World War II Honoree

Dean D. Whitmore

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Portis, Kansas

Honored By

Mr. Steve Whitmore

Relationship

Son

SERVED AS A FIGHTER PILOT ON THE USS LEXINGTON AND RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR HIS AIR COMBAT MISSIONS. HE WAS IN A PHOTO TAKEN BY EDWARD STEICHEN ABOARD THE USS LEXINGTON. THIS PHOTO WAS PUBLISHED IN MANY HISTORY BOOKS ABOUT WWII AND SHOWS ELEVEN FIGHTER PILOTS OF THE USS LEXINGTON'S FIGHTER SQUADRON 16 EXPRESSING THEIR GREAT PRIDE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT WHILE STANDING BESIDE ONE OF THEIR F6-F HELLCATS AFTER FOILING AN ATTACK BY TWO DOZEN JAPANESE PLANES OFF TARAWA NOVEMBER 23, 1943. THIS SQUADRON DOWNED 17 OF THE ENEMY WITHOUT SUFFERING A SINGLE LOSS.