Throckmorton, Bruce H.

Description

Bruce Hamilton Throckmorton was born to Harold A. and Dorothy Mason Throckmorton February 26, 1923 in New Rochelle, N.Y. He moved to Mamaroneck and then to Rye N.Y. Bruce attended Rye Country Day School and was a graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. In Rye his family lived at 39 Brevoort Lane.

After Bruce graduated in June of 1942, he immediately went into training for the U.S. Naval Air Corps. and served as an officer pilot in the during World War II.

He served on the U.S. S. Ticonderoga CV 14 , Fighting Squadron 45. The squadron moved to combat operations in 1943, operating from bases like Baker Island and the Gilbert Islands. They provided vital air defense and conducted sweeps against Japanese forces.

Landing on Iwo Jima in March 1945, the 45th supported Marine ground units by strafing cave entrances and troop concentrations. They later transitioned to Very Long Range (VLR) missions, providing fighter escort for B-29 Superfortresses attacking the Japanese home islands. For its actions on April 7, 1945, the squadron was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance over Japan.

Ensign Throckmorton, son of H. A.
Throckmorton of the Rye address,
was one of hundreds of Gruman HellCat (F6F) pilots making up the
aerial blanket that smothered enemy
air activities and marauded at will
over island military installations.
“My division was making a run on
a Jap airfield,” the young officer explained, “when we spotted a Jap dive
bomber hedge hopping in toward the
field. Another fighter made a run on
him but missed, and I poured on the
coal and went down for the bomber.
I waited until he was only 300 feet
ahead of me before I put in a burst.
“I was afraid I’d collide with him,
but he suddenly started burning. His
left wing went down and he hit the
ground and exploded.”

THE RYE CHRONICLE Friday, February 16, 1945

After many thrilling adventures as a Navy Pilot in the South Pacific, Bruce was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Following his discharge from the Navy, he went to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1949.

Bruce then moved to New York City and joined Cannon Mills, Inc.. On March 26, 1949 he married Marilyn Mac Elwee, his college sweetheart, in Swarthmore, Pa. at the Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, by the Rev.. Joseph Bishop. They would have one son and two daughters.

In 1950 they moved to California, where they resided in West Los Angeles and Encino before moving to Coachella Valley in 1986. After 30 years with Cannon Mills, in 1981, he opened a wholesale nursery in La Quinta raising Cactus and drought tolerant trees and shrubs.

Bruce had an adventurous spirit and in his leisure time liked to travel, collect specie orchids, ride motorcycle; and play tennis.

Bruce Hamilton Throckmorton died peacefully in his Rancho Mirage home surrounded by his loving family on April 12, 2003, at the age of 80, and was buried in San Diego, California.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Marilyn and two daughters, Stacy T. Snyder of Rancho Santa Fe and Paige T. Kiner of Palm Desert. He is also survived by five grand-daughters. Carly, Shawn and Lindsey Kiner of Palm Desert and Torie and Mackenzie Snyder of Rancho Santa Fe.