Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum was honored to welcome WWII Ace, Commander Robert Maxwell to visit the USS Yorktown with former Governor James B. Edwards.
As an F-4 Wildcat pilot during WWII, Maxwell survived a crash off the coast of Guadalcanal while providing cover for a striking force of SBDs and TBFs. He spent 16 days (May 2-18, 1943) in the water and on the Island of Tetipari (Solomon Islands) before being rescued by American forces. He later went on to fly F-6 Hellcats while serving aboard the USS San Jacinto with former President George H.W. Bush. During this time, Commander Maxwell earned distinction as the USS San Jacinto’s first Ace and VF-51’s only Ace.
In addition to visiting his former aircraft in the Hangar Deck of the Yorktown, Commander Maxwell met with visitors to the museum and recorded an oral history that will be kept in the Patriots Point digital archives!
What a true American hero!