Kenneth Campion

Second Lieutenant Kenneth O. Campion was an aviator in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Midway as a member of VMSB-241.

Early life and early military service
Campion's official residence was listed as Fountain City, Wisconsin.

Campion was one of nine new pilots who joined Marine Aircraft Group 22 in late May 1942, within a few days prior to the enemy attack. They arrived on Midway Atoll on May 27 and were assigned to VMSB-241 which was commanded by Major Lofton Henderson. Campion had never flown an SB2U Vindicator, so he began to immediately get checked in the new airframe. Prior to the battle he was able to fly two or three flights with practice bombs.

Battle of Midway
On June 4, 1942 Japanese aircraft were spotted by a patrolling PBY Catalina alerting Marines on Midway Atoll of the incoming strike. Campion was part of a 12 plane flight of SB2U-3 Vindicators led by Major Benjamin Norris sent to interdict the Japanese Task Force. Their target was the Japanese battleship Haruna. During this engagement their flight was engaged by Japanese A6M Zeroes on combat air patrol. Campion, flying with Private Anthony J. Madey, failed to return to Midway and the cause of their disappearance is unknown.

Navy Cross citation
The President of the United States Takes Pleasure in Presenting The Navy Cross (Posthumously) To

Kenneth Campion Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps Reserve For Services as Set Forth in the Following Citation: For extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VMSB-241), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. During the initial attack upon an enemy aircraft carrier, Second Lieutenant Campion, in the face of withering fire from Japanese fighter guns and anti-aircraft batteries, dived his plane to a perilously low altitude before releasing his bomb. Since he failed to return to his base and is missing in action, there can be no doubt, under conditions attendant to the Battle of Midway, that he gave up his life in the defense of his country. His cool courage and conscientious devotion to duty is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. For the President /S/ William Franklin Knox Secretary of the Navy