JOHN SMITH "JIMMY" THACH

Deceased

Rate/Rank
ADM

Service Branch

USN 6/1927 - 5/1967

Speciality

NAVAL AVIATOR

Born
04/19/1905
PINE BLUFF, AR

HE WAS CREDITED WITH DEVELOPING THE "THACH WEAVE", A FIGHTER COMBAT TECHNIQUE.

SIGNIFICANT DUTY STATIONS

DEPUTY CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES EUROPE

COMMANDER, ASW DEVELOPMENT UNIT

CO, USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT CVA-42

CO, USS SICILY CVE-118

CO, FIGHTER SQUADRON VF-3

SIGNIFICANT AWARDS

NAVY CROSS (2)

NAVY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (2)

SILVER STAR

LEGION OF MERIT W/COMBAT 'V' (2)

BRONZE STAR W/COMBAT 'V'

NAVY & MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL W / V(3)

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (3)

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION

AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL

ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL

WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL

NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL

REPUBLIC OF KOREA PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION

PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON

UNITED NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL