World War II Honoree

James Francis Monaghan

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Whitestone, New York

Honored By

Grace Monaghan

Relationship

Sister

JOINED NAVAL AVIATION CADET (V-5 PROGRAM) IN JULY 1942. APPOINTED ENSIGN AND DESIGNATED NAVAL AVIATOR IN DECEMBER 1943 AT NAVAL AIR STATION, CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS. AFTER FURTHER TRAINING REPORTED TO TORPEDO SQUADRON 17 (VT-17) FLYING TBM AVENGER TORPEDO BOMBERS FROM 2ND USS HORNET CV-12. INVOLVED IN SIGNIFICANT COMBAT DUTY, HE PERSONALLY SCORED A DIRECT HIT WITH A TORPEDO AGAINST THE JAPANESE BATTLESHIP YAMATO NORTH OF OKINAWA ON 7 APRIL 1945. HIS TORPEDO HIT HELPED SINK HER. AWARDED NAVY CROSS MEDAL FOR THIS ACTION AND FOR OTHER ACTION A DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND FOUR (4) AIR MEDALS. LEFT ACTIVE DUTY 4 DAYS AFTER V-J DAY.