• This auction is for a VERY RARE, PSA/DNA certified, autographed 8x10 picture signed by legendary ww2 pilot, Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa, who had 7 kills in one day!! It shows the pilots aboard the USS enterprise. Swede is standing up behind the front row that are kneeling. He is the second man from the right as you're looking at the picture..

Swede VejtasaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to searchStanley W. VejtasaLieutenants Swede Vejtasa (right) and Dave Pollock of Fighting Squadron 10 aboard the USS Enterprise in October 1942, shortly before the Battle of the Santa Cruz IslandsNickname(s)SwedeBorn27 July 1914

MontanaDied23 January 2013 (aged 98)Allegiance United StatesService/branch United States NavyYears of service1937-1970RankCaptainCommands heldUSS Firedrake (AE-14) (1959–1960)

USS Constellation (CV-64) (1962–1963)

Naval Air Station Miramar (1965–1968)Battles/warsWorld War II

• Battle of the Coral Sea
• Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

Korean WarAwardsNavy Cross (3)

Legion of Merit

Bronze Star (2)

Meritorious Service Medal

Navy Commendation MedalStanley Winfield "Swede" Vejtasa (27 July 1914 – 23 January 2013) was a United States Navy career officer and World War II flying ace.[1][2] During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, he shot down seven Japanese aircraft on 26 October 1942, becoming an "ace in a day".[3]

Vejtasa was born at an isolated homestead in Montana. He attended Montana State College, before transferring to the University of Montana.

He joined the Navy in 1937 and became a Naval Aviator on 13 July 1939.[1][2] Commissioned an ensign in August, he was first assigned to Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5)that same month, flying the Douglas SBD Dauntless.[1]

After the United States entered World War II, then Lieutenant (junior grade) Vejtasa attacked three Japanese "aircraft tenders or transports", scoring a direct hit on one of them "near Salamaua and Lae, New Guinea", on 10 March 1942, for which he was awarded his first Navy Cross.[4]

During the Battle of the Coral Sea, he was one of several dive bomber pilots who struck and sank the Japanese light aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May 1942.[5][6] The next day, he shot down three Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, despite flying a much slower Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber.[1][6] For his actions during the battle, he was awarded his second Navy Cross.[4] Walter Schindler, a future vice admiral, filmed the naval battle as Vejtasa's rear gunner.

Vejtasa was transferred to fighters, piloting the Grumman F4F Wildcat, and was assigned to the newly formedFighting Squadron 10, under Lieutenant Commander James H. Flatley, aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6). During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, he shot down seven enemy aircraft on 26 October 1942 - first twoAichi D3A "Val" dive bombers after the USS Hornet (CV-8), then five Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers targeting the Enterprise - becoming an "ace in a day".[6][7] Lieutenant Vejtasa was awarded his third Navy Cross for this achievement.[4][8] Seventy years later, an attempt to upgrade this to the Medal of Honor was denied.[7] He is the only World War II carrier pilot awarded the Navy Cross "for both dive bombing and aerial combat."[9]

He left Flying Squadron 10 in May 1943 and returned to the United States to serve as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Atlantic City.[9] He saw no further combat. At the end of the war, his tally was 10.25 victories, the quarter credit being for a Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" flying boat on 13 November 1942.[1][9]

Vejtasa remained in the Navy after the end of the war and served in the Korean War as air officer aboard theUSS Essex (CV-9) from 1951 to 1953.[10] He commanded the ammunition ship USS Firedrake (AE-14) from July 1959 to August 1960 and the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) from November 1962 to November 1963.[11] He received the Legion of Merit for his work as Commander Fleet Air, Miramar, from 15 August 1965 to 7 June 1968. He retired on 1 July 1970 as a captain.

He was also awarded two Bronze Stars, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal and was inducted into the Carrier Aviation Hall of Fame in 1987.[9]