World War II
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Fallen
Circumstances:
Leonard Check became a World War II ACE credited with shooting down TWELVE enemy aircraft. He was lost in January 1945, after a mid-air collision with his wingman over Luzon, Philippine Islands.
Biography:
Leonard Joseph Check
Date of birth: 4-Mar-11
Date of death: Killed in Action
Place of Birth: Berwick, North Dakota
Home of record: Williston, North Dakota
Lt. Commander Check was a naval aviator who received the Navy Air Medal from the late President Roosevelt for dive bomber action in the Marshall Islands. He was reported Missing in Action in January, 1945, following a raid on Helto airfield, Formosa, and presumed dead a year later. Early in the war, Commander Check piloted a dive bomber with a squadron attached to the Carrier USS Enterprise, which participated in nearly every major carrier engagement at that time. On his second tour of duty, he was flight commander of Squadron 7. Besides the Air Medal, to which a Gold Star was added later, he held the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with Gold Star, Presidential Unit Citation and Purple Heart. Commander Check entered the Naval Reserve in July, 1939, and was transferred to the regular Navy in February.
Navy Cross
Awarded posthumously for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Leonard Joseph Check (NSN: 0-77727), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron SEVEN (VF-7), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine Islands Area on 29 October 1944. Intercepting an enemy formation of seven bombers and eight fighters while leading his divisions on combat air patrol over an Allied Task Group, Lieutenant Commander Check, accompanied by his wingman, skillfully maneuvered his plane for a direct overhead run and, selecting one of the dive bombers as a target, poured a deadly stream of fire into the hostile craft, shooting it down in flames. Continuing alone in pursuit of the enemy bombers as his flight engaged the fighters, he spotted two additional bombers approaching the Task Group and, plunging to the attack, trailed one of the planes with blazing guns until it crashed into the sea. Pulling out of this successful run to find himself only 500 feet above the water and working desperately to clear his jammed guns as he proceeded up through a heavy cloud formation, he sighted another bomber threatening the friendly vessels and, immediately closing range and bringing his guns to bear, blasted the hostile craft out of the sky. Again working his guns and gaining altitude as he ordered his division to join-up, he observed still another bomber making a run on the Task Group and delivered a short blast of fire into the hostile bomber's engine, causing the plane to nose over, burst into flames and hit the water. By his superb airmanship, daring combat tactics and indomitable fighting spirit, maintained throughout eight minutes of furious action, Lieutenant Commander Check prevented the enemy formation of fifteen planes from making a run on the Task Group and contributed materially to the success of our sustained drive against the Japanese in the Pacific War Theater. His valiant devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet: Serial 0689 (March 30, 1946)
Action Date: 29-Oct-44
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Fighting Squadron 7 (VF-7)
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19)
Silver Star
Awarded posthumously for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Leonard Joseph Check (NSN: 0-77727), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as leader of a carrier-based fighter escort formation of Fighting Squadron SEVEN (VF-7), embarked in U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in action against remnants of the Japanese Fleet in the Philippine Islands Area on 26 October 1944. By leading three determined strafing runs on an enemy cruiser and destroyer he caused a full concentration of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire to be directed at his fighters thus allowing our torpedo planes to make their torpedo runs, sinking the enemy cruiser, and to retire undamaged. By his repeated strafing the enemy destroyer was left without fire power. His courage and disregard for his own safety were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet: Serial 0689 (March 30, 1946)
Action Date: October 26, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Fighting Squadron 7 (VF-7)
Division: U.S.S. Hancock (CV-19)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Leonard Joseph Check (NSN: 0-77727), United States Navy, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in operations against the enemy in the Philippine Islands on 19 November 1944. As pilot of a carrier-based fighter plane and leader of a flight of fighters on a sweep and escort mission he shot down two enemy aircraft and damaged a third enemy aircraft. He then led his flight on two runs over an enemy airfield, knocking out anti-aircraft emplacements, destroying two aircraft on the ground and strafing and damaging at least eight additional grounded aircraft. His courage and skill were inspiring and were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Action Date: November 19, 1944
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Company: Fighting Squadron 7