World War II Honoree

Paul Jefferson Davis, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Jennifer L. Damon

Relationship

Granddaughter

PILOT WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY RESERVE. ENTERED THE NAVY IN 1940, AND GRADUATED FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL IN PENSACOLA IN 1941. FROM THERE WENT TO CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS AND BECAME A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR. IN 1944 BECAME THE SKIPPER OF VT-4 OF AIR GROUP 4 ON THE BUNKER HILL AND THE ESSEX. LED A GREAT GROUP OF BRAVE MEN IN ACTION OVER THE PACIFIC, IN SUCH PLACES AS THE PHILIPPINES, MANILA, SANTA CRUZ, FORMOSA, LUZON, SAIGON, HAINAN, KIKAI JIMA, AMAMI OSHIMA, AND TOKYO AND THE JAPANESE MAINLAND, SUPPORTED IWO JIMA AND ATTACKED NAHA AIRFIELD IN OKINAWA. RECEIVED THREE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES AND TWO AIR MEDALS.