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Hamilton McWhorter III

{{short description|WWII Ace}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Hamilton McWhorter III

| image = Hamilton McWhorter III USN.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| nickname = "Mac", "One Slug"

| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|02|08}}

| birth_place = Athens, Georgia, US

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|04|12|1921|02|08}}

| death_place = El Cajon, California, US

| placeofburial = Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery

| allegiance = United States of America

| branch = United States Navy

| serviceyears = 1942 to 1969

| rank = Commander

| unit = VF-9
VF-12

| commands = VF-12

| battles = World War II

| awards = * Congressional Gold Medal

| relations = Wife: Louise (Née Edel) McWhorter

| laterwork =

}}

Commander Hamilton McWhorter III (February 8, 1921{{spnd}}April 12, 2008) was a United States Navy aviator and a flying ace of World War II, credited with shooting down twelve Japanese aircraft. He was the first Hellcat ace, first USN carrier-based double ace,{{cite journal |title=Air Force Journal of Logistics, Volumes 16-18 |journal=Air Force Logistics Management Center |date=1992 |volume=XVI NO 1 |issue=Winter AFRP-1 |page=28 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NY555cYRwdAC&q=Hamilton+McWhorter+III+double+ace&pg=RA3-PA28 |accessdate=July 25, 2020}}{{Sfn|Hammel|2010|p=129}} and the first Grumman F6F Hellcat pilot to achieve double ace status.{{sfn|Stout|2013|page=77 [https://books.google.com/books?id=zmTaAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 69-83]}}{{cite news |last1=Dorr |first1=Robert F. |title=Sharp Shooting Hellcat "Mac" McWhorter Runs Up the Score |url=http://dl.magazinedl.com/magazinedl/Flight%20Journal/2019/Flight%20Journal%20-%20WWII%20Air%20War%202019(magazinedl.com).pdf |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |work=Flight Journal |page=16 |date=October 21, 2019 |archive-date=July 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723213537/http://dl.magazinedl.com/magazinedl/Flight%20Journal/2019/Flight%20Journal%20-%20WWII%20Air%20War%202019(magazinedl.com).pdf |url-status=dead }} He flew 89 combat missions during World War II while flying with the VF-9 and VF-12 units. On May 23, 2014, he was also posthumously awarded the American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal, when the United States Congress collectively awarded the gold medal to all flying aces: a navy pilot is depicted on the medal in the upper right.{{cite web |last1=113th Congress |title=H.R.685 – American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/685/text |website=Congress.gov |publisher=Library of Congress |accessdate=July 22, 2020}}{{cite web |title=American Fighter Aces to Hold 50th Reunion |url=https://www.museumofflight.org/News/1838/president-obama-signs-bill-honoring-american-fighter-aces |website=Museum of Flight |publisher=The Museum of Flight |date=May 22, 2014 |accessdate=July 22, 2020}}

Early life and education

Hamilton McWhorter III was born in 1921 to a middle-class family. The family lived on a farm. When he was nine years old, his father got him on his first flight, which was in a Ford Tri-Motor. He was enrolled at the University of Georgia from 1939 to 1941. He attended Civilian Pilot Training in 1939 and entered the Navy flight program in August 1941.{{sfn|Cleaver|2017|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=hMA2DwAAQBAJ&dq=hamilton+mcwhorter+iii+university+of+georgia&pg=PA79 79]}}

Navy career

File:Airraid at Rabaul Harbor.jpg at Rabaul Harbor November 1943]]

McWhorter was selected for fighter training and arrived for training in Miami on December 24, 1941. He graduated from flight school on January 28, 1942, and was commissioned as an ensign on February 9.{{sfn|Cleaver|2017|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=hMA2DwAAQBAJ&dq=hamilton+mcwhorter+iii+university+of+georgia&pg=PA79 79]}} Advancing to carrier training on the F4F Wildcat at Naval Air Station Norfolk, McWhorter joined Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9), based at East Field on NAS Norfolk, after completing the program in late April.{{Sfn|Young|2014|p=|pp=8–9}} In early October he and the squadron embarked aboard the USS Ranger for Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Vichy French North Africa.{{sfn|Cleaver|2018|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-gpODwAAQBAJ&dq=The+First+Hellcat+Ace+double+ace&pg=PA137 137]}} McWhorter flew in an airstrike against Casablanca when the invasion began on November 8.{{Sfn|Young|2014|p=|pp=10–12}} After Vichy French resistance ceased, the Ranger returned to Norfolk. Based at nearby NAS Oceana from December, VF-9 converted to the new F6F-3 Hellcat in early 1943, among the first squadrons to receive them. McWhorter found the Hellcat a "dream to fly" and much superior to the Wildcat.{{Sfn|Young|2014|p=|pp=16–18}} During this period at Norfolk McWhorter met Louise Edel, the daughter of a Navy chaplain, and they married on January 16.{{Cite news|date=April 2, 1944|title=High U. S. Score Against Japs Traced to U. S. Air Teamwork|page=B12|newspaper=Rochester Democrat and Chronicle|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/56039403/hamilton-mcwhorter-interview/|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com}}

In May 1943 VF-9 departed for the Pacific Theater aboard the newly commissioned carrier USS Essex.{{Sfn|Young|2014|p=|pp=16–18}} He was nicknamed "One Slug" McWhorter after his first kill over Wake Island on October 5, 1943, when McWhorter flew into a formation of Japanese Zeroes and fired one .50-caliber bullet into the plane. The plane exploded and McWhorter earned his first enemy kill. The men in his unit said he was conserving the taxpayers' money by only firing one slug. McWhorter later stated that he only fired one shot because the plane blew up.

File:A6M2 Zuikaku Rabaul.jpg (Zeros) from the Japanese aircraft Zuikaku preparing to take off at Rabaul, November 1943]]

File:20-02-079-aviation.jpg]]

On a mission escorting SBD Dauntless dive bombers over Rabaul on November 11, 1943, McWhorter downed two Zeroes.{{Sfn|Young|2014|p=27}} McWhorter's Hellcat was hit several times in the attack, but he was able to land on the Essex. The Hellcat sustained bullet holes on both sides of the fuselage and several that went straight through each wing. During the February 17, 1944, Operation Hailstone airstrikes on Truk, McWhorter downed three Zeroes, bringing his score to ten victories. He thus became the first Hellcat double ace and the first carrier pilot double ace.{{Sfn|Tillman|1979|p=60}} In his memoirs, McWhorter described the engagement: "My wingman and I ran into three Zekes. The first had a perfect bead on me, but for some reason didn't fire and Bud knocked him down. The other two ran right into my sights, one after the other, inside ten seconds and went down. Less than a mile away another Zero (later identified as "Hamp") was bearing down on me. He could have got me, but strangely, he didn't fire either. I let him have a burst and set him afire."{{sfn|Young|2014|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=04WlCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA43 43]}}

The Essex arrived at San Francisco on March 10, and her pilots dispersed for a month-long leave. After meeting his parents-in-law at Naval Training Station Sampson and visiting his family in Athens, McWhorter was posted to the reforming VF-12 as one of its veteran cadre.{{Sfn|Young|2014|p=49}} VF-12 was attached to USS Randolph in 1945, and McWhorter claimed two more Japanese aircraft to raise his victory total to 12.{{cite news|date=December 3, 1953|title=Ledr. McWhorter Given Command of VF-12|page=5|publisher=Jacksonville Jax Air News|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/jacksonville-jax-air-news-dec-03-1953-p-5/|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}

McWhorter was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross five times in recognition of his actions. He was among the seven original inductees into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame when it was established in 1989.{{sfn|Danilov|1997|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VUO_J0YzpP0C&dq=hamilton+mcwhorter+iii+ace&pg=PA159 159]}}{{cite news|author=Burson, Pat|date=August 27, 1989|title=State Inducting Seven Into Aviation Hall of Fame|page=B5|newspaper=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55818282/georgia-aviation-hall-of-fame/|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 8, 2018|via=newspapers.com}}

After the war, McWhorter was given command of VF-12, an aviation unit of the United States Navy.{{cite news |title=Florida Ace Leading Navy list; has 34 |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/tucson-daily-citizen-feb-24-1945-p-10/ |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |newspaper=Tucson Daily Citizen |date=February 24, 1945}}

He ended his Navy career as executive officer of Naval Air Station Miramar in 1969 and retired to El Cajon.{{Cite news|last=Gonzalez|first=Blanca|date=April 24, 2008|title=Hamilton "Mac" McWhorter; former Navy commander had an early love of flying|newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune|url=http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20080424/news_1m24mcworte1.html|access-date=July 21, 2020}} McWhorter's memoir, coauthored by Jay Stout, was published by Pacifica in 2001 as The First Hellcat Ace.{{Cite magazine|last=Mersky|first=Peter B.|date=March–April 2002|title=Professional Reading|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/2000/2002/march-april/proread.pdf|magazine=Naval Aviation News|page=40}}{{sfn|McWhorter|Stout|2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/stout-jay-1959 |title=Stout, Jay A |publisher=encyclopedia.com|accessdate=July 22, 2020}}

=Affiliations=

He was a member of the American Fighter Aces Association, the Distinguished Flying Cross Society, and the Tailhook Association.

Awards

style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Naval_Aviator_Badge.jpg|width=205|alt=}}
{{ribbon devices|number=4|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=6|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=Air Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|other_device=|ribbon=Combat_Action_Ribbon.svg|width=110}}

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|ribbon=China_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=European-African-Middle_Eastern_Campaign_ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=7|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign ribbon.svg|width=110}}

{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Army_of_Occupation_ribbon.svg|width=110}}

|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
colspan="3"|Naval Aviator Badge
Distinguished Flying Cross
w/ four {{frac|5|16}}" Gold Stars{{sfn|Stout|2013|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=zmTaAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA83 69-83]}}

|Air Medal
w/ {{frac|5|16}}" Silver Star and {{frac|5|16}}" Gold Star

|Combat Action Ribbon

Navy Presidential Unit Citation
w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" bronze star

|China Service Medal

|American Defense Service Medal

American Campaign Medal

|European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" bronze star

|Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" silver star and two {{frac|3|16}}" bronze stars

World War II Victory Medal

|Navy Occupation Service Medal
w/ 'Japan' clasp

|National Defense Service Medal
w/ one {{frac|3|16}}" bronze star

  • Permanent Citation for the Gold Star awarded by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal (1947){{cite news |title=Naples Navy Aviator Awarded Gold Star |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/long-beach-independent-jan-13-1947-p-16/ |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |newspaper=Long Beach Independent |date=January 13, 1947 |page=16}}
  • Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame (1989){{sfn|Danilov|1997|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=VUO_J0YzpP0C&dq=hamilton+mcwhorter+iii+ace&pg=PA159 159]}}
  • Congressional Gold Medal awarded to American fighter aces, collectively May 23, 2014{{cite news |last1=Vogt |first1=Tom |title=Off Beat: WWII pilot one of the faces of America's fighter aces |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2016/feb/08/off-beat-wwii-pilot-one-of-the-faces-of-americas-fighter-aces/ |accessdate=July 22, 2020 |newspaper=The Columbian |date=February 8, 2016}}

Personal

File:The First Hellcat Ace Book Jacket by Hamilton McWhorter III.png

In January 1943 he married Louise Edel. Together they had 5 children: Donald, Bill, Georgia, Hamilton, and Jon.{{cite web |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sandiegouniontribune/obituary.aspx?n=louise-edel-mcwhorter&pid=191373740 |title=Louise Edel McWhorter |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=January 27, 2019|publisher=Legacy.com |accessdate=July 22, 2020}} He retired as a Navy commander in 1969 in El Cajon, California.

See also

Published work

  • {{cite book |last1=McWhorter|first1=Hamilton|year=2024|first2=Jay A. |last2=Stout |title=The First Hellcat Ace |location=Havertown, Pennsylvania |publisher=Casemate |isbn=9781636244099 }}

References

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

  • {{cite book |last1=Cleaver |first1=Thomas McKelvey |title=Pacific Thunder: The US Navy's Central Pacific Campaign August 1943 – October 1944 |date=2017 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford UK |isbn=9781472821843 |page=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hMA2DwAAQBAJ&dq=hamilton+mcwhorter+iii+university+of+georgia&pg=PA79 |accessdate=July 23, 2020 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Cleaver |first1=Thomas McKelvey |title=Tidal Wave: From Leyte Gulf to Tokyo Bay |date=2018 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford UK |isbn=9781472825476 |page=137 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-gpODwAAQBAJ&dq=The+First+Hellcat+Ace+double+ace&pg=PA137 |accessdate=July 22, 2020}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Danilov |first1=Victor |title=Hall of Fame Museums |date=November 30, 1997 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, Connecticut |isbn=978-0313300004 |page=159 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VUO_J0YzpP0C }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Hammel |first1=Eric |orig-year=1992 |year=2010|title=Aces Against Japan |publisher=Pocket Books |location=New York |isbn=9781890988081 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Stout |first1=Jay |title=Unsung Eagles: True Stories of America's Citizen Airmen in the Skies |date=2013 |location=Havertown, Pennsylvania |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=9781612002095 |pages=69–83 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zmTaAgAAQBAJ&q=hamilton+mcwhorter+iii+distinguished+flying+cross&pg=PA83 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Stout |first1=Jay |title=The First Hellcat Ace |date=2024|location=Havertown, Pennsylvania |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=9781636244099 |pages=100–104|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=He8X0AEACAAJ }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Tillman|first1=Barrett|year=1979|edition=1st|title=Hellcat: The F6F in World War II |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1557509918}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Young |first1=Edward M. |title=F6F Hellcat Aces of VF-9 |date=March 18, 2014 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford, United Kingdom |isbn=978-1782003359 |page=43 |edition=Aircraft of the Aces (Book 119) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04WlCwAAQBAJ&q=The+First+Hellcat+Ace+double+ace&pg=PA43 |accessdate=July 22, 2020 }}

Further reading

  • {{cite book |last1=Hammel |first1=Eric |year=1998 |title=Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak |volume=5 |location=Pacifica, California|publisher=Pacifica Press |isbn=0935553614 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Tillman|first1=Barrett|year=1996|title=Hellcat Aces of World War 2 |location=London|publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=1855325969 }}

External links

  • [https://www.politifact.com/article/2007/oct/21/mud-your-inbox/ Mud in your Inbox] Politifact interview with McWhorter, who denies that he signed a meme/mass email that attacked Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton {{mdash}} "He said in an e-mail exchange with the Times that he did not write the Gold Star Mothers e-mail, and is tired of hearing about it. He believes someone copied his name from a Web site or from publicity about his memoir The First Hellcat Ace. His wife, Louise, said, "My husband is a Georgia gentleman. He would never write that about a woman.""
  • [https://www.reddit.com/r/AviationHistory/comments/hay4z4/ww2_aces_over_north_africa_herbert_ross_hamilton WW2 Aces Over North Africa: Herbert Ross, Hamilton McWhoter, James Edwards at Museum of Flight, 2006] video

{{DEFAULTSORT:McWhorter III, Hamilton}}

Category:1921 births

Category:2008 deaths

Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II

Category:American World War II flying aces

Category:Aviators from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:Military personnel from Georgia (U.S. state)

Category:People from Athens, Georgia

Category:Recipients of the Air Medal

Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Category:United States Navy pilots of World War II

Category:University of Georgia alumni

Category:Burials at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery