Frederick E. Bakutis

Bakutis was born on November 4, 1912, in Brockton, Massachusetts, to Lithuanian immigrants Frank and Anna Bakutis. He attended Brockton public schools and graduated from high school in 1930. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, entering as a midshipman on June 16, 1931. During his time at the academy, he was active in athletics and extracurricular activities. He captained the track team in 1935, participated as a team member for three years, and played in the academy's Ten dance orchestra for two years. He graduated on June 6, 1935, and was commissioned as an ensign in the United States Navy. ==Naval career==

After graduation, Bakutis served as a junior officer and later division officer aboard the heavy cruiser until January 1938. He then trained at Naval Air Station Pensacola, earning his naval aviator designation on January 10, 1939. He joined Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3) on in April 1939. In September 1941, he returned to Annapolis for aeronautical engineering instruction at the Naval Postgraduate School but was reassigned to the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia as an inspector of arresting gear and catapults from March to September 1942 following the outbreak of World War II. He rejoined his squadron onboard Lexington in December 1944. From June 1953 to June 1955, Bakutis was air training and readiness officer on the staff of Commander Air Force, Pacific. He then served in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) for aircraft programs until August 1956. He commanded from 1956 to 1957, followed by staff service with the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1957 to 1959, and command of from 1959 to 1960. In December 1960, he returned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as assistant director of the Fleet Operations Division. Bakutis remarked in 1965 that Antarctica would "remain the womanless white continent of peace." He then commanded Fleet Air in Alameda, from April 1967 to March 1968. His final assignment was as Commander of the Hawaiian Sea Frontier, Commandant of the Fourteenth Naval District, and Commander Fleet Air in Hawaii, from March 1968. He retired from the Navy in July 1968. ==Later life==

Bakutis and his wife had a son and two daughters. Following his retirement from the Navy, he resided in Maili, Hawaii. Bakutis died on October 4, 2009, in Wai'anae, at the age of 96. He was cremated and his ashes scattered into the Pacific Ocean from Ulehawa Beach Park in Maili. ==Aerial victory credits==

His awards include: Navy Cross citation :Commander Frederick Edward Bakutis :U.S. Navy :Date Of Action: October 24, 1944 The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander Frederick Edward Bakutis (NSN: 0-75028), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Commanding Officer of Fighting Squadron TWENTY (VF-20), attached to the USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6), in action against enemy Japanese forces in Philippine waters during the Battle of Leyte Gulf on 24 October 1944. Aggressively leading a small search group on a strike against an enemy task force, Commander Bakutis succeeded in locating the concentration of hostile vessels and immediately reported the location to his base. Then, launching a brilliant attack on the Japanese ships, he fought his plane gallantly in the face of a withering barrage of accurate antiaircraft fire and gunfire from the enemy's main batteries, personally scoring direct hits with his rockets on a battleship and contributing in large measure to the damaging of one cruiser and two other battleships during this fierce action. By his forceful leadership and outstanding tactical ability, Commander Bakutis was in large measure responsible for the neutralization of Japanese surface forces in this strategic area and his unwavering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. ==In popular culture==

Bakutis' exploits in the Battle of Leyte Gulf are part of the American documentary series Battle 360° on the episode "Battle of Leyte Gulf". ==Notes==