John James Powers (July 3, 1912 – May 8, 1942) was a United States Navy officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II. He was born in New York City on July 3, 1912, and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1935.
Early life
John James Powers was born on July 3, 1912, in New York City. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy from New York and graduated an Ensign in 1935.
Military career
For sea duty, he reported to and transferred two years later to . In June 1938, Powers was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Remaining at sea, he served on board . After completion of flight training at Naval Air Station, Pensacola in January 1941, he was designated a Naval Aviator.
He was assigned January 21, 1941, to Bombing Squadron 5 (flying the SBD Dauntless), attached to the . He was assigned as Squadron Gunnery Officer.
World War II
As the fleet moved to prevent further Japanese expansion in the Solomons, Powers took part in the May 4, 1942, raid on Tulagi, flying without fighter cover to score two hits on Japanese ships. As the main Battle of the Coral Sea developed on May 7, 1942, Powers and his companions discovered carrier Shōhō and, bombing at extremely low altitudes, sank her in 10 minutes. The next morning, May 8, while the carrier battle continued, he joined the attack on the carrier Shokaku, scoring an important bomb hit. Powers’ low-bombing run, brought him into heavy antiaircraft fire, and his plane plunged into the sea. Powers was declared dead and, for his actions in this series of attacks, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor citation
According to the citation: "... completely disregarding the safety altitude and without fear or concern for his own safety, he courageously pressed home his attack, almost to the very deck of an enemy carrier and did not release his bomb until he was sure of a direct hit."
He sacrificed his life when he deliberately dove his plane from 18,000 feet to an extremely low altitude before release in order to insure a direct hit on the Japanese aircraft carrier, making good his words to his pilots prior to takeoff: "Remember—the folks back home are counting on us. I am going to get a direct hit if I have to lay it on the flight deck." This, according to "20 Year Rendezvous: 1935 Lucky Bag", a 20th graduation anniversary book published by the Naval Academy for members of that class.
Speaking at length about Lt. Powers in a September 1942 radio address, President Franklin Roosevelt remarked, "He led [his squadron] down to the target from an altitude of 18,000 feet, through a wall of bursting anti-aircraft shells and swarms of enemy planes. He dived almost to the very deck of the enemy carrier, and did not release his bomb until he was sure of a direct hit. He was last seen attempting recovery from his dive at the extremely low altitude of two hundred feet, amid a terrific barrage of shell and bomb fragments, smoke, flame and debris from the stricken vessel. His own plane was destroyed by the explosion of his own bomb. But he had made good his promise to 'lay it on the flight deck.'"
Legacy
In a September 1943 radio address to the nation, Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "During the first two days [of the Battle of the Coral Sea], Lieutenant Powers, flying a divebomber in the face of blasting enemy anti-aircraft fire, demolished one large enemy gunboat, put another gunboat out of commission, severely damaged an aircraft tender and a twenty thousand ton transport, and scored a direct hit on an aircraft carrier which burst into flames and sank soon after."