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Clement Melvin "Clem" Craig

US Navy   Lt. Commander

Navy Cross (with gold service star)
Silver Star
DFC (with six service stars)
Air Medal (with 22 service stars)

Born on 4 December 1914 in Indianapolis, Indiana
Graduated from Butler University School of Journalism, in 1916
Enlisting in the U.S. Navy in June 1940
Winged at Pensacola, Florida on 20 May 1941
Instructed at Pensacola and Corpus Christi, Texas
In Sept. 1942 he was assigned to the Hellcat-equipped VF-22 which boarded the USS Independence (CVL-22) in April 1943.
In December 1944 Craig was promoted to lead VF-22
Which was attached to the USS Cowpens (CVL-25)
On 21 January, Craig shot down 5 Tojos (ace in a day)
Post war he was Air Operations Officer at NAS Moffett Field
During the Korean War he commanded VF-193 (USS Princeton)
He completed 30 combat sorties in F4U Corsairs
After assignment at NORAD in Colorado Springs
He retired a Commander in July 1962 with 22 years of service
Clem passed away at the NRH in Gulfport, Miss. he was 87

  Clement Craig
 

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Clement Melvin (Clem) Craig. born on 4 December 1914 in Indianapolis, Indiana, graduated from Butler University School of Journalism, in 1916. Enlisting in the U.S. Navy on June 1940, he graduated from flight school at Pensacola, Florida on 20 May 1941. Initially assigned as a flight instructor at Pensacola and Corpus Christi. Texas, in September 1942 he was assigned to the Hellcat- equipped VF-22 which boarded the USS Independence (CVL-22) in April 1943 for its shakedown cruise. Leaving for the Pacific in mid-July 1943, VF-22 was transferred to the USS Belleau Wood.

On 5 October 1943 Craig scored his first victory over a Dave during a raid on Wake Island. VF-22 later rejoined the Independence in time to take part in the raids on Rabaul and Craig downed a Val on 11 November. Eight days later he shared a Betty with three other pilots and then returned to the States. Craig rejoined VF-22 on the USS Cowpens in July 1944 for his second combat tour: On 16 October, during the second Battle of the Philippine Sea, VF-22 was scrambled to intercept incoming torpedo bombers that attacked two crippled cruisers the USS Cowpens was escorting. Craig claimed four Jill torpedo bombers to become an ace and was awarded a Silver Star medal. On 26 October Craig scored 2 direct rocket hits on a battleship and 4 direct hits on a heavy cruiser which was subsequently sunk by VT-22 torpedo bombers. On 19 November, he shared a Dina.

In December Craig was promoted to skipper of VF-22. In January 1945, the Cowpens launched air strikes against Formosa and on 21 January Craig scrambled a four-plane division, intercepting 18 Japanese aircraft. Leading the four, he downed five Tojos before he ran out of ammunition. Other members of his squadron downed 9 or 12 more. This action earned him a second Navy Cross.

In the interim between WWII and the Korean War Clem became Air Operations Officer at NAS Moffett Field, California. In Korea aboard the USS Princeton he commanded VF-193 completing 30 combat sorties in F4U Corsairs. After the war Craig remained in the Navy, serving in several command and staff positions. After assignment at NORAD in Colorado Springs, Clem retired a Commander in July 1962 with 22 years of service. He raised quarter horses and spent five years working for Lockheed Aviation. He had a wife, Margaret and twin sons Michael and Gerald. Clem passed away at the age of 87 in the Naval Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Tally Record: 11 3/4 confirmed and one probable.

Decorations: Navy Cross (with gold service star), Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (with six service stars), Air Medal (with 22 service stars), Presidential Unit Citation (with bronze star), Navy Unit Commendation (with bronze star), American Defense Medal (with Fleet Clasp), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Med-al, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp), National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal (with three bronze stars), U.N. Service Medal, China Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and Philippine Liberation Ribbon (with two bronze service stars).

L/C Clem Craig in the cockpit of his F4U Corsair

  Craig in the cockpit of an F4U Corsair

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Lt. Commander Craig

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Victories Include :

5 Oct 1943
11 Nov 1943
18 Nov 1943
21 Sep 1944
16 Oct 1944
26 Oct 1944
19 Nov 1944
21 Jan 1945
one Nakajima E8N "Dave"
one Aichi D3A "Val"
1/4 Mitsubishi G4M "Betty"
one Mitsubishi A6M "Zero"
  4  Nakajima B6N "Jill"s
Rocket hits on a Battleship &
1/2 Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dina"
  5  Nakajima Ki-44 "Tojo"s
destroyed
destroyed
destroyed
probable [1]
destroyed [2]
a Cruiser [3]
destroyed
destroyed [4]

11.75 / 1 / 0

[1] “Intercepted 2 Zekes. Probably got one.”
[2] Awarded Silver Star for this action
[3] Awarded Navy Cross for this action
[4] Awarded Navy Cross for this action

[2] Silver Star Citation - The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Clement Melvin Craig (NSN: 0-86053), United States Naval Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane of Fighting Squadron TWENTY-TWO, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine Sea area, on 16 October 1944. Leading his division on a combat air patrol, Lieutenant Commander Craig skillfully maneuvered his plane to destroy four enemy torpedo planes, thereby defending the Task Force against enemy torpedo attacks. His cool courage under fire, airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[2] Navy Cross Citation - The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander [then Lieutenant] Clement Melvin Craig (NSN: 0-86053), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Division Leader in Fighting Squadron TWENTY-TWO, in action against enemy Japanese forces off Panay Island, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippine Islands, on 26 October 1944. Leading a four-plane division against heavy units of the Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Craig fought his way through the intense enemy defensive fire to score two direct rocket hits on a Japanese battleship. Despite the viciousness of the enemy battleship fire, he pressed home his attack on a nearby Japanese cruiser, scoring four damaging hits. His courage, airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

[3] Navy Cross Citation - 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 [then Lieutenant] Clement Melvin Craig (NSN: 0-86053), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Acting Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron TWENTY-TWO, during action against enemy Japanese forces in the vicinity of Formosa, on 21 January 1945. In the face of overwhelming odds, Lieutenant Commander Craig led his division against a numerically superior flight of enemy planes and during this single flight succeeded in personally shooting down five hostile aircraft while his splendidly directed division accounted for nine and possibly twelve more. By dispersing and destroying the enemy flight, he aided materially in the success of our Task Forces in the area. His airmanship, courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Commander Craig and the United States Naval Service.

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Thanks go out to

Son Jerry for the photos & infos !

On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private.

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