Paul Brehm, infected with a thirst to become a flyer, at an early age read all of the stories regarding the WW 1 flying aces. The ceiling of his room was hung with a myriad of planes engaging in aerial combat. By March of 1942, several months after America's entry into WW 11, Brehm's childhood dream became a reality as he began flight training at USNRAB Kansas City. On the cutting edge of an accelerated program, he earned his wings and a naval commission at NAS Jacksonville in December of '42. After advanced training at NAS Daytona Beach and carrier qualification on the USS Wolverine on Lake Michigan, Brehin was assigned as a dive bomber pilot with VC-40. Initially flying S131)s from Henderson Field at Guadacanal, Brehm's squadron participated in the Solomon campaign, eventually flying out of Bouganville. Following 40 combat missions, Brehin returned to the States where he was assigned to Bombing-87 which participated in the shake down cruise of the USS Randolph. Transported to NAS Kahula, his air group was altered to place more emphasis on newly formed 'fighter-bomber' units. Paul opted to remain with his bombing squadron, while extensive retraining took place to counter the growing threat of Kamikaze attacks on fleet units. Air Group 87 was ultimately assigned to the USS Ticonderoga and participated on strikes against the Japanese forces at Okinawa. As part of Admiral Bull Halsey's all out effort to destroy the last vestiges of Japanese sea and air power, prior to an invasion of Japan, Brehm's squadron participated on attacks on targets on the Japanese homeland. One of these attacks was the sinking of the Hyuga, a WW 1 vintage Japanese battleship which had been modified to part seaplane tender, on July 24, 1945. On July 28 Brehm participated in the attack on the cruiser Tone the last Japanese capital ship destroyed prior to Japan's surrender. The Ticonderoga anchored in Tokyo Bay during the armistice ceremony, and in November Brehm was discharged from active duty. Brehm remained active in the naval reserves, and he was assigned as Squadron Commander of an S132C squadron at NAS Olathe, Kansas. Following a transfer to a squadron at NAS Lincoln, Nebraska, Brehm transitioned into the TBM. He was called to active duty again in 1952, and he served as the office-in charge of the only land-based navy squadron in Korea. Brehin received the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and six Air Medals. He lived in Southern California with his wife of more than fifty years, Barbara, spending time with his two grandchildren and one great grandchild, and in between his travels spent much of his time reading and writing about the history of naval aviation. Paul's story on the attack on the Hyuga was published in World War Two magazine. He died in 2002.
Died : 2002
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