William Bonneau became a World War II Navy ACE, credited with shooting down 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. He was killed in an air crach near Philadelphia on October 3, 1947.
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William Bonneau became a World War II Navy ACE, credited with shooting down 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. He was killed in an air crach near Philadelphia on October 3, 1947.
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The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant William Jerome Bonneau (NSN: 0-113024), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action as a Pilot in Fighting Squadron NINE (VF-9), while participating in an aerial attack on Major units of the Japanese Fleet in the East China Sea, on 7 April 1945. Under adverse weather conditions, and throughout intense anti-aircraft fire of all calibers, he dropped his bomb on an enemy cruiser, scoring a near miss which caused underwater damage and materially aided in the final destruction of the vessel. His courage under heavy fire, the skill of his attack, and his devotion to duty in the execution of this mission were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.