Dixon extended his dive brakes, causing enemy forces to overshoot ... making Leppla the closest thing to an SBD Dauntless ace. Although his body was never recovered, he is remembered by a cenotaph ...
At Midway, the Dauntless was credited with sinking or mortally wounding each of the four Japanese aircraft carriers involved ...
Navy pilot John Leppla was credited with shooting down five Japanese aircraft in aerial combat before he was shot down and ...