Keywords: US Navy Lieutenant John A. Leppla and Radioman 3rd Class J.A. Liska at NAS North Island on 6 July 1942.jpg U S Navy Lieutenant John A Leppla right shakes hands with Radioman 3rd Class J A Liska in front of a Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft at Naval Air Station North Island San Diego California USA on 6 July 1942 During the Battle of the Coral Sea they were pilot and gunner of a SBD-3 from Scouting Squadron 2 VS-2 based onboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington CV-2 and were credited with shooting down five Japanese planes during one air action <br> Leppla joined Fighter Squadron 10 VF-10 and was killed during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942 Official U S Navy photo https //www history navy mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/80-g/80-G-60000/80-G-66260 html 80-G-66260 from the U S Navy http //www history navy mil Naval History and Heritage Command 1942-07-06 U S Navy PD-USGov-Military-Navy United States naval aviators Naval Air Station North Island in the 1940s Battle of the Coral Sea - Allied forces Douglas SBD Dauntless Pacific War in July 1942 |