Mission History
One of eight Wildcats that took off from Henderson Field to escort twelve SBDs attacking Japanese cargo ships bound for Vila Harbor, including Toa Maru 2. The target was 250 miles away, meaning fuel would permit only 15 minutes over the target for Wildcats.

Over the ships, Japanese seaplanes were providing escort. De Blanc claimed two F1M2 Pete floatplanes, then A6M Zeros intercepted. He claimed three Zeros. Low on fuel and severely damaged, his plane was set on fire forcing him to bail out.

Escape & Rescue
In the ensuing twelve days, wounded DeBlanc swam for six hours to a Japanese-held island and lived for three days on coconuts before being captured by a tribe of natives who traded him for a sack of rice to another tribe, who turned him over to a British Anglican missionary who notified an Allied coastwatcher, that arranged his rescue.

Afterwards, Lt. De Blanc earned the Medal of Honor for this mission.

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Wildcat

Medal of Honor