World War II Honoree

St. Clair Bienvenu, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bogalusa, Louisiana

Honored By

G. Holcomb

SERVED AS A PILOT OF THE F6F 'HELLCAT' ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LANGLEY CVL-27 IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. PARTICIPATED IN AIR STRIKES ON THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, NEW GUINEA, TRUK, THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND THE MARIANA ISLANDS. SURVIVED 'THE MARIANAS TURKEY SHOOT' IN WHICH 100 U.S. NAVY PILOTS SHOT DOWN 300 JAPANESE PLANES WHILE LOSING ONLY 29 U.S. PLANES. HE WAS SHOT DOWN OFF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND BROKE HIS BACK IN THE CRASH. HE RECOVERED IN THE U.S. AND THEN SERVED AS A TRAINING PILOT AT THE PENSACOLA NAVAL AIR STATION.