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Special Event Station 2012
June 2, 2012 13:00Z to 22:00Z
Link to Frequencies
SEMARC will hold a Special Event at Fleming Field in South Saint Paul,
MN. This will mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Midway
where Capt Fleming gave his life for his country.
Fleming Field is named for Richard Fleming, a USMC pilot during World War II. He
was, posthumously, presented the congressional medal of honor for his actions
during battle on June 5, 1942. Below is an account of his life and that battle.
For 6 months following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Fleming's squadrons patrolled
the air near the Midway, never making enemy contact. In his letters, Fleming
fretted about spending the war in the backwaters.
This would soon change. On June 4, 1942 Fleming's squadrons were ordered to
attack the Japanese Fleet. Scores of American aircraft never returned. Fleming's
commanding officer was killed and Fleming's aircraft, a Vought SB2U Vindicator,
limped back with 171 holes in it after he failed to drop a bomb on the aircraft
carrier Akaqi. Fleming received two slight wounds.
The next day prompted the squadron commander , Captain Fleming, and the remnants
of his squadrons to return to the battle. Fleming directed his aircraft in a
screaming dive at the Japanese cruiser Mikuma. The enemy ship was struck with
the bomb, then by Fleming's plane. A Japanese officer later wrote that it was a
suicide bombing.
There was a tremendous blast as the gasoline from Fleming's plane flowed down
into the Mikuma's engine room where the fumes ignited and exploded, killing the
entire engine room crew. The Mikuma, now gutted and helpless, laid wallowing in
the water. The following day U.S. bombers found the helpless cruisers and the
Mikuma, which later rolled over and sank.
Captain Richard Eugen Fleming, USMC was the only man to be honored with the
Congressional Medal of Honor during this crucial battle.
 
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