Pilot John Leppla, right, was a WWII Navy ace, credited with shooting down five Japanese aircraft in aerial combat before he was shot down and declared Missing in Action. (U.S. Navy/National ...

When one thinks of U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operations in the months leading up to the Battle of Midway, one name that readily comes to mind is Lt. Edward “Butch” O’Hare, the F4F-3 Wildcat ...