Raymond Austin Moore

Lieutenant, United States Navy

Navy Cross

Raymond married June Anita Haugen 15 Sept 1939 in Pensacola, Escambia, FL. Raymond and June had one child, Donald Haugen Moore b. August 1940 in San Diego County, CA. After Raymond's death at Midway, June married Robert Huffman about 1950. They had a son, Mark. On 22 Dec 1962 June married Bjarne Thor Bjornstad in Seattle, WA. They were married for almost 40 years. She died 11 Feb 2005 in Washington state.

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Moore enlisted in the US Navy as an Apprentice Seaman (AS) abt 1931. After he completed recruit training he worked his way from the fleet into Annapolis. He entered the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD on 6 July 1933 with an at large selection. With his class Moore graduated with a commission as an Ensign, USN, on 3 Jun 1937. His first sea duty assignment began on 30 Jun 1937 and was onboard the battleship USS Idaho (BB-42) stationed in the Pacific. He was detached from that tour in early Jun 1939. He began his aviation training in Pensacola on 27 Jun 1939. He was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (Ltjg) on 3 Jun 1940 and on 20 June 1940 he was designated naval aviator #6502. He was detached from NAS Pensacola and reported for additional training to the Fleet Air Detachment (FAD) in San Diego, CA for duty involving flying on 8 Aug 1940. He completed training with the FAD, Moore was probably assigned to squadron duty. It is unknown what squadron he was assigned to but it was almost certainly a squadron located in San Diego.

In May of 1941, Moore's wife, June, with their 8 month old son, Donald, boarded the S.S. Matsonia in Los Angeles enroute Honolulu. They arrived in Honolulu on 28 May 1941. Their arrival was also reported in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin of the same date. Later that summer, Ltjg Raymond A. Moore, his wife June and their son Donald H. Moore and a large number of other officers, enlisted personnel and family members embarked on the USS Wharton (AP-7) and sailed from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco on 15 Aug 1941. According to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin of 16 Aug 1941, Mrs Raymond A Moore, wife of Ensign (sic) Moore, and their young son, Donald, sailed for mainland visits. No mention that Ltjg Moore was also returning. He may have been returning to the mainland to make his way to a new assignment with Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) in Norfolk, VA. However, there is no firm evidence of that as yet. The exact date of his reporting to VT-8 is unknown.

Moore whose nose earned him the nickname of "Moose," was gunnery and engineering officer with VT-8, jobs that should have been assigned to two men had there been two available to do them. Moose was a natural teacher so he was assigned by the CO to give frequent lectures to the men. He was promoted on 2 Jan 1942 to the rank of Lieutenant.

After four months of shake-down training off the US East Coast and the Caribbean, USS Hornet (CV-8) with her embarked squadrons, steamed on 04 Mar 1942 for San Diego via the Panama Canal. San Diego was to be her new home port. Shortly after arriving in San Diego, Hornet was underway again and arrived at NAS Alameda on 20 March 1942 where she loaded 16 B-25s on to her flight deck. On 18 April 1942, the Hornet launched those same B-25s under the command of Ltcol. Jimmie Doolittle in the first attack by American forces against the Japanese homeland during WWII. After the attack, Hornet returned to Hawaii to refuel/rearm and then with the carrier Enterprise (CV-6) were ordered to the South Pacific to assist the carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) in the battle of the Coral Sea. Unfortunately, Hornet and Enterprise arrived too late to be a factor in the battle. Assigned to other short-term duties, Hornet arrived back in Pearl Harbor on 26 May. On 28 May 1942 Hornet and Enterprise got underway and headed toward Midway and "Point Luck." The Yorktown followed some hours later from Pearl Harbor.

Early on the morning of 4 Jun 1942, the Hornet Air Group, consisting of 59 aircraft, took off from her flight deck to attack the Japanese Striking Force. Of the 59 aircraft sent to attack the Japanese carriers, only Torpedo Squadron Eight's 15 Devastator torpedo planes found their targets. Attacking without protecting fighter cover VT-8 was overwhelmed by superior numbers of Japanese fighter aircraft and anti aircraft fire, but they continued their attack profiles until one by one they were shot down. Lt Raymond Moore and his gunner/radioman, ARM1 Tom H. Pettry did not return. Their remains were unrecoverable. According to the Hornet's Midway battle after action report dated 13 Jun 1942 they were listed as "missing in action." In that report Rear Admiral (Select) Mitscher, Hornet CO, nominated each member of Torpedo Eight who flew into battle on 4 Jun 1942 for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Lt Moore was presumed dead on 05 Jun 1943. Lt Raymond A Moore was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal with one bronze battle star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

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Navy Cross Citation:

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Raymond Austin Moore, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), embarked from the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Lieutenant Moore resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attack against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

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Torpedo Squadron Eight Presidential Unit Citation:

For extremely heroic and courageous performance in combat during the Air Battle of Midway, June 4, 1942. Flying low without fighter support, Torpedo Squadron EIGHT began the perilous mission, Intercept and attack! First to sight the enemy, the squadron attacked with full striking power against crushing enemy opposition, scoring torpedo his on Japanese forces. Realizing to a man that insufficient fuel would prevent a return to the carrier, the pilots held doggedly to the target, dropping torpedoes at point-blank range in the face of blasting antiaircraft fire that sent the planes one by one, hurtling aflame in the sea. The loss of 29 lives, typifying valor, loyalty, and determination, was the price paid for Torpedo Squadron EIGHTs vital contribution to the eventual success of our forces in this epic battle of the air.

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His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of Raymond Austin Moore, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. HORNET, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed)*. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States of America

(*Presumed dead on 5 Jun 1943. Actual date gone missing was 4 Jun 1942.)

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Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) note:

[None of the Navy/Marine flight crews in the Battle of Midway were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST 1650.1H of Aug 22, 2006, Chapter 2, Section 3, p2-34). It reads in part, “The CR will not be awarded to personnel for Aerial Combat, . . . “]

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Notes:

According to the 1940 Warrington, Escambia, FL federal census, R.A. Moore, a naval officer was assigned to the naval air station. He was married. He was in Annapolis, MD in 1935. Raymond graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Class of 1937.

Compiler's note: I found his wife in the 1940 Warrington, FL federal census on a different image from RA Moore. For some reason the enumerator split the entries and did a continuation to another page (image 67) from the one RA Moore was on (Image 15). The connection was made by the "number of household in order of visitation" column. June was on image 67. That entry was continued from visit 183. I went backwards through the pages until I found another image that had visit 183. That was on image 15 - RA Moore, Naval Officer.

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[Bio Compiled by GML470]