John Munro Butler
Second Lieutenant John M. Butler was a Marine Corps pilot who flew with VMF-221.
He was shot down and reported missing in the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number O-7078
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
July 31, 1919
at Sugar City, CO
Parents
Thomas Wilburn Butler (d. 1931)
Agnes (Munro) Butler
Education
University of Colorado (ex-1941)
Occupation & Employer
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
April 24, 1940 (enlisted)
October 10, 1941 (commission)
Home Of Record
Sugar City, CO
Next Of Kin
Mother, Mrs. Agnes Butler
Military Specialty
Pilot
Photographic Officer
Asst. Gunnery Officer
Primary Unit
VMF-221
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Butler was a Marine Corps fighter pilot assigned to VMF-221. His squadron was based at Midway Island in early 1942; Butler flew an outdated F2A-3 “Buffalo” fighter in 1 Division, led by squadron commander Major Floyd B. Parks. Butler also served as the squadron’s Photographic Officer and Assistant Ordnance and Gunnery Officer (alongside 2Lt. John D. Lucas).
At 0600 hours on 4 June 1942, Major Parks led his squadron aloft to intercept a large group of Japanese fighters and bombers bearing down on Midway. The five pilots of 1 Division attacked bravely, but their ageing Buffaloes were no match for the highly maneuverable “Zekes.” The entire division was shot out of the sky within minutes – including Lieutenant Butler’s F2A-3 #01537.
There are no eyewitness accounts of Butler’s demise; he failed to return to Midway, and was reported as missing in action. On 5 June 1943, Butler was officially declared dead.
Burial Information or Disposition
Shot down at sea; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of mother, Mrs. Agnes Butler.
Location Of Loss
Butler was shot down at an unspecified point after departing from Midway.
Comment from Michael Perry
29 May 2017
Thank you for this informative report. “Johnny” Butler was my great uncle, well-loved by my mother (his niece) Janet Butler Perry.