidly to prepare the island to repel the expected attack. Accordingly, AM3c Lawe volunteered to participate in a detachment flight to Midway as aircrew in one of the six planes commanded by Lieutenant Langdon K. Fieberling. Lawe rode as gunner in the Avenger flown by Ensign Charles E. Brannon, USNR.
After arriving at Midway
on June 1, 1942, the six-plane detachment spent the next few days in readiness. On June 4 at 06:00, Lt. Fieberling's six planes took off, bound for the Japanese fleet. Attacked by Japanese "Zero" fighters within six minutes of their departure, the TBFs evaded their pursuers and climbed to 4,000 feet (1,200 m). At 07:00, the airmen sighted the Japanese fleet and applied full throttle as they dove to 150 feet (45 m).
The six TBFs roared in astern of the Japanese carriers, but suddenly found themselves beset by swarms of "Zeroes". One pilot, his plane shot up badly in the early approach, dropped his torpedo at the nearest target of opportunity — a light cruiser
— and then nursed his crippled plane back to Midway. But five other aircraft — including Ens. Brannon's with AM3c Lawe on board — were shot down miles from their objective.
For his part in this brave action, AM3c Lawe received a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross
.
USS William C. Lawe (DE-313)
was named for him, but her construction was cancelled in 1944. The name was transferred to the destroyer escort USS William C. Lawe (DE-373)
, but her construction also was cancelled in 1944. In 1945, the destroyer
USS William C. Lawe (DD-763)
, in commission
from 1946 to 1983, was named in his honor.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
for his role in the Battle of Midway
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Between 4 and 7 June 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy decisively defeated...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Subsequently, a U.S. Navy destroyer was named in his honor.
Biography
Law was born on January 26, 1910 in Carson City, MichiganCarson City, Michigan
Carson City is a city in Montcalm County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,191.Carson City was first platted in 1866 on land owned by R. M. Abbott, Delia Miner, and Hiram T. Sherman and recorded in 1871. The first lot was sold to Thomas Scott and two...
. He enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on April 27, 1928 in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and attained the rate of aviation metalsmith third class (AM3c). Lawe was assigned to a part of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8
VT-8
Torpedo Squadron 8 was a United States Navy squadron of World War II torpedo bombers assigned initially to the Air Group operating from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet , until after her loss in October 1942 during the Battle of Santa Cruz Island...
) which received the new Grumman
Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation
The Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, later Grumman Aerospace Corporation, was a leading 20th century U.S. producer of military and civilian aircraft...
TBF-1
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
(Avenger) torpedo plane. This detachment from VT-8 temporarily left carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
Hornet
USS Hornet (CV-8)
USS Hornet CV-8, the seventh ship to carry the name Hornet, was a of the United States Navy. During World War II in the Pacific Theater, she launched the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and participated in the Battle of Midway and the Buin-Faisi-Tonolai Raid...
(CV-8) to train in the TBFs. They eventually arrived at Luke Field, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, for final training prior to rejoining their squadron mates in Hornet.
As American cryptoanalysts found that the Japanese
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
planned an assault on strategic Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
, preparations proceeded rapidly to prepare the island to repel the expected attack. Accordingly, AM3c Lawe volunteered to participate in a detachment flight to Midway as aircrew in one of the six planes commanded by Lieutenant Langdon K. Fieberling. Lawe rode as gunner in the Avenger flown by Ensign Charles E. Brannon, USNR.
After arriving at Midway
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
on June 1, 1942, the six-plane detachment spent the next few days in readiness. On June 4 at 06:00, Lt. Fieberling's six planes took off, bound for the Japanese fleet. Attacked by Japanese "Zero" fighters within six minutes of their departure, the TBFs evaded their pursuers and climbed to 4,000 feet (1,200 m). At 07:00, the airmen sighted the Japanese fleet and applied full throttle as they dove to 150 feet (45 m).
The six TBFs roared in astern of the Japanese carriers, but suddenly found themselves beset by swarms of "Zeroes". One pilot, his plane shot up badly in the early approach, dropped his torpedo at the nearest target of opportunity — a light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
— and then nursed his crippled plane back to Midway. But five other aircraft — including Ens. Brannon's with AM3c Lawe on board — were shot down miles from their objective.
For his part in this brave action, AM3c Lawe received a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
.
Namesake
The destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS William C. Lawe (DE-313)
USS William C. Lawe (DE-313)
The first USS William C. Lawe was a United States Navy proposed during World War II. She was never completed.William C. Lawe was laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard at Vallejo, California, on 22 January 1944. Her construction was cancelled on 13 March 1944.The name William C. Lawe was reassigned...
was named for him, but her construction was cancelled in 1944. The name was transferred to the destroyer escort USS William C. Lawe (DE-373)
USS William C. Lawe (DE-373)
The second USS William C. Lawe was a proposed United States Navy that was never built.William C. Lawe was scheduled to be built at Consolidated Steel Corporation at Orange, Texas, during World War II. However, her construction was cancelled on 6 June 1944.The name William C. Lawe was reassigned...
, but her construction also was cancelled in 1944. In 1945, the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS William C. Lawe (DD-763)
USS William C. Lawe (DD-763)
The third USS William C. Lawe was a of the United States Navy, named for aviation metalsmith third class William C. Lawe , who was killed in the Battle of Midway....
, in commission
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
from 1946 to 1983, was named in his honor.