He was the only survivor of the 4 june 1942 torpedo squadron eight vt8 tbd. After boot camp and aviation radio school, he joined torpedo squadron 8 vt8 stationed on the aircraft carrier uss hornet. This was a pivotal battle in the pacific where a small group of americal naval aviators went up against the might of the japanese fleet. Includes the island war in the pacific illustration pack 152 maps, plans and photos. Nh 93595 torpedo squadron eight vt8 pilots front row. Torpedo squadron 8 is a film memorial that shows the men mugging for. His entire squadron torpedo squadron 8 from the hornetwas shot down in the initial attack on the japanese carriers. Evans, usn, a pilot of torpedo squadron 8, kia at midway. On the day the attack began, kenneth pier was shooting footage on the deck of uss hornet. Torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 was a united states navy squadron of world war ii torpedo bombers. That squadron operated from the aircraft carrier uss hornet in.
Directed by roland emmerich, who produced the film with harald kloser, and written by wes tooke, the film features an ensemble cast, including ed skrein, patrick wilson, luke evans, aaron eckhart, nick jonas, mandy. The americans counterattacked with 41 torpedo bombers flown. Naval aircraft factory sbn1 vt 8 used for pilot training in 1941 a u. The story of swede larsens bomber squadron, by ira wolfert, houghton mifflin company, boston, 1943, checking the condition before i put a price on it we have a bookstore, with mostly used books, this jumped out at me from the foreword ed. I just finished reading an account of midway in tolands book but not in shame. That squadron operated from the aircraft carrier uss hornet in world war ii. This board is about the sad end to a great squadron vt 8 was a torpedo squadron lead by lieutenant commander john c waldron they attacked the japanese task force on june 4 1942 or better know as the battle of midway they flew the obsolete 1930s era tbd1 devastator sadly out of the 15 planes that took off each carrying two men none returned and only one man survived. Harry ferrier enlisted in the navy on january 28, 1941, three days after his sixteenth birthday.
The true story of the battle of midway history smithsonian. Changed title from torpedeo squadron 8 to torpedo squadron 8 areas of interest. Council of five nations 2010 editor in chief bill is back from council of five nations. A short video in honor of the brave warriors of torpedo squadron eight who willingly gave of themselves, and in so doing, helped ensure the ultimate american victory at the battle of midway, 0406.
Tribute and memorial to the men who gave their all as members of torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 of the uss hornet. When saratoga was disabled on 31 august, vt8 was transferred to. Lawson later wrote the book thirty seconds over tokyo. In the history channel version, during the darkest days of world war ii american. He was radiomangunner to ensign george gays tbd devastator aircraft. All us torpedo squadrons were mauled but the fleet was forced to maneuver and the escorting zero fighters were drawn down to sea level. The action covered in the book includes not only the fateful flight of the fifteen tbd devastators launched from hornet cv8 the morning of june 4, 1942. This dramatic photo taken by the hornets photographer bill gibson shows all fifteen aircraft of torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 en route to the battle of midway, none of these planes returned and only one man, ens. It was in this situation that us navy dive bombers arrived with us fighter escort at high altitude. Bill evans and charles gillispie were roommates in the wesleyan university class of 1940. And i have read a few books about both pearl harbor and midway. Served with torpedo squadron 8 at midway and guadalcanal. At the battle of midway on 4 june 1942, waldron noticed that the flight course assigned to his squadron would take it. Evans, usn, a pilot of torpedo squadron 8, kia at midway, 4 june 1942.
Torpedo squadron 8 vt8 was a united states navy squadron of world war ii torpedo. Hornfischer this is the third hornfischer book i have read this year and in addition to a few other books about the u. Sumnerclass destroyer, is the only ship of the united states navy fram ii class to be named for lieutenant james c. Navy fliers in the squadron that sacrificed itself at midway. Edited version of john fords short film about torpedo squadron 8. The true story of torpedo squadron eight from the worlds largest community of readers. Robert kingsbury huntington march 1921 5 june 1942, was a naval aircrewman and member of torpedo squadron 8 or vt 8. March 8, 1917 october 21, 1994 was a douglas tbd devastator pilot in united states navy.
Much of the footage used in the film torpedo squadron 8 was shot aboard the us navy aircraft carrier uss hornet cv8 between the japanese attack in pearl harbor on december 7 th 1941 and the battle of midway beginning on june 4 th 1942. Soon after, the men of torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 were the first to fight the enemy, flying unaccompanied toward japanese forces. This navy squadron lost all but one man in the attack on the japanese carrier fleet. Evans was a torpedo bomber pilot in torpedo squadron 8 vt8. Bill sutherland, elo who just passed a few months ago, was part of the crew of. The true story of the battle of midway the new film midway revisits the pivotal wwii battle from the perspectives of pilots, codebreakers and. Evans was a torpedobomber pilot in torpedo squadron 8. He attained the rank of lieutenant commander in 1939 and took charge of torpedo squadron 8 aboard uss hornet shortly before the attack on pearl harbor.
The true story of torpedo squadron eight little, brown. When you see the above book written, the teachings of buddha have prevailed, a new era of leadership has finally arrived, and the world has moved beyond the cycle of women and men being reborn as each other. All but 1 were killed when the squardon of tbd1 devastators attacked the imperial japanese fleet at the battle of midway, 4 june 1942. Gays book sole survivor indicates that the date of this photograph is. Torpedo 8 the story of swede larsens bomber squadron. Midway is a 2019 american war film based on the attack on pearl harbor and the subsequent battle of midway during world war ii. A memorial to a fallen unit june 1, 2017 by audrey amidon, posted in motion pictures on june 4, 1942, the japanese imperial navy attacked united states forces on the island of midway. Evans was a torpedobomber pilot in torpedo squadron 8 vt8.
Along with his entire squadron with the exception of gay, huntington was killed during the battle of midway, on 4 june 1942. John ford produced documentary for the familys of the lost pilots and crewmen of torpedo squadron 8 at midway. A that squadron operated from the aircraft carrier uss hornet in world war ii. It focuses almost entirely on torpedo 8, with brief discussions of other aspects of the battle. The latter half of the book is devoted to the exploits of.
After heavy losses in the battle of midway, vt 8 was assigned to uss saratoga. William magee obituary peoria, az the arizona republic. Hornets torpedo squadron 8, was the sole survivor of his. His entire squadron was lost in an attack against japanese aircraft carriers 4 june during the battle of midway. Another shortridger bill evans class of 1936played a part at midway. A dawn like thunder is the work of historical writer and former u. Evans and all but one of his squadron mates were killed in action in the battle of midway on june 4, 1942. Mcclusky luke evans pursued the japanese fleet despite running. Read torpedo 8 the story of swede larsens bomber squadron illustrated edition by ira wolfert available from rakuten kobo. Today is the 73rd anniversary of the battle of midway. Check out this excellent book for much more on john fords service. What made this such an interesting read for me is the way in which the authors presented the midway experience from both the american and japanese perspectives.
Waldron, the commander of vt8, a squadron of 15 planes 30 souls total who flew their obsolete tbd devastator torpedo planes against the best of the japanese fleet. Strategypage honors torpedo squadron 8 and its heroic airmen. The sole survivor of torpedo squadron 8 by chuck oldham editor june 4, 2012 ensign george gay right, sole survivor of vt 8 at midway, standing beside his tbd devastator before the battle of midway. Vt 8 was assigned initially to the air group of the aircraft carrier uss hornet, joining hornet shortly after her commissioning in october 1941 after heavy losses in the battle of midway, vt 8 was assigned to uss saratoga.
A this video includes memories from charles gillispie, bill evans roommate in the wesleyan university class of 1940. Torpedo squadron eight vt8 pilots photographed aboard uss hornet cv8, circa. Harry ferrier, last midway survivor of vt8 has passed away. Many of them flew against the japanese in obsolete aircraft, knowing full well that their chance. Magee, william bill mcclintock 86, of sun city, az passed away on march 28, 2010. When it became clear that twentynine of the thirty men of vt 8 died during the battle, ford identified and assembled footage of the airmen into a simple but poignant film. Introductory scroll dedicates the film to the many navy aviators and crewmen in torpedo squadron eight who gave their lives during the june 4, 1942 battle near midway island in the pacific.
Vt8 was assigned initially to the air group of the aircraft carrier uss hornet, joining the ship shortly after her commissioning in october 1941. Navy naval aircraft factory sbn1 of torpedo squadron vt 8 in flight, 194142. While the battle of midway was seen by nearly everyone on the home front, torpedo squadron 8 was made solely for the families of the lost squadron members. Barbara bezy evans farris 89, of indianapolis, indiana, passed away peacefully at community north hospital on friday, june 30, 2017 with all. Satisfying though excessively popularized history of the bomber group that, legend has it, won the battle of midway. Vt 8 was assigned initially to the air group of the aircraft carrier uss hornet, joining the ship shortly after her commissioning in october 1941. Many of them flew against the japanese in obsolete aircraft, knowing full well that their chances of surviving were slim. George gay of torpedo squadron 8 the only survivor from that squadron. Evans was a torpedo bomber pilot in torpedo squadron 8 vt 8. Vt 8 was assigned initially to the air group of the aircraft carrier uss hornet, joining hornet shortly after her commissioning in october 1941. After heavy losses in the battle of midway, vt8 was assigned to uss saratoga. Torpedo squadron 8 was destroyed during the attack on the japanese carriers at midway. The aircraft served as a trainer for pilots and aircrewmen of the squadron, which was decimated during the battle of midway in june 1942 while flying douglas tbd1 devastators off uss hornet cv 8. Smithsonian journeys smithsonian channel smithsonian books.
A evans and all but one of his squadron mates were killed in action in the battle of midway on june 4, 1942. Ensign later lieutenant commander george henry gay jr. John ford made the film as a tribute to the near total loss of the squadron during the battle of midway. Soon after, the men of torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 were the first to fight the.
Former representative robert mrazek talked about his book a dawn like thunder. Navy reserve, was the pilot of one of the 15 douglas tbd1 devastators of torpedo squadron 8 vt8 that took off from uss hornet cv 8 the morning of june 4, 1942 for a strike on the japanese fleet during the battle of midway. This plane was the twelfth of fifteen tbds probably ens william r. The epic story of americas most legendary warship brings a renowned ship to life in a stirring tribute complete with the personal recollections of those who served aboard her, dramatic photographs, time lines, maps, and vivid descriptions of intrepids deadly conflicts. Vt 8 s first and bestknown combat mission came during the battle of midway on 4 june 1942. Torpedo squadron 8 was a united states navy squadron of world war ii torpedo bombers. Dillon is a fascinating read for those of us who have a passion for all things wwii. Naval aircraft factory sbn1 vt8 used for pilot training. Torpedo squadron 8 vt8 pilots, with lieutenant commander john c.