Robert Murray
Navy Hellcat Ace
By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette
Robert Murray
By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette
Robert Murray was born on June 12, 1922 in
Muncie, Indiana. Murray joined the Navy and entered flight training receiving
his wings and a commission at Corpus Christi, Texas. After receiving fighter
training Murray was assigned to VF-29 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The aircraft
the squadron received was the new Grumman, F6F Hellcat.
The Fighting 29th Squadron was
assigned to the USS Cabot which was a light carrier. During carrier operations
off Formosa on October 12, 1944, while flying combat air patrol, Murray’s
flight was directed by the Cabot’s air officer to intercept inbound hostiles.
The incoming enemy aircraft was Betty bombers. The Hellcat’s tore into the
Japanese formation. Murray shot down one of the bombers for his first aerial
victory and shared the downing of another bomber with a fellow pilot.
On October 16th, the Cabot was
escorting two cruisers that had been damaged by Japanese attacks. The Japanese
were aware that they damaged two American warships and were looking for the
injured warships to sink them. Murray was flying an eight-plane CAP over the
small American force. Approximately 75 Japanese aircraft made up of fighters and
bombers attacked the group. Fighting 29 attacked the Japanese formations head
on.
Murray shot down a “Francis” with his
first pass through the enemy’s formation. After Murray shot down the
“Francis” he found Zero’s on his tail. He dove to throw off his pursuers.
Murray recovered from his evasive tactics to find himself behind 9 Jill torpedo
bombers flying low over the water. Alarmed by the Hellcat swooping down onto
their formation five of the Japanese bombers dropped their torpedo’s to drop
weight and try to out fly the invading Hellcat. Murray fired on one of the
“Jill’s” sending it down.
Murray fired on another of the torpedo
bombers as it skimmed fifty feet over the ocean. The eight fifty-caliber machine
guns from Murray’s fighter hit the escaping bomber in the tail. The bullets
worked their way up the fuselage of the “Jill” to the position of the rear
gunner. The Japanese rear gunner was firing back at Murray until his body was
raked with fifty’s.
The “Jill” began smoking and was loosing altitude slowly. With the rear gunner dead, Murray pulled up along side the smoldering green bomber. Looking over into the cockpit of the Japanese aircraft he saw the pilot unhook in seat straps. The Japanese then slid back his canopy and while bracing himself he stood in his seat getting ready to bail out.
Murray pulled further along side the Japanese until their wingtips were just a few yards apart. The Japanese pilot was ready to bail out when he looked over and saw Murray only yards away from him. In contempt the Japanese pilot shook his fist at Murray. The burning bomber was dropping faster now only 20 feet from the water going over 100mph. As the Japanese felt resolute in showing his grievance his aircraft dipped to one side and the tip of the bombers wing hit the water. Murray watched as the Japanese pilot was thrown out of his cockpit as the “Jill” cart wheeled until it exploded into a fountain of sea foam. Murray was able to claim a Zero in the ongoing melee in the air. Murray was credited with 4 of the 26 victories claimed by the 8 Hellcat fighters.
On November 25, 1944 Murray was chasing a
fast Japanese fighter, the “Tojo”. He followed the fighter over Milan Bay, Philippines
for fifty miles. Murray tried to get the fighter from flying all
out and turn or maneuver to slow him down so Murray could get closer. Murray
pulled up a little a shot over the Tojo. The Japanese fighter flew through the
well-placed rain of bullets and the fighter started smoking. Murray thought that
he would try it again since the fighter was still almost out of range. Murray
pulled up again and released another hail of bullets. At that same instant after
firing the canopy opened and the Japanese pilot stood to bail out only to be cut
down by the oncoming bullets that Murray had just released. The Japanese pilot
slumped over the side of his quickly falling fighter. Murray watched the Tojo
crash into a two- story water front house on the Bay. Murray felt bad about
killing the pilot. He would not have fired that last burst if he had known the
pilot was about to jump out. Before this battle ended Murray damaged a Zero.
On February 17, 1945 during the first
large carrier raid on Tokyo Murray shot down a “Tony” and a “Tojo”. On
April 3, 1945 over Okinawa he downed two Zero’s and damaged another.
Murray earned the Silver Star, 3
Distinguished Flying Crosses and 5 Air Medals. His aerial victories were 10.3
downed, 6 probable in the air, and strafed 7 enemy aircraft on the ground.
All research, writings and artwork are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette.
No one is permitted to republish any part of this story with out my personal permission.
Please call or e-mail me for any use of this story.
I do not mind sharing, just call or e-mail and ask for permission.
Sir. Ernie Hamilton Boyette
904-282-4198
e-mail: aviationartstore@peoplepc.com
2-9-07