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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander William Oscar Burch, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Commanding Officer of Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May 1942, and in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 and 8 May 1942. Due to Lieutenant Commander Burch’s distinguished and capable leadership, the high combat efficiency attained by units under his command enabled them to deliver five aggressive and exceptionally successful dive-bombing attacks, the first at Tulagi Harbor on 4 May in which at least eight enemy Japanese vessels were destroyed or severely damaged, and later on 7 May, when an enemy carrier was sunk. On 8 May his squadron succeeded in sinking or severely damaging another enemy Japanese carrier and contributed materially to the success of our forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Lieutenant Commander Burch’s conscientious devotion to duty and gallant self-command against formidable odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander [then Commander]

    Division:

    U.S.S. Ticonderoga (CV-14)

    Action Date:

    January 21, 1945

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Commander] William Oscar Burch, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Executive Officer of the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. TICONDEROGA (CV-14), when that ship was hit by an enemy Kamikaze airplane while deployed off Formosa, on 21 January 1945. Organizing fire-fighting crews on the hangar deck after his ship had been hit, Burch was the first to take a hose into the fire despite the billowing flames and continuous ammunition explosions although his clothes caught fire on two occasions. After the fire-fighting crews were functioning, he made his way to secondary control and manned his exposed battle station until severely wounded by shrapnel. Refusing to go to Sick Bay, he gave orders to be carried to the flight deck where he directed the fire fighting until the flames were under control. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

  • Legion of Merit

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Rear Admiral

    Action Date:

    November 1958 – June 1962
    All Hands (November 1962)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral William Oscar Burch, Jr., United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commander, U.S. Naval Aviation Safety Center, from November 1958 to June 1962. Responsible for reducing annual naval aircraft losses to the lowest level ever attained in the history of naval aviation, Rear Admiral Burch consistently exercised a high degree of professional skill and resourcefulness throughout this period. Through his constant and meticulous attention to the problems of safety, he has been directly responsible for minimizing aircraft and aircrew personnel losses, resulting in a definite increase in operational readiness and substantial monetary savings. In stimulating command interest and attention to all aspects of aviation safety, and in initiating the Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Programs, he has made a major contribution to the success of the Navy-wide safety effort.

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Batallion:

    Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5)

    Action Date:

    January 31 & February 1, 1942
    Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander William Oscar Burch, Jr., United States Navy, for heroic conduct in aerial combat as Commanding Officer of Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), during operations of United States forces against the Gilbert Islands on 31 January 1942. Lieutenant Commander Burch led his squadron in the air attack on the Island of Makin in a most efficient manner. Furthermore, he personally made a direct bomb hit on an enemy seaplane tender and sank a four engine patrol plane on the water by machinegun fire.

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant Commander

    Batallion:

    Scouting Squadron 5 (VS-5)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Yorktown (CV-5)

    Action Date:

    March 10, 1942

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander William Oscar Burch, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane and Flight Leader in Scouting Squadron FIVE (VS-5), attached to the U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action against enemy Japanese forces near Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea, on 10 March 1942. Lieutenant Commander Burch fearlessly led his squadron over high mountains and dense jungles of New Guinea in a dive-bombing attack against three enemy airplane tenders or transports. He and his squadron scored seven direct hits and eight very near misses against the hostile vessels, one direct hit being made by Lieutenant Commander Burch personally, contributed materially to the sinking of the three Japanese ships.