Edward Cragg (pilot)

Edward Cragg Jr.
Nickname(s)	Ed Porky
Born	(1919-09-08)September 8, 1919 Mount Vernon, New York, US
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army Air Forces
Years of service	1940–1943
Rank	Major
Unit	8th Fighter Group
Commands	80th Fighter Squadron
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (5) Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (7)
Disappeared	December 26, 1943(1943-12-26) (aged 24) MIA near Cape Gloucester, New Britain
Status	Declared dead in absentia January 16, 1946(1946-01-16) (aged 26)

Edward "Porky" Cragg (September 8, 1919 – missing in action December 26, 1943 – finding of death January 16, 1946) was a triple ace (15 kills) and a major in the United States Army Air Forces.

Biography

Early life

Edward Cragg was born at Mount Vernon, New York, on September 8, 1919. He spent his youth in the Greenwich / Cos Cob area of Connecticut, graduating from Greenwich High School in the class of 1936. In September 1937, he enrolled in the School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance at New York University, New York. He was working towards a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. In September 1940, he withdrew from the university to enlist.

World War II

Marker at Arlington National Cemetery

He enlisted as a flying cadet on November 30, 1940. He received his elementary training at Albany, Georgia, his basic training at Gunter Field, Alabama, from February to April 1941, and his advanced flying training at the Air Corps Advanced Flying School, Craig Field, Selma, Alabama. He was appointed a second lieutenant, Air Reserve, on July 11, 1941, and was ordered to active duty on the following day.

Upon graduation from Advanced Flying School, he remained at the school until July 1941, when he was ordered to the Panama Canal Zone for duty as Assistant Squadron Engineering Officer. He later becoming Engineering Officer of the 28th Pursuit Squadron, 37th Pursuit Group, stationed at Albrook Field in the Panama Canal Zone. While there, he was promoted to first lieutenant on September 5, 1942.

In spring 1942, he was reassigned to what was then designated the 80th Pursuit Squadron, part of the 8th Pursuit Group, Fifth Air Force, in the Southwest Pacific theater. Both the squadron and group were soon redesignated from "Pursuit" to "Fighter". Initially, the squadron flew P-39 Airacobras. Cragg named his "Porky", and soon acquired the nickname of "Porky". He was promoted to captain on December 17, 1942

On April 8, 1943, he became the commander of the 80th. Among his first actions was naming the squadron "The Headhunters" after the local New Guinean headhunter tribes, who hated the Japanese and helped to rescue downed pilots. He also commissioned crew chief Yale Saffro, a former Walt Disney Studios artist, to design the 80th's patch, the likeness of the proud Papuan Chief of New Guinea. Squadron lore credits him with arranging the equipping of the squadron with the new P-38 Lightning aircraft. He named his "Porky II".

During his tenure with the squadron, he compiled an air-to-air combat record of 15 confirmed kills and 2 probable kills. He was promoted to major on July 6, 1943.

He served as commander of the Headhunters until he was reported missing in action over New Britain on December 26, 1943. During that final mission he shot down his final kill. He was succeeded in command of the Headhunters by fellow squadron member and ace Major Jay "Cock" Robbins.

Aerial victory credits

Date	Location	Credits	Comment
May 21, 1943	In the vicinity of Salamaua, New Guinea	1 (Oscar)	.
July 21, 1943	Near Bogadjim, New Guinea	2 (Oscars)	Awarded 1st OLC to DFC
July 23, 1943	Over Bogadjim, New Guinea	2 (Oscar, Tony)	Awarded Silver Star, ace status
August 20, 1943	Near Wewak, New Guinea,	2 (Oscar, Tony)	Awarded 2nd OLC to DFC
August 21, 1943	Near Wewak, New Guinea	1 (Oscar)	Awarded DSC
September 4, 1943	Between Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea	2 (Zeros)	Awarded 3rd OLC to DFC
October 24, 1943	Over Rapopo Strip, Rabaul, New Britain	2 (Zeros)	Received Purple Heart
October 29, 1943	Over Vunakanau, New Guinea	1 (Zero)	.
December 22, 1943	Over Wewak, New Guinea	1 (Tony)	.
December 26, 1943	Over Borgen Bay, Cape Gloucester, western New Britain	1 (Zero)	Never Returned – Declared MIA. Posthumously awarded 4th OLC to DFC, 1st OLC to Purple Heart

Decorations

His decorations include:

United States Army Air Forces pilot badge
Distinguished Service Cross	Silver Star	Distinguished Flying Cross with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Purple Heart with bronze oak leaf cluster	Air Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters	American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with silver and bronze campaign stars	World War II Victory Medal

Army Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Cragg, Edward

Major (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces

80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force

Date of Action: August 21, 1943

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) Edward Cragg, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces near Wewak, New Guinea, on 21 August 1943. Major Cragg, commanding his fighter squadron, escorted a bomber formation attacking an Airdrome. About twenty enemy interceptors were encountered. With all his squadron engaged, he observed ten additional enemy fighters about to deliver a coordinated attack on our bombers. With great daring, he throttled back, and using his plane as a decoy, diverted their concentrated attack upon himself. This action enabled our bombers to make an accurate and successful run unmolested. He then acted as sole fighter escort for the bombers on the return journey, shooting down one enemy plane and damaging another en route. In deliberately engaging ten enemy fighters single-handed, Major Cragg acted with conspicuous gallantry and contributed greatly to the success of the mission.

See also

• List of people who disappeared

References

• Ace Pilots
• HeadHunters Association WWII History
• HeadHunters Association Patch History
• National Archives
• Air Force Historical Research Agency, Aerial Victory Credits search on Name begins with "Cragg", exclude those of Ernest T. Cragg Archived 2010-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
• Stanaway, John C.; Hickey, Lawrence J. (1995). Attack & Conquer – The 8th Fighter Group in World War II. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. p. 320. ISBN 0-88740-808-7.
• Academic Records - Transcripts & Certification, Office of the University Registrar, New York University, PO Box 910, NY, NY 10276-4280
• Edward Cragg Biography, General Officer Biographies Volume C. Available from United States Army Center of Military History, Fort Lesley J. McNair, DC.
• Ernest T Cragg Oral History interview March 1994

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force

External links

• Porky Cragg at aceesofww2.com
• Edward "Porky" Cragg Memorial Web Page