USS Mason (DE-529)

Newton Henry Mason was born on 24 December 1918, in New York City, N.Y., the son of David W. and Ida K. Mason. He enlisted as a seaman in the U.S. Navy Reserve on 7 November 1940, and then later received appointment as an aviation cadet, A-V (N), USNR, on 10 February 1941. After earning his wings, Ens. Mason went to the Pacific for his first operational assignment. A Grumman F4F Wildcat pilot, Mason initially reported to Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3) on board the aircraft carrier Saratoga (CV-3). After being torpedoed in January 1942, Saratoga had to undergo extensive repairs and Mason was re-assigned to VF-2 on board Lexington (CV-2).

In May 1942, U.S. and Australian forces moved to repel a Japanese invasion fleet targeting Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and Tulagi, Solomon Islands—ultimately culminating in the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea (4–8 May 1942). During the initial stages of the Japanese offensive, on 3 and 4 May, Japanese forces successfully invaded Tulagi, but were harassed by planes from Yorktown (CV-5). American and Japanese carrier forces then made their way to the Coral Sea, where, from 7 to 8 May, they launched multiple devastating airstrikes against each other.

Lexington and her air group were among the U.S. aircraft carriers that participated in the battle. On 8 May 1942, Ens. Mason took off from Lexington for his first and last combat mission. Only a few hours into the action he was shot down while battling a group of Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters from the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku .

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Mason II (DE-529)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.