World War II Honoree

Kenneth A. Sederquist

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Preemption, Illinois

Honored By

Dolores Sederquist

Relationship

Wife

WWII (Sept 1, 1939-Dec 7, 1941): 1939-4/9/40: Aviation Chief Metalsmith attended Flight School at NAS Pensacola, FL, for Naval Aviation Pilot training; Earned Wings/ designated NAP on 3/12/40. (4/10/40-December 7, 1941): VP-71 (Ex VP-51), North Atlantic Neutrality Patrol/ Battle of the Atlantic: PBY-5 seaplanes patrol for U-boats/ reported locations to allies for destruction; convoy escorts for supply ships crossing the Atlantic to England. PACIFIC WAR (Dec 7, 1941- Mar 6, 1944): 12/8/41: VP-71 ordered to Pearl Harbor. 12/9/41: Squadron left NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, for 16-day trip with layovers at 6 Naval Air Stations: Quonset Point, Norfolk, Pensacola, Corpus Christi, San Diego, and Alameda – to prepare crew and PBY-5’s for combat; installed extra fuel tanks on aircraft for the 18.3-hour flight to Pearl Harbor – arrived on 12/26/41. Reconnaissance over Territory of Hawaii region for 4 months. 4/13/42: Honorable Discharge and immediate reenlistment/ promotion to Chief Aviation Pilot and “(temp) Officer/Ensign, Naval Aviator.” 4/27/42-3/5/44: VP-71 conducted search, patrol and anti-sub operations from Oahu, Midway, Johnson Atoll and Canton Island, plus 2 tours of duty in the South Pacific; included VP-71 "Black Cat" night patrols. 8/1/42: Awarded the US Navy Good Conduct Pin. 8/5/42: Designated Patrol Plane Commander. 3/1/43: Commissioned “(temp) Lieutenant jg,” flew a few PBY-5A's (amphibious seaplanes). 3/6/44: Tours of Duty in South Pacific concluded. Returned stateside; trained pilots. 4/1/44: Promoted to (temp) Lieutenant. 8/20/44: Military Wedding. 9/1944-1945: Camp Kearny radar training, test pilot, trained pilots, Operations Officer. 10/23/45: Awarded the American Campaign (American Theater) ribbon (3 stars). 12/17/45: Transferred to NAS Kaneohe, Oahu, test pilot, education officer. 10/18/46: US Naval School "Naval Justice" Certificate. 11/1/46: final Honorable Discharge concluded enlisted ranks; reinstated/ commissioned to “(temp) Lieutenant Commander.” 1/17/47: assigned as Commanding Officer of FASron 116 at NAS Barbers Point, Oahu, Hawaii, until it was decommissioned, since it was for Pacific War operations. 6/21/47: Commanding Officer, FASron 10, NAS Barbers Point. Decommissioned in August 1947. 8/5/47: Awarded WWII Victory and American Defense Medals. 8/7/47: Temporary Officer Commissions made permanent per the Officer Personnel Act of 1947 (Public Law 381, 80th Congress approved). 8/18/47: Transferred to NAS Ream Field; training on airborne electronics, anti-sub warfare. Oct-Dec 1947: Assistant Legal Officer. He served in the US Navy from 1934-1961.