Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Wayne
Willis
Laird
KIA (WWII)
February 7, 1921

–

April 30, 1943

Born:

Loomis

, 

California

Home:

Merced

, 

California

Buried: 

Honolulu

, 

Hawaii

Cemetery:

National Memorial of the Pacific Cemetery

Wayne Laird became a World War II Marine Corps ACE, credited with shooting down FIVE enemy aircraft in aerial combat before he was himself forced down at sea and Killed in Action on April 30, 1943. He was the ONLY Marine Corps ACE to shoot down both German and Japanese aircraft in World War II.

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Marine Fighting Squadron 112 (VMF-112)

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Heroes U.S. Marine Corps 1861 – 1955 (Jane Blakeney)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Captain Wayne Willis Laird (MCSN: 0-10348), United States Marine Corps, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as Pilot of a Fighter Airplane in Marine Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-112), in actions against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.