World War II Honoree

Edward J. Wallof

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Soulsbyville, California

Honored By

USS Block Island Associatiion

HE SERVED AS A PILOT ABOARD THE USS BLOCK ISLAND CVE-106 WITH THE MARINE FIGHTING AIR SQUADRON, VMF 511. ON MAY 15, 1945, WHILE DIVING HIS FIGHTER PLANE ON HIRARA AIRFIELD, MIYAKO, THE CANOPY OF HIS COCKPIT SUSTAINED A DIRECT HIM FROM A 20MM SHELL. PLASTIC FRAGMENTS OF THE CANOPY SLASHED HIS LEFT EYE. HE PRESSED HOME HIS ROCKET ATTACK; THEN, WITH ANOTHER FIGHTER FLYING WING TO COACH HIM HOME, HE FLEW 100 MILES BACK TO THE SHIP AND MANAGED TO LAND HIS PLANE SAFELY ON BLOCK ISLAND’S DECK.