Richard S. Bull

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Richard Salisbury Bull, Jr.
6 January 19138 May 1942
Place of birth Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania
Place of death 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.

[edit] Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer escort USS Richard S. Bull (DE-402) was named in his honor.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.