How One PBY Pilot Landed on Open Ocean Under Fire — And Saved 56 Men

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On February 15, 1944, Navy pilot Nathan Gordon did the impossible. Flying a slow, vulnerable PBY Catalina into heavily-defended Kavieng Harbor, he landed four times under enemy fire in 18-foot swells to rescue 20 downed airmen. Every landing risked his life and his crew. Every takeoff defied the laws of physics. This is the story of the only Medal of Honor ever awarded for actions in a PBY Catalina. 🎖️ THE MISSION 4 combat landings in enemy harbor 20 men rescued from certain death Japanese shore batteries firing throughout 18-foot swells that should have destroyed his aircraft One crippled PBY held together by willpower Nathan Gordon was a small-town lawyer from Arkansas who became one of WWII's most decorated rescue pilots. His actions on that single day in the Pacific demonstrated courage that still defies comprehension 80 years later. 📚 SOURCES & FURTHER READING Medal of Honor Citation Archives VP-34 Squadron Records Pacific Theater Combat Reports Nathan Gordon Personal Papers 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Where are you watching from? Did someone in your family serve in WWII? Share your stories in the comments below. Every comment helps YouTube share this forgotten hero's story with more people. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more forgotten stories of WWII heroism 👍 LIKE if this story moved you 📢 SHARE to keep Nathan Gordon's memory alive #WWII #MedalOfHonor #NavyHistory #PBYCatalina #TrueHeroism #PacificWar #MilitaryHistory #ForgottenHeroes