Tony Frederic Schneider (1917 - 2010)

Born 11 Nov 1917 in Hillsboro, Jefferson, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Died 16 Oct 2010 at age 92 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States

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Biography

Tony Schneider was awarded the Navy Cross.

Tony Schneider was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Tony Schneider was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States).

Tony Schneider was awarded the Air Medal.

Tony Schneider was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Tony Schneider was born in 1917 to parents Tony Edward Schneider (1892–1981) and Kathryn Eleanor Williams. In 1943 he married Jean Ross (1922–2011) and the were the parents of at least one child.

Tony served as a career officer in the US Navy and was a distinguished US naval aviator during World War II; he also served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He entered military service in 1940 and retired in 1970.

Via Wikipedia, then Ensign Schneider participated in the Battle of Midway in Jun 1942, as a carrier-based pilot flying an SBD Dauntless dive bomber that was attached to C. Wade McClusky's Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) of the USS Enterprise (CV-6). Prior to the major engagement with enemy aircraft carriers on the first day of the battle, a throttle malfunction caused his plane to run out of fuel as the dive bomber formation searched for the Japanese aircraft carriers. He spent three days in the Pacific on a small inflatable life raft after rescuing his unconscious tail gunner G.L. Holden from the sinking aircraft, before being rescued by a VP-23 PBY Catalina on 6 Jun. Prior to his rescue he had to shoot two Great White sharks amidst a sizable school of sharks swimming alongside and only inches from the raft, so as to repel the sharks from damaging the raft. For these episodes he was awarded his first Navy Cross. Schneider's second Navy Cross was awarded for actions leading Bombing Squadron 9 against the Japanese cruiser Yahagi during Operation Ten-Go, which was the last Japanese naval operation of World War II.

Citation for Navy Cross

Tony Frederic Schneider - DATE OF BIRTH: November 11, 1917 - PLACE OF BIRTH: - Hillsboro, Missouri AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION: 1 of 2 - Navy Cross AWARDED FOR ACTIONS - DURING World War II - Service: Navy - Battalion: Bombing Squadron 6 (VB-6) - Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6) - GENERAL ORDERS: - Commander in Chief Pacific: Serial 18a (July 18, 1942).

CITATION: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Ensign Tony Frederic Schneider (NSN: 0-84080), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 - 6 June 1942. Defying extreme danger from concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and powerful fighter opposition, Ensign Schneider, with bold determination and courageous zeal, led his squadron in dive-bombing assaults against Japanese naval units. Flying at a distance from his own forces which rendered return unlikely because of probable fuel exhaustion, he pressed home his attacks with extreme disregard for his own personal safety. His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to duty contributed greatly to the success of our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Death and Burial. Tony died in 2010 at 92 years of age and is interred at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Section 16, Site 582.

Genealogy Highlights for Tony Frederic Schneider

• Tony is a blood-cousin to 23 US Presidents, with the closest cousin being President Franklin Pierce (1804-1869), his 4th cousins 4x removed.
• Tony is the 9th cousin 1x removed of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and the 16th cousin 1x removed of Lady Diana Spencer (1961-1997).
• Tony is the cousin to seven other high-profile veterans of the Battle of Midway, with his closest cousin being Adm. Raymond Spruance (1886-1969), his 8th cousin 2x removed.

Sources

• Find A Grave Index
• Wikipedia Page for Tony F. Schneider
• "United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940" FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WW9W-TXMM : Sat Mar 09 20:41:20 UTC 2024) SHOWS Tony Frederic Schneider born 11 November 1917; Residence is Hillsboro MO; military service; Affiliate Publication Number 76193916.
• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VS4B-NPD : 12 January 2021) SHOWS Tony Frederic Schneider of Missouri; residence is New Mexico; last residence is Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico; age 93; born 11 Nov 1917; died 16 Oct 2010.
• BOMBING SQUADRON SIX ACTION REPORT - 4-6 June 1942 USS ENTERPRISE CV-6
• Hall of Valor Project website shows the citations for Tony's two Navy Cross medals.
• Tony Schneider: Man Rescued Gunner After Crash via the Gun Boards - For Collectors, By Collectors website.