James Richard Watt
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Air Forces

On 23 May 1943, Lieutenant Colonel James Richard Watt was serving as Pilot of a P-40 Warhawk Fighter Plane in Headquarters, 343rd Fighter Group, Eleventh Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces.

On that day, LTC Watt’s unit was in aerial combat against Japanese forces during an air mission near Attu Island, Territory of Alaska. LTC Watt was leading a formation of fighter planes against a numerically-superior force of Japanese planes. Despite unfavorable weather conditions and the enemy's superior force, LTC Watt immediately attacked, forcing the Japanese to jettison their bombs and turn back to their own base without reaching their target. Ignoring his own safety, LTC Watt aggressively pressed the attack and was the last to break off pursuit of the enemy, but only after his plane had been hit. LTC Watt’s aggressive and intelligent leadership was, without doubt, the main factor in the success of the mission. LTC Watt’s exceptional flying ability, courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

LTC Watt’s was declared Missing in Action on 23 May 1943. He was credited with destroying one enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Command Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) James Richard Watt (ASN: 0-361717), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in Headquarters, 343d Fighter Group, ELEVENTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 23 May 1943, during an air mission near Attu Island, Territory of Alaska. As the leader of a formation of airplanes Lieutenant Colonel Watt, with fearless leadership and exceptional flying ability, led his formation against a numerically superior force of enemy planes. In spite of unfavorable weather conditions and the enemy's superior force, Lieutenant Colonel Watt immediately attacked, forcing the enemy to jettison their bombs and turn back to their own base before reaching their target. He pressed the attack with aggressiveness, daring and total disregard of his own personal safety. Lieutenant Colonel Watt was last to break off pursuit of the enemy and then only when he had been hit. The aggressive and intelligent leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Watt, with complete disregard of personal safety, was without doubt the main factor in the success of the mission and worthy of the highest traditions of the Armed Forces.

Headquarters, Alaska Defense Command, General Orders No. 117 (July 17, 1943)

Memorialization

The remains of Lieutenant Colonel James Richard Watt have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on Court 5 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56134888/james-r-watt