David McCampbell was born on January 16, 1910, in Bessemer, Alabama. He graduated from the Naval Academy in June 1933. He became a Naval Aviator in April 1938 and served with Fighting Squadron Four (VF-4) on the USS Ranger. McCampbell commanded Fighting Squadron 15 (VF-15) and later became the commander of the USS Essex's air group. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19, 1944, he destroyed seven enemy planes. In the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 24, he shot down nine more planes, setting a U.S. single mission aerial combat record. McCampbell became the U.S. Navy's leading ace, downing a total of 34 Japanese aircraft. His air group was credited with 315 planes shot down in aerial combat, 348 more destroyed on the ground, and significant damage to enemy shipping. He received the Medal of Honor on January 10, 1945, for his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity." Listen to his story, here...