U. S. Navy Aviation Heroes

I just finished viewing an Aviation Documentary on the Discovery Channel. It was a show about a U. S. Navy Aviation Hero of the World War II Era. His name was John Thach. The show was impressive and in the end the narrator stated that U. S. Navy Pilot Hero of World War II went on to serve his country and concluded his duties as an Admiral. He passed away in 1981.

Recalling that during my tour of duty on the Staff of U. S. Naval Forces Europe (CINCLUSNAVEUR) in London the Admiral in charge was a John S. Thach I did a quick Internet search to ascertain if he was the same U. S. Navy Officer I knew when I was first attached to Navy London. Yes he was!!!

An interesting side note to the Career of Admiral John S. Thach is the fact that he worked for a Four Star Admiral named John Sidney McCain in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Upon his retirement from the Navy, also in London, Admiral Thach was relieved by Admiral John S. McCain, the son of the Admiral he had served with during World War II.

Of course we all know another John McCain. He is a former candidate for President of the United States of America and currently serving in the U. S. Senate.

I thought You Would Like to Know this bit of History. Admiral John S. Thach is credited with developing Naval Aviation tactics which allowed our Country to defeat the Japanese at the Battle of Midway. One of the tactics he developed is known as the Thach Weave. You can read more about this Hero at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thach