ron ▁fle w ▁its ▁ 1 5 ▁F 6 F ▁Hell c ats ▁over ▁ 1 , 0 0 0 ▁miles ▁from ▁Sa ip an ▁to ▁Ok ina wa , ▁the ▁longest ▁flight ▁over ▁water ▁by ▁a ▁single - engine ▁aircraft ▁squad ron ▁during ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁Ar riv ing ▁at ▁Ok ina wa , ▁B air d ▁and ▁the ▁rest ▁of ▁his ▁squad ron ▁land ed ▁at ▁Y ont an ▁Field . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁operated ▁off ▁of ▁I e ▁Sh ima . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁June ▁ 9 , ▁Captain ▁B air d ▁used ▁his ▁rad ar ▁to ▁score ▁his ▁first ▁victory , ▁a ▁Japanese ▁reconna issance ▁plane . ▁The ▁night ▁of ▁June ▁ 1 6 , ▁B air d ▁shot ▁down ▁two ▁more ▁enemy ▁aircraft , ▁including ▁one ▁bom ber . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁June ▁ 2 2 , ▁which ▁was ▁officially ▁the ▁last ▁day ▁of ▁the ▁battle ▁of ▁Ok ina wa , ▁Captain ▁B air d ▁claimed ▁two ▁more ▁vict ories , ▁along ▁with ▁ace ▁status . ▁B air d ▁would ▁claim ▁his ▁sixth ▁and ▁final ▁kill ▁of ▁the ▁war ▁on ▁the ▁night ▁of ▁July ▁ 1 3 . ▁ ▁Captain ▁B air d ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁and ▁only ▁Marine ▁night ▁f ighter ▁ace ▁of ▁World ▁War ▁II . ▁Additionally , ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁only ▁Marine ▁F 6 F ▁Hell cat ▁ace ▁of ▁the ▁war . ▁B air d ▁was ▁awarded ▁multiple ▁med als ▁for ▁his ▁skill ful ▁a irm ans hip ▁during ▁this