Roberta Aguirre
O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named after World War II fighter pilot and Navy Lt. Edward Butch O'Hare, who was the first Navy Medal of Honor recipient. On the night of November 26, 1943, Butch led one of the first-ever nighttime fighter missions launched from an aircraft carrier. Unfortunately, his plane was shot down and crashed into the ocean. In recognition of his bravery, Chicago's Orchard Field Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport on September 19, 1949, six years after his death.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare |
| Father's Name | Edward Joseph O'Hare, also known as "Easy Eddie" O'Hare |
| Military Academy | Western Military Academy, Annapolis |
| Military Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Military Service | United States Navy |
| Battleship | USS Enterprise, USS Lexington |
| Awards | Navy Cross, Medal of Honor |
| Year of Death | 1943 |
| Airport Named After | 1949 |
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What You'll Learn
Edward 'Butch' O'Hare's background
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is named after Commander Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II fighter pilot and the first Navy Medal of Honor recipient.
Butch O'Hare was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1914. He graduated from the Western Military Academy in 1932 and went on to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, the following year. He was commissioned as an ensign in 1937 and served two years on the battleship USS New Mexico before starting flight training in 1939.
Butch's father, "Easy Eddie" O'Hare, was a lawyer with ties to Al Capone. In 1930, Easy Eddie turned government informant and helped convict Capone of tax evasion. He was killed in 1939, likely by Capone's gunmen. Some speculate that Easy Eddie's cooperation with the government was related to Butch's acceptance to the Naval Academy.
On February 20, 1942, Butch O'Hare became the Navy's first fighter ace of World War II when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington. Despite having limited ammunition, he was credited with shooting down five enemy bombers and severely damaging a sixth. For his bravery and skill, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Butch O'Hare spent over a year as a poster boy for the war effort, helping to inspire enlistments and sell war bonds. However, he eventually requested to return to active duty. On November 26, 1943, he led the U.S. Navy's first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. During this mission, his plane was shot down, and he was killed.
In recognition of his heroism and sacrifice, Chicago's Orchard Depot Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport on September 19, 1949. A Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, similar to the one flown by Butch O'Hare during his Medal of Honor action, is on display in Terminal 2 of the airport.
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O'Hare's heroic acts
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is named after Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare, a celebrated war hero and the first Navy Medal of Honor recipient. Butch O'Hare was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Chicago. His father, Edward Joseph O'Hare, also known as "Easy Eddie" O'Hare, was a lawyer with ties to Al Capone. In 1930, Easy Eddie turned government informant, helping to convict Capone of tax evasion. Two months before Capone was released from Alcatraz, Easy Eddie was killed, most likely by Capone's gunmen.
Butch O'Hare graduated from the Western Military Academy in 1932 and subsequently attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He began flight training in 1939 and became a skilled pilot. During World War II, O'Hare distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, leading daring missions against Japanese forces. On November 26, 1943, he volunteered to lead a three-plane group in the first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. He successfully assisted in shooting down two Japanese aircraft and dispersing the rest. For his extraordinary heroism and fearless leadership, O'Hare was awarded the Navy Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor.
In addition to his heroic military exploits, O'Hare became a poster boy for the war effort, inspiring enlistments and selling war bonds by sharing his harrowing combat experiences. Despite his newfound fame, O'Hare requested to return to active duty. Tragically, on the night of November 26, 1943, O'Hare's plane was shot down by a Japanese bomber during a nighttime mission. Neither his body nor his aircraft were ever recovered.
In recognition of his exceptional bravery and sacrifice, Chicago's Orchard Depot Airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport on September 19, 1949, six years after his death. The airport features a display of a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat, similar to the aircraft flown by O'Hare during his Medal of Honor action. The airport's IATA code, ORD, remains a vestige of its original name, Orchard Field Airport.
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O'Hare Airport's previous name
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago was previously known as Orchard Field Airport or Orchard Depot Airport. On September 19, 1949, the airport was renamed O'Hare International Airport in honour of the bravery of Lieutenant Commander Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II fighter pilot and the first Navy Medal of Honor recipient.
Butch O'Hare was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Chicago. He joined the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1933 and was commissioned as an ensign in 1937. O'Hare started flight training in 1939 and became a skilled aviator, known for his obsession with flight. He was deployed over Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands and took part in the first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier on November 26, 1943. During this mission, O'Hare's plane was shot down by a Japanese bomber, and neither he nor his aircraft were ever found.
Before his heroic final mission, O'Hare had gained fame for his actions on February 20, 1942, when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine medium bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Despite having limited ammunition, he was credited with shooting down five enemy bombers. For his extraordinary heroism and outstanding combat skills, O'Hare was awarded the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
The previous name of the airport, Orchard Field or Orchard Depot, is still reflected in the airport's IATA code, ORD, which travellers may notice on their bags and flight information. Today, O'Hare International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, with millions of passengers passing through each year. Those passing through Terminal 2, Concourse B can learn about the airport's namesake and see a restored Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat plane similar to the one flown by Butch O'Hare during his Medal of Honor action.
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The Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is named after the World War II fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient, Navy Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare.
The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy and the British Royal Navy, where it was initially known as the Martlet. The Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the US Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific Theatre during the early part of World War II. With a top speed of 318 mph, the Wildcat was outperformed by the faster, more manoeuvrable, and longer-range Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The Wildcat was used successfully in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, as well as in the operations of Guadalcanal.
The F4F-3, first flown in 1937, was a fixed-wing design, while the later F4F-4 featured folding wings so that more aircraft could fit on board aircraft carriers. The F4F-4 was capable of a maximum speed of about 318 mph at 19,400 ft. The F4F-4's folding wing allowed an increase of about 50% in the number of Wildcats carried aboard US aircraft carriers.
The F4F Wildcat was produced by Grumman, with the first aircraft delivered in February 1940. The F4F-3S "Wildcatfish" was a variant of the Wildcat that featured twin floats, small auxiliary fins, and a ventral fin to restore stability. The F4F-3S first flew on February 28, 1943, and had a maximum speed of 241 mph.
The Wildcat was widely used by the FAA for convoy protection duties in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The F4F Wildcat was also used by the British, who called it the Martlet, and it served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theatres. The Wildcat was the only Navy fighter in production throughout World War II, with a total of 7,860 built.
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O'Hare's father, 'Easy Eddie'
O'Hare International Airport in Chicago is named after Edward Henry "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II fighter pilot and recipient of the Medal of Honor. O'Hare was known for his bravery and heroism, particularly during a nighttime fighter mission on November 26, 1943, when he led an attack on a group of Japanese torpedo bombers. Unfortunately, O'Hare's plane was shot down during this encounter, and he perished.
Now, let's focus on the story of O'Hare's father, Edward Joseph O'Hare, also known as "Easy Eddie". Easy Eddie had a notable presence in Chicago and St. Louis as a lawyer and businessman. He was born on September 5, 1893, to Irish-American parents Patrick Joseph O'Hare and Cecelia Ellen Malloy O'Hare. At the age of 19, he married Selma Anna Lauth, and the couple settled above Selma's father's grocery store in the Soulard neighborhood, where they started their family.
Easy Eddie's career took an infamous turn when he began working with the notorious gangster Al Capone. However, in a surprising twist, he later became a government informant and played a crucial role in convicting Capone of tax evasion in 1931. This courageous act of redemption may have been motivated by a desire to set a good example for his son, Butch, and potentially helped secure Butch's acceptance into the Naval Academy. Unfortunately, Easy Eddie's life ended in tragedy. In 1939, just a week before Capone was released from Alcatraz, Easy Eddie was shot and killed, presumably by Capone's gunmen in retaliation for his role in the gangster's conviction.
The story of Easy Eddie and Butch O'Hare is a tale of redemption and courage. While Easy Eddie's past associations were less than honorable, his son Butch redeemed the family name through his extraordinary bravery and heroism during World War II. The renaming of Chicago's Orchard Depot Airport as O'Hare International Airport in 1949 serves as a lasting tribute to Butch's valor and a symbol of the redemption he brought to his family.
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Frequently asked questions
O'Hare Airport was named after Edward "Butch" O'Hare, a World War II fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient.
O'Hare was a celebrated war hero, known for his bravery and heroism in combat. He led one of the first nighttime fighter missions launched from an aircraft carrier and successfully shot down six Japanese bombers.
O'Hare's aircraft was shot down during a nighttime fighter mission on November 26, 1943, and he was declared missing in action.
The airport, originally known as Orchard Field Airport, was renamed O'Hare International Airport on September 19, 1949, six years after O'Hare's death.
Yes, Terminal 2 features a display honoring O'Hare, including a restored Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat aircraft similar to the one he flew during his Medal of Honor mission.
