Gutt was assigned to Marine fighter squadron
VMF-223. Initially flying
Grumman F4F Wildcats, 2d Lt. Gutt arrived with VMF-223 on
Guadalcanal on 20 August 1942, to operate as part of the
Cactus Air Force. He was evacuated with the unit on 12 October. Reequipped with
Vought F4U-1 Corsairs, VMF-223 returned to action in the
Solomon Islands in 1943. On 28 December 1943, Gutt shot down three Japanese fighter planes in less than five minutes during a fighter sweep over
Rabaul, bringing his score to seven. He finished his combat duty with eight kills. Four kills were each scored in the F4F and the F4U. He shot down four
Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, two
Rufes, a float biplane, and a bomber. Gutt was awarded the
Air Medal and the
Distinguished Flying Cross twice. ==References==