William O. Burch

William Oscar Burch Jr. was born to William Oscar and Elizabeth Burch (née Metzler) in Paducah, Kentucky, 27 June 1904. He became an Eagle Scout in 1922, and in 1923 he was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1927.{{cite news |title=Boy Scout Training Has Proved Its Worth In Deeds Of Valor Performed By Former Paducah Scouts Now In the Armed Service Of Their Country |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/503590854 |access-date=28 September 2021 |agency=The Paducah Sun-Democrat |date=6 Nov 1942}} While there, he participated in soccer, baseball, and bowling.{{cite book |title=The Lucky Bag of 1927 |date=1927 |publisher=The Shilling Press Inc. |location=New York City |pages=294, 507 |url=https://archive.org/details/luckybag1927unse/page/n7/mode |access-date=22 September 2021}} After graduating from Annapolis in 1927, he was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy.

Upon receiving his commission, Ensign Burch was assigned to the {{ship|USS|Medusa|AR-1}}, followed by the {{ship|USS|West Virginia|BB-48}}.{{cite web |title=Aircraft Scouting Force Shipmates: Burch, Rear Admiral |url=https://www.vpnavy.com/vpasf_shipmates.html |website=VP Navy |access-date=22 September 2021}} In March 1930, he reported to the Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight instruction and graduated as a naval aviator near the end of that year. Following flight instruction, he became a junior aviation officer aboard the {{ship|USS|Pennsylvania|BB-38}}. In May 1933 he returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor until June 1935.

Lieutenant Commander Burch was a flight leader in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5) attached to the {{ship|USS|Yorktown|CV-5}}, flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber. Burch and VS-5 took part in the Invasion of Salamaua–Lae on March 10, 1942. Performing dive bombing attacks on Japanese forces, VS-5 achieved seven direct hits, resulting in the sinking of three ships. One of those direct hits was from Burch, resulting in him being awarded his first Navy Cross.

Shortly after the Invasion of Salamaua–Lae, Burch became the commander of Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5). Still attached to the Yorktown, he led his squadron taking part in the invasion of Tulagi on May 4, 1942. In Tulagi Harbor, Burch and his squadron damaged or destroyed eight Japanese ships. A few days later they again engaged the Japanese at the Battle of the Coral Sea. On May 7, the {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōhō|up=yes}} was sighted and VS-5 was sent out with other squadrons from the {{ship|USS|Lexington|CV-2|6}} to intercept the carrier. Burch was the first pilot to successfully attack the Shōhō, dropping his 1,000 pound bomb directly through the middle of the flight deck.{{cite web |title=Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa, Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5), USS Yorktown (CV-5) |url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/stanley-swede-vejtasa-scouting-squadron-5-vs-5-uss-yorktown-cv-5 |website=The National World War II Museum |access-date=28 September 2021}} The following day, May 8, 1942, Burch led his squadron on another attack, targeting the {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Shōkaku|up=yes}}. Again, Burch successfully dropped his payload, directly hitting the deck of the Shōkaku amidships.{{cite book |last1=Hoyt |first1=Edwin P. |title=Blue skies and blood : the Battle of the Coral Sea |date=1976 |publisher=Pinnacle Books |location=New York |isbn=0523009070 |page=99 |url=https://archive.org/details/blueskiesbloodba0000hoyt_a6z4 |access-date=28 September 2021}} The Shōkaku sustained three direct hits, leaving her severely damaged. For his actions in the engagements at the invasion of Tulagi and the Battle of the Coral Sea, Burch was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of his second Navy Cross by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet.{{cite news |title=Commander Burch Wins Citation for Heroism In Pacific |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/503591419/ |access-date=30 September 2021 |agency=The Paducah Sun-Democrat |issue=268 |date=9 Nov 1942}}

File:Captain Dixie Kiefer and Commander William O. Burch aboard USS Ticonderoga (CV-14), circa in 1944 (NH 100259).jpg, USN (right), and Executive Officer, Commander William O. Burch, Jr., USN (left), on the bridge of the {{ship|USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14}}.]]

In June and August 1942, Burch served as a carrier training officer in the Pacific. Following that assignment, he served as an executive officer for the Advanced Carrier Training Group until October 1942. As a prospective commanding officer of the {{ship|USS|Ticonderoga|CV-14}}, Burch reported to Naval Station Newport. Burch was given the position of executive officer upon the Ticonderoga's commissioning in May 1944. Deployed to the Pacific Ocean as part of Task Force 38, the Ticonderoga was near Formosa on January 21, 1945, when she was attacked by a Japanese kamikaze, causing a fire in the hangar deck. Executive Officer Burch was the first to man a hose and organized fire-fighting crews. For his actions on the USS Ticonderoga Burch was awarded a second Gold Star in lieu of a third Navy Cross. He served in that position until June 1945.

With the end of World War II, Burch's next assignment was as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale. He held that role at the same time as doomed Flight 19 in December 1945.

{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burch, William O.}}

Category:1904 births

Category:1989 deaths

Category:People from Paducah, Kentucky

Category:United States Naval Academy alumni

Category:United States Navy rear admirals

Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II

Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)

Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit