Quick Facts
Biography
John Davis Wingfield (November 4, 1916 – May 8, 1942), born in Richmond, Virginia, was a highly decorated naval pilot who enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve at Washington, D.C., on November 15, 1940.
Navy career
He was appointed an aviation cadet on February 5, 1941. Following flight training at Jacksonville and Miami, Florida. He was appointed a naval aviator on August 20, 1941 and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Naval Reserve on September 5, 1941.
After further training in the Advanced Carrier Training Group, Pacific Fleet, he reported for duty to Scouting Squadron Two on December 28, 1941.
Awarded the Navy Cross
He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal and the Navy Cross: "For extraordinary heroism and valiant disregard for his own personal safety as pilot of a scouting plane in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942. With keen determination in pursuing his objective, Ensign Wingfield, when his bomb failed to release during his initial dive on an enemy Japanese carrier, gallantly returned to the scene of attack without protection or support to complete his assigned mission." He failed to return from this mission.
Namesake
USS Wingfield (DE-194) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down on October 7, 1943 at Newark, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation; launched on December 30, 1943; sponsored by Mrs. E. E. Wingfield; and commissioned on January 28, 1944.