Richard S. Bull
| Richard Salisbury Bull, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 January 1913 Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Died |
8 May 1942 Coral Sea |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1936–42 |
| Rank | Ensign |
| Battles/wars | Battle of the Coral Sea |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Richard Salisbury Bull, Jr. was born in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, on 6 January 1913. Graduating from the United States Naval Academy, he was commissioned ensign on 4 June 1936. Trained as a naval aviator in 1938–39 at NAS Pensacola, Fla., he served in the fleet in 1941. He became a naval observer assigned to the American Embassy in London, England.
Reporting for duty as a fighter pilot on board Lexington (CV-2) on 27 December 1941, he participated in aircraft carrier operations against the Japanese in February and March 1942. In the Battle of the Coral Sea 7 to 8 May, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, before failing to return from his last mission.
Namesake
In 1943, the destroyer escort USS Richard S. Bull (DE-402) was named in his honor.
See also
Richard S. Bull should not be confused with Richard Bull (1914–1942), also a naval aviator.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.