William W. Creamer

William W. Creamer (1916–1942) was a United States Navy officer who received the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions in combat during World War II.

Naval career

William Wilson Creamer was born in York County, Pennsylvania, on December 1, 1916. Enlisting in the United States Naval Reserve in December 1939, he completed flight training, and was commissioned as an ensign in December 1940.

As a Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber pilot in Torpedo Squadron 8 operating off the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) at the Battle of Midway, Creamer gallantly gave his life on June 4, 1942 in heroically pressing home an attack against a Japanese aircraft carrier in the face of overwhelming opposition.

For his extraordinary heroism at Midway, Creamer was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

Commemoration

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Creamer (DE-308), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Ensign Creamer.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive USS Creamer (DE 308)