Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare March 13, 1914 – November 26, 1943 KIA
He became the first naval recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.
Naote the Felix the cat emblem on his plane
Recieving The Medal of Honor April 21, 1942: President Roosevelt,Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy(behind FDR), Admiral Ernest King, Edward O'Hare and his wife Rita.
who on February 20, 1942 became the Navy's firstflying ace when he single-handedly attacked a formation of 9 heavy bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. (It would be said he downed 5 aircraft and dameged a 6th one) Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he managed to shoot down or damage several enemy bombers. On April 21, 1942, he became the first naval recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.
On September 19, 1949, the Chicago, Illinois airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport to honor O'Hare's bravery
In November 1939, his father was shot to death, most likely by Al Capone's gunmen. During Capone's tax evasion trial in 1931 and 1932, O'Hare's father had provided incriminating evidence which helped finally put Capone away. There is speculation that this was done to ensure that Butch got into the Naval Academy, or to set a good example. Whatever the motivation, the elder O'Hare was shot down in his car, a week before Capone was released from incarceration.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_O%27Hare
VF-3: Front row, second from right: Lt. Edward Butch O'Hare.