South St Paul Municipal Airport (original) (raw)
Fleming Field - Richard Fleming History - part 1
South St. Paul - Fleming Field is named for Richard Fleming, a Navy pilot during World War II. He was, posthumously, presented the congressional medal of honor for his actions during battle on June 5, 1942. Below is an account of his life and that battle.
For 6 months following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fleming's squadrons patrolled the air near the Midway, never making enemy contact. In his letters, Fleming fretted about spending the war in the backwaters.
This would soon change. On June 4, 1942 Fleming's squadrons were ordered to attack the Japanese Fleet. Scores of American aircraft never returned. Fleming's commanding officer was killed and Fleming's aircraft limped back with 171 holes in it after he failed to drop a bomb on the aircraft carrier Akaqi. Fleming received two slight wounds.
The next day prompted the squadron commander , Captain Fleming, and the remnants of his squadrons to return to the battle. Fleming directed his aircraft in a screaming dive at the Japanese cruiser Mikuma. The enemy ship was struck with the bomb, then by Fleming's plane. A Japanese officer later wrote that it was a suicide bombing.
There was a tremendous blast as the gasoline from Fleming's plane flowed down into the Mikuma's engine room where the fumes ignited and exploded, killing the entire engine room crew. The Mikuma, now gutted and helpless, laid wallowing in the water. The following day U.S. bombers found the helpless cruisers and the Mikuma, which later rolled over and sank.
Captain Richard Fleming was the only man to win the Congressional Medal of Honor during this crucial battle.
President Roosevelt bestowed the Nation's highest decoration posthumously upon Capt. Richard E. fleming, marine pilot cited for heroic action in the battle of Midway. He presented the Congressional Medal of Honor to the flyers mother, Mrs. Mechael E. Fleming of St. Paul Minnesota. Standing between them at the White House ceremonies today is Lt. Gen. Thomas Holcomb, commandant of the Marine Corps.
Mrs. Michael E. Fleming, mother of Capt. Richard Fleming, who was killed after he dived his plane into the smokestack of a Japanese aircraft carrier in the Battle of Midway in 1942, greets Adm. Halsey in the Auditorium. Mrs. Fleming, who lives at the Commodore hotel, received the Congressional Medal of Honor, which was awarded posthumously to her son, by President Roosevelt on November 24, 1942.
Then of course there are the heroes unable to attend. Marines from Minnesota who lie buried under far-distant coconut trees. Capt. Richard Fleming of St. Paul and Pvt. 1st Cl. Richard E. Kraus of Minneapolis are among... ...few of the many Minnesotans who have helped the corps make history - history that will be celebrated in the dinner at the Hotel Lowry.
Below is an AP wirephoto of a new destryoer escort vessel. A warship of this type will be named for the late Capt. Richard E. Fleming, St. Paul hero.
One of the Navy's newest anti-submarine weapons, a destryoer escort vessel, will be named for Capt. Richard E. Fleming of St. Paul, heroic Marine Corps flier who lost his live at the battle of Midway.
Mrs. Michael Fleming, 1071 St. Clair Ave. has been invited to sponsor the vessel at its launching, scheduled for May 19 at the Navy yard, Boston.
Word that the Navy will name the vessel for Capt. Fleming was received by the mother in a letter from Secretary Knox.
The Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded to Capt. Fleming posthumously, was presented to Mrs. Fleming personally by President Roosevelt.
Powerfully armed, the new destroyer escorts, about 300 feet long and in the 1,300 ton class, are designed for convoy duty in the roughest seas, are speedy enough to deal with submarines.
Click here to see the text of the USS Fleming (VE-32)
Click here for part 2 of the history of Richard E. Fleming.