Kenneth Oscar Campion
Second Lieutenant Kenneth O. Campion was a Marine Corps pilot who flew with VMSB-241.
He was reported missing in the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number O-9312
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
September 9, 1917
at Marshall, MN
Parents
Oscar Campion
Albena (Gagnon) Campion
Education
Winona Teacher’s College (1941)
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Occupation & Employer
Student
Service Life
Entered Service
May 8, 1941 (enlisted)
March 13, 1942 (officer)
Home Of Record
Marshall, MN
Next Of Kin
Wife, Mrs. Dorothy Campion
Military Specialty
Pilot
Assistant Navigation Officer
Primary Unit
VMSB-241
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Second Lieutenant Kenneth Campion was a Marine Corps pilot who trained at Pensacola and received his wings in early March, 1942. Immediately after graduation, he was shipped to California and deployed overseas to a scout-bomber squadron stationed at Midway in the central Pacific.
Campion arrived at Midway on 26 May 1942, and was welcomed to VMSB-241 along with Major Benjamin W. Norris, Captain Marshall A. Tyler, and six other junior second lieutenants – “the greenest group ever assembled for combat.” The new men were given the squadron’s outdated Vought SB2U Vindicator bombers – which they had never flown before – and precious little fuel with which to practice. Each pilot made two or three flights with dummy bombs, and got to know his rear-seat gunner; Campion’s companion was PFC Anthony J. Maday.
Ready or not, the pilots were ordered to standby in their cockpits early on the morning of 4 June 1942. Conflicting orders and confusion rattled the nerves somewhat, but by 0600 the bombers were taking off to strike at an approaching Japanese fleet. Director John Ford was on Midway, and brought his film camera to the runway in time to catch the Vindicator unit taking off. He shot a color sequence of SB2U-3 #2045 – painted with squadron number 6 – taking off, with Campion and Maday clearly visible at their positions.
Norris rendezvoused his formation at Point Affirm and led them towards the reported carrier position, climbing as he went. The Vindicators trailed behind the Dauntlesses, and Japanese fighters were already in the air when they arrived over the fleet. As the fast “Zekes” raced through the Americans, Norris opted to attack the nearest target: the battleship Haruna, directly below. Despite their slow speed and shallow dive angle, not one of the Vindicators fell over the enemy fleet. The formation scattered and the pilots were left to find their own route back to Midway.
Campion formed up on Vindicator 2 flown by Second Lieutenant George T. Lumpkin, and the two planes set a southwesterly course. Zeroes tailed the pair, keeping Maday and PFC George A. Toms busy at their guns. When a scout plane appeared – Lumpkin thought it was a Type 95 “Dave” belonging to Haruna – the Vindicators turned around to bring the pilots’ guns to bear. The “Dave” wisely backed off and headed back towards the fleet. Campion’s blood was up, and he chased after the biplane. At that moment, Toms called Lumpkin to report more Zeroes approaching fast. Lumpkin hurried into a cloud and flew blind for several minutes, evading his pursuers. Vindicator 2 returned to Midway alone.
Nothing more was ever seen of Campion, Maday, or Vindicator 3, but it was presumed that they fell victim to the guns of the Zeroes. Both Marines were reported missing in action following the battle, and ultimately declared dead on 5 June 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
Failed to return from mission over open sea; remains not recovered.
Next Of Kin Address
Address of wife, Mrs. Dorothy Schlesselman Campion.
Location Of Loss
Campion’s Vindicator was last seen on a course heading to Midway.
