| Original caption: “United States Navy pilots pleased over their victories during the Marshall Islands attack, grin across the tail of a Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat on board the USS Lexington (CV-16), after shooting down seventeen out of twenty Japanese planes heading for Tarawa, in November 1943.” Left to right, pilots of VF-16 celebrate air victories over the Gilbert Islands: Ensign William J. Seyfferle (February 22, 1920 – declared dead June 22, 1945) Cincinnati, Ohio; killed in a landing accident on Lexington on June 22, 1944. His Grumman F6F Hellcat still had a full fuel tank, and when he turned too tightly to land, his engine quit, and he crashed, igniting his fuel. His aircraft was never found. Lieutenant Junior Grade Anthony R. Fizalkowski (November 27, 1920 – December 5, 2014), Los Angeles, California; changed his name, and the name of his family, to Stoner in 1951. As a result, the 11th Naval District could not find him to award his Gold Star for his 4th Air Medal. Lieutenant Junior Grade Alfred L. Frendberg (February 28, 1919 – February 13, 2002), Hillsboro, North Dakota; eventually became an ace with 6 kills. Awarded the Silver Star. Retired after the war. Lieutenant Commander Paul D. Buie (April 6, 1909 – April 16, 1972), Squadron Commander, Nashville, Georgia. Buie earned the Navy Cross for commanding Fighting Squadron 16 (VF-16) from June 11-25, 1944, when it shot down 44 Japanese aircraft without loss of pilots. Buie flew 450 miles to locate the Japanese task force. Ensign John W. Bartol (March 21, 1921 – January 9, 2003), Port Washington, Wisconsin; achieved 5 kills in World War II, awarded the Legion of Merit in Vietnam. Retired from the United States Navy in 1973. Lieutenant Junior Grade Dean D. Whitmore (April 14, 1918 – April 21, 1991), Alton, Kansas; struggled with a Navy career or farming postwar, while serving with VF-16, and looked to his wife to decide before the Battle of the Philippine Sea. He returned to Kansas in August 1944. Lieutenant Junior Grade Francis M. Fleming (October 4, 1916 – November 13, 1999), Portland, Oregon; an ace during the war with 7 1/2 kills. Won the Silver Star for the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Lieutenant Junior Grade Eugene R. Hanks (December 11, 1918 – March 13, 2014), Gibbs, Idaho, “Hero of the Day,”; shot down 5 planes over Mille in a single raid during the Marshalls campaign. Joined the Blue Angels in 1950. Commanding officer of the United States Navy’s 1st jet aircraft squadron after the war. Awarded the Navy Cross. Retired in 1969. Ensign Edward J. Rucinski (September 27, 1923 – May 27, 2007), Chicago, Illinois; served in World War II and Korea. Lieutenant Junior Grade William C. B. Birkholm (August 1919 – Possibly still living as of March 2024?), San Marino, California; shot down a Japanese fighter at Kwajalein on December 4, 1943. Credited with 2 probable Japanese bombers. Engine ran out of oil and ditched during the Battle of the Philippine Sea and was adrift for 14 hours before rescue. Awarded 3 air medals and the Distiguished Flying Cross. Lieutenant Junior Grade Sven Rolfsen, Jr. (January 1, 1921 – November 8, 2010) Ridgewood, New Jersey. Graduated from New York University in 1947, and flew for decades after the war with a private pilots’ association. Photo by Edward Steichen. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2270.jpg |
| Image Size | 744.03 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2641 x 1966 |
| Photographer | Edward Steichen |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 22, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Marshalls |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-470985 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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