Marine Ace v Fifty 'Zeros'

30th August 1943: Medal of Honor for US Marine aviator who does not hesitate to attack when vastly outnumbered - and survives multiple hits to his aircraft

From February 1943 onward, the F4U operated from Guadalcanal and ultimately other bases in the Solomon Islands.

U.S. Marine Corps Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighters of Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-124 ‘Whistling Death’ on Guadalcanal, in April 1943. VMF-124 was the first Corsair unit to enter combat, in February 1943. In August they transferred to Munda airfield.

When Marine Fighting Squadron ‘VMF’ 124 arrived in the Solomons in February 1943 none of its airmen had more than 25 hours of flying experience in the new F4U Vought Corsair. The aircraft had originally been intended for use on carriers but the extended length of the engine limited forward visibility during take-off and landing. So the Corsair was deemed more suitable for land-based operations.

Lt. Walsh repeatedly dived his plane into an enemy formation outnumbering his own division six to one and, although his plane was hit numerous times, shot down two Japanese dive bombers and one fighter.

Lt. Kenneth Walsh eventually scored 21 kills in the Corsair.

The aircraft’s combat capabilities had to be evaluated ‘live’ - while engaged with the enemy. Lt. Kenneth Walsh¹ was later to recall:

I learned quickly that altitude was paramount. Whoever had altitude dictated the terms ofthe battle and there was nothing a Zero pilot could do to change that - we had him.