Dusty Kleiss

Lt. Norman Kieiss USN was known as "Dusty' Kieiss. He was an aviator in the US Navy. He participated in the Battle of Midway and was a major contributor to the battle that led to defeat of the Japanese forces. His backseater was RM3c J.W. Snowden. He was active duty for several years and gained the rank of Captain, USN.

Between 4 and 6 June 1942 Kleiss fought in the Battle of Midway. On the morning of June 4 he accompanied Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers led by Enterprise's air group commander, Lieutenant Commander C. Wade McClusky.

Additional details available online from many sources.

Kleiss was the only pilot to score three direct hits with bombs on Japanese ships during the Battle of Midway.

From Navy Log navymemorial.org

WAS THE LAST SURVIVING PILOT OF THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY BEFORE HIS DEATH.
SIGNIFICANT DUTY STATIONS
SUPERINTENDENT, AERONAUTICAL STRUCTURES LABORATORY
STAFF, COMMANDER, AIR FORCE, ATLANTIC FLEET
BUREAU AERONAUTICS REPRESENTATIVE, LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT
STAFF, U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY, ANNAPOLIS, MD
SCOUTING SQUADRON VS-6
USS ENTERPRISE CV-6
SIGNIFICANT AWARDS
NAVY CROSS
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
AIR MEDAL
NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL
SERVICE MEMORIES
LAST SURVINING PILOT FROM MIDWAY ATTACK

Norman Jack “Dusty” Kleiss graduated in 1938 from the Naval Academy with the hope of becoming an Olympic wrestler before the war broke out. However, he underwent pilot training and when World War II commenced he was a naval aviator assigned to Scouting Squadron Six embarked aboard the carrier USS Enterprise. On June 4, 1942, he was piloting a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber searching for the Japanese fleet attacking Midway Island. When the Japanese fleet was sighted, Kleiss followed another plane whose bombs unfortunately reportedly missed their carrier target. As Kleiss dove, he did not release his bombs at the standard altitude of 2,500 feet but instead dove to about 1,000 feet to ensure he hit his target before releasing two 100-pound incendiaries. Barely pulling out of the dive, he saw the entire ship erupt in flames as his bombs hit their marks. As he pulled away a Japanese Zero immediately challenged him, but his tail gunner successfully shot it down. Kleiss reportedly barely made it back to the Enterprise where he ate a brief snack and then took off for an attack on another Japanese carrier. Again, Kleiss successfully bombed his target and later said “It was a bonfire that could be seen 10-miles away.” For his actions this day, he was awarded the Navy Cross and the Japanese lost four carriers.

Kleiss remained on active duty until retiring in April 1962 with the rank of Captain. He died at the age of 100 on April 22, 2016, and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. Texas. His wife or 64-years predeceased him in 2006 and he was survived by his four children, seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Concerning his actions, he was later quoted as saying, “Regardless of anything that happened to me, God would give me enough strength if I worked hard enough, long enough, that I would be able to accomplish something to preserve the United States of America.”

NAVY CROSS CITATION

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Junior Grade Norman Jack Kleiss, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Scouting Plane of Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6), attached to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the “Air Battle of Midway,” against enemy Japanese forces on 4-6 June 1942. Participating in a devastating assault against a Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant Junior Grade Kleiss, with fortitude and resolute devotion to duty, pressed home his attacks in the face of a formidable barrage of anti-aircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition. His gallant perseverance and utter disregard for his own personal safety were important contributing factors to the success achieved by our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.