Joe was born in Lorain, Ohio and graduated from Lorain High School. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy graduating with the Class of 1926. Unlike their Naval counterparts who had to "go to sea" for 2 years, those who chose the Marine Corps option could go directly to Pensacola for flight School. While he was there, he broke his leg and disqualified for further flying. He was sent to Tientsin, China where he spent a year with the China Marines. After the Marines left China, Joe managed to pass the flight physical and was sent back to Pensacola where he won his wings.
He flew with Gen C. Frank Schilt and the Marines in the Nicaraguan Campaign. He returned to Pensacola in 1932 as a flight instructor and met my mom there. They were married on 19 May 1933 and honeymooned across country to his new duty station, Coronado CA.
US Marine Corps; WWII; Missing in Action at the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942 Honolulu Memorial records date as 5 June 1943, officially declared 1 year and 1 day after MIA listing.
SIGNIFICANT NAMINGS: WW2 Henderson Field at Guadalcanal was named for him on 19 Aug 1942. USS Henderson DD-785 commissioned on 4 Aug 1945, Seattle. 21st Street Bridge in Lorain, Ohio, one of the twin bridges over the Black River, named the Lofton Henderson Memorial Bridge, October 21, 1991. Originally Henderson Field on Eastern Island (Midway Atoll) was active and now the public airport is currently located on Sand Island (Midway Atoll) named Henderson Field.
Major Awards: Navy Cross, Purple Heart
Inscription:
Last entry in his logbook: Missing in Action, June 4, 1942 - VMSB 241 MAG 22.
Gravesite Details Lost at sea during the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942
Source: Find a Grave
Early on the morning of 04 Jun 1942, VSMB-241 squadron led by her commander, Major Lofton Henderson, took off from the Naval Air Station, Midway enroute to attack the Japanese Strike Force approaching Midway. With the enemy aircraft carrier Hiryu in sight Henderson led his group of dive bombers on a shallow dive when they were swarmed by superior numbers of attacking enemy fighters whose objective was to shoot down the dive bomber's leader and break up the attack. Major Henderson's plane was set afire and hurtled into the sea. Reports indicate that a parachute was observed blossoming from behind Henderson's plane, but neither of the men were seen again. Maj Henderson and his gunner, PFC Lee Walter Reininger's remains were unrecoverable. They were listed as missing in action on 04 Jun 1942 and declared presumed dead on 5 Jun 1943. Maj. Henderson was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation , American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, and the World War II Victory Medal.