WWII NAVY AIR ACE-IN-A-DAY 6½ JAPANESE KILLS COMMANDER PILOT HARDY LETTER SIGNED

Description

Here’s a Great Detailed Military Content Autograph Letter Signed by WWII US Navy Aviator and Fighter Ace
COMMANDER BILL HARDY
(1920 – 2017)
WWII UNITED STATES NAVY FIGHTER PILOT ACE-IN-A-DAY, WITH 5 JAPANESE AXIS ENEMY AIRCRAFT
“KILLS”
DEFENDING A JAPANESE SUICIDE MISSION IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF WAR
~&~
PARTICIPATED IN MORE DARING AERIAL COMBAT MISSIONS IN WORLD WAR II OVER IWO JIMA,
ETC
. and EARNED THE NICKNAME
“MEDALS,”
ULTIMATELY BEING CREDITED WITH 6½ DOWNED ENEMY AIRCRAFT, ONE PROBABLE ENEMY AIRCRAFT DOWN, AND 2-
1/5
DAMAGED ENEMY AIRCRAFT.
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HERE’S A GREAT HISTORIC CONTENT AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY HARDY,
1p
., DATED JUNE 20, 1999, PROVIDING DETAIL ABOUT OTHER PILOTS AND THEIR AIR BOMBER GROUPS – DETAILED WITH GOOD CONTENT.
…
The document measures 8½” x 11” and is in VERY FINE CONDITION.
A WONDERFUL RELIC OF WORLD WAR II MILITARY AVIATION HISTORY.
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Willis E. Hardy, Commander, USN (Ret)
March 3, 1920 - September 15, 2017
Cmdr. Willis E. (Bill) Hardy
, US Navy, Retired passed away peacefully at age 97 in the loving company of his family on September 15, 2017.
Cmdr. Hardy was a long-time resident of San Juan Capistrano, CA and a native Californian. He was born in Corning, CA in 1920 to
Willis and Lulu Hardy
, the oldest of nine children. He graduated from San Diego Academy, and was working his way through Southern California Junior College by milking cows when the call of adventure enticed him to join the US Navy in 1939.
He rose quickly through the ranks of the Navy during the early days of World War II, and he earned the rank of ensign as a new naval aviator. As a member of the Navy’s VF-17 squadron, he joined the USS Hornet aircraft carrier and proceeded to distinguish himself on numerous occasions as a fearless warrior in the Pacific Theater of the war.
He flew Corsair aircraft in early war missions and supported the United States Marine Corps in the 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima through preemptive aerial bombing destruction of gun caves on Mount Suribachi. As a lieutenant junior grade, Cmdr. Hardy earned the distinction of Ace in a Day by shooting down five enemy aircraft that were on an aerial suicide mission in the Pacific. That day’s dogfight was fierce, and after the fray he and his wingman navigated in their F6F Hellcats back to their carrier with perilously low fuel levels in the dark, with no visual cues and only intermittent radio signals as guidance. They eventually made it back to the carrier by following the large phosphorescent waves in the wake of the blacked-out carrier.
Cmdr. Hardy participated in more daring aerial combat missions in World War II and earned the nickname “Medals.” He was credited with 6-1/2 downed enemy aircraft, one probable enemy aircraft down, and 2-1/5 damaged enemy aircraft.
During the Korean War, he trained Navy night fighter pilots. After the conclusion of the Korean war, he served on the USS Corson (APV-37). He was awarded the China Service Medal for his role as fighter director officer for photoreconnaissance flight missions over the People’s Republic of China in 1954, and was subsequently promoted to lieutenant commander. The following year he was promoted to executive officer of the Navy’s VF-51 squadron.
In 1959, Cmdr. Hardy retired from the United States Navy as a commander, was an avid antique restorer, and had a successful career in aerospace for North American Rockwell and the Collins Radio Division. He was a proud member and advocate of the American Fighter Aces Association, where he served in a variety of roles including president. He has been honored for his service by a number of organizations and institutions, including the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. His military service decorations included the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four gold stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation.`
I am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club (UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society & the American Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). I subscribe to each organizations' code of ethics and authenticity is guaranteed. ~Providing quality service & historical memorabilia online for over 25 years.~
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NAZI JAPANESE AXIS ENEMY US ADMIRAL/OFFICER