Torpedo squadron 8 book

Well, as you know torpedo squadron 8 was organized in norfolk virginia and i think you know the. In a dawn like thunder, mrazek tells the story of gays. 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. As we do not hold production files for either of these films, many of the background details on the films came from mark harriss five came back. A memorial to a fallen unit june 1, 2017 march 24, 2021 by audrey amidon, posted in motion pictures on june 4, 1942, the japanese imperial navy attacked united states forces on the island of midway. But there also were 16 sbd dauntless dive bombers and their crews that were lost that day, nobody knowing how many were shot down and how many were lost at sea. A short documentary filed during the battle of midway, june 4, 1942.

After many bullets ad torpedoes were exchanged between the two sides, every single man in the devastator fleet was killed except for george gay, who somehow manag the book sole survivor is an autobiography written by george gay. The first torpedo squadron to find the carriers had been torpedo squadron 8. It now lives on at, the largest, most amazing collection of professional photography on the internet. Torpedo squadron eight vt 8 mr wendt joined torpedo squadron eight vt 8 in september 1941 as an air bomber crewman and flew with co lt harold swede larsen being the first squadron to equipped with the new tbf1 avenger. The true story of torpedo squadron eight little, brown and company.

Herman wouks novel war and remembrance pays tribute to torpedo 8, whose pilots he called the soul of america in action. Under withering enemy fire from machine guns and antiaircraft batteries. It should be subtitled the complete story of torpedo squadron eight. Nh 93595 torpedo squadron eight vt8 pilots front row.

Users can browse, search and view photos of todays people and events. It begins with the men of torpedo 8, then covers their attack at midway and then their exploits in the battle for guadalcanal. Jun 04, 2012 he was the only survivor of the june 4, 1942 torpedo squadron eight vt8 tbd torpedo plane attack on the japanese carrier force. They have free access to share, print and post images for personal use. Erskine caldwell and norman reilly raine were the screenwriters of the early period when it was known as torpedo squadron 8 and was going to be an historically factual and biographical account of torpedo squadron 8 and ensign george gay. Sep 22, 2019 george gay, then an ensign, was a pilot assigned to torpedo squadron 8, which was tasked with sinking japanese vessels. Historian, novelist and former congressman robert mrazek has written a new history of ensign george gays unit, torpedo squadron eight. Jun 04, 2014 torpedo eight from hornet under the command of lcdr john c waldron pressed the attack hard but all 15 of the devastators were shot down. The story of the gallant, oneway mission of torpedo squadron eights devastator aviators captivated the u.

The fame of torpedo eight has rested on the actions of the main body of the squadron based on board the uss hornet cv8. Torpedo squadron 8, off the uss hornet, attacked the japanese carriers off midway. The americans counterattacked with 41 torpedo bombers flown. The fifteen slow, obsolete, and unescorted douglas tbd devastators were all downed without even a single torpedo hit or enemy aircraft shot down to show for it. Six aircrews flew the brand new aircraft to midway island from hawaii after missing hornets departure from pearl harbor by one day. Records of commander amphibious force, pacific fleet, consisting of general correspondence, serial file, engine parts lists, and miscellaneous records, 193945. Aug 15, 2016 records of commander motor torpedo boat squadrons, pacific fleet, 194345. The true story of the battle of midway history smithsonian. Torpedo squadron 8 was created in 1941 as a part of the air group for the new carrier, uss hornet. Focuses on the 30 men in the torpedo squadron of the us aircraft carrier hornet. Jun 01, 2017 the battle of midway and torpedo squadron 8. All members of the squadron were lost except ensign gay. Navy grumman tbf1 avenger of torpedo squadron vt 8 sitting on the flight line at naval air station norfolk. Torpedo squadron four a cockpit view of world war ii ebook.

All but 1 were killed when the squardon of tbd1 devastators attacked the imperial japanese fleet at the battle of midway, 4 june 1942. Out of the thirty aircrew, ensign george gay was the sole survivor. Torpedo squadron four a cockpit view of world war ii. The gallantry of its officers and men in the face of overwhelming odds is indelibly inscribed in the history of the u. At the battle of midway on 4 june 1942, waldron noticed that the flight course assigned to his squadron would take it in the wrong direction. All the planes in his squadron were shot down, and he was the only one of 30 men in torpedo squadron 8 to survive. The true story of torpedo squadron eight 9780316056533. Records of naval operating forces national archives.

References edit a b c mrazek, r, a dawn like thunder. Torpedo 8 the story of swede larsens bomber squadron. Check out this excellent book for much more on john fords service and the battle of midway. However, their sacrifice set up the conditions which allowed the american divebombers to penetrate the defenses of the japanese and drop their bombs through the decks of the enemy carriers. Gays book sole survivor indicates that the date of this photograph is probably june 7, 1942, following an operation to repair his injured left hand and a meeting with adm. Black and white illustrated photographs throughout. He jeopardized mens lives and disobeyed orders in a vane attempt to achieve personal recognition. Waldron, torpedo squadron eight vt 8 flew continue reading 4 june 1942. Vt8 rose from the ashes of the battle of midway to become an indispensable air arm in the series of engagements for the solomon islands and beyond. This historic film shows the lone survivor raid of world war. A dawn like thunder the true story of torpedo squadron eight. Torpedo squadron fourcockpitebookdpb005208j8s written by gerald w. Vt8 aviators immortalized naval history magazine june 2017.

The japs wiped out the united states navy torpedo squadron 8 in a few minutes at the battle of midway. John ford made this memorial film for the families of members of torpedeo squadron 8. Torpedo 8 includes the island war in the pacific illustration pack 152 maps, plans and photos. The autobiographical story of ens george gay, the single survivor among 16 us navy torpedo bombers with 3person crews, attacking a japanese carrier during the battle of midway, widely considered the most consequential naval battle in history. Sep 24, 2019 7 lieutenant 545 pages although i had first read about torpedo squadron 8 in 1970, this book clarified the nature of their two attacks on june 4, 1942, and introduced me to the midway survivors.

Detached from that duty in the summer of 1941, lieutenant commmader waldron took command of the newly formed torpedo squadron 8 vt 8, part of the embryonic air group being assembled for the new fleet carrier hornet cv 8 at newport news, virginia. Torpedo 8 is the epic story of the death and rebirth of the famous bomber. He was the only survivor of the 4 june 1942 torpedo squadron eight vt8 tbd torpedo plane attack on the japanese carrier force. Flying old, slow aircraft armed with defective torpedoes and lacking fighter cover, they were all shot down without inflicting any damage on the enemy. The pearl harbor attack, though, meant that his training of his men had to be intensive. Torpedo squadron 8 return to midway campaign index. At 0600 hours on the morning of 4 june, torpedo squadron 8 detached took off shortly before japanese planes struck midway. Matt this book is a treasure that anyone wishing to know about carrier warfare in the pacific during ww2 must have. Book overview one of the great untold stories of world war ii finally comes to light in this thrilling account of torpedo squadron eight and their heroic efforts in helping an outmatched u.

Yale university press, 2005 considers torpedo squadron 8. I would highly recommend his book to anyone interested in world war two history, especially that of the pacific war. Midway 67 years later and controversies still abound. At 0600 hours on the morning of 4 june, torpedo squadron 8 detached took off shortly before japanese planes. Flying from hornet, vt 8 was the first american carrier squadron to attack the japanese during the battle of midway. Torpedo squadron 8 was created in 1941 to become part of an air group for the new carrier uss hornet. At 0705 the avengers, without the benefit of fighter escorts, began their attack on the japanese carrier hiryu.

Torpedo eights celebrated survivor naval history magazine. The douglas tbd1a devastator that bill evans flew has recently been identified. Recollections of lieutenant george gay, usnr sole survivor of torpedo squadron eight vt 8 describing his experiences during the battle of midway. Most history buffs know about the debacle of vt 8 at. However, the studio changed the pictures direction to a more fictionalized account. Oct 06, 2019 as it turned out, torpedo squadron 8 didnt catch a break on june 4, 1942. Oct 26, 2009 overview one of the great untold stories of world war ii finally comes to light in this thrilling account of torpedo squadron eight and their heroic efforts in helping an outmatched u. Book condition as knew, no jacket issued, 512pp including bibliography, appendix, epilogue. He was subsequently awarded the navy cross for his actions, while his unit received the presidential unit citation for this battle. Torpedo squadron 8 vt8 was a united states navy squadron of world war ii torpedo. Torpedo squadron eight battle of midway by gay, george and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Feb 9, 2017 torpedo squadron eight vt8 pilots photographed aboard uss. When is the shooting down of all the planes in a squadron a victory. Much has been told of the heroic sacrifice of torpedo squadron eight at the battle of midway.

Jun 04, 2009 historian, novelist and former congressman robert mrazek has written a new history of ensign george gays unit, torpedo squadron eight. The fame of torpedo eight has rested on the actions of the main body of the squadron based on board the uss hornet cv 8. There were 30 men in the vt8s tbd devastator squadron and on june 4, 1942 they flew off of their carrier in pursuit of the japanese naval fleet. Life magazine is the treasured photographic magazine that chronicled the 20th century. Prepare yourself to decipher fact vs fiction in roland. The true story of torpedo squadron eight thriftbooks. Robert mrazeks book a dawn like thunder is a much more accurate history of torpedo sqaudron 8. Hornets torpedo squadron 8, was the sole survivor of his 30man aircrew. Duty, courage, sacrifice torpedo squadron 8 and the. For torpedo squadron 8 of the uss hornet, the battle of midway was a suicide mission. A dawn like thunder the true story of torpedo squadron.

A resident of kennesaw, gay was a wellknown hero of world war ii. Tribute and memorial to the men who gave their all as members of torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 of the uss hornet. Jun 01, 2017 stills from torpedo squadron 8 local identifier. The epic story of the death and rebirth of the famous torpedo squadron 8, destroyed at the battle of midway and rose again to become a crack outfit under the leadership of swede larsen. Recollections of lieutenant george gay united states navy. Torpedo squadron 8 john fords tribute the battle of. Only ensign george gays aircraft was able to launch its torpedo before being shot down and gay would be the sole survivor of the squadron to be picked up later by a pby catalina patrol plane. Swarms of japanese fighters descended on the torpedo planes and five of the six avengers. My first awareness of the story of torpedo squadron eight came from the pen of novelist. Dec 08, 2008 like the light brigade at balaclava and the 7th cavalry at the little big horn, torpedo squadron 8 achieved immortality through a shattering defeat. Waldron, commander of torpedo squadron 8, and ring had often disagreed on where the japanese carriers might have gone. Mar 08, 2009 robert mrazeks engrossing book is a great addition to the many books and films devoted to torpedo squadron 8 and the 15 pilots and crewmen shot down at midway in unsuccessful attacks. All 15 planes were shot down and 29 of the 30 aviators perished in the attack including john waldron and horace dobbs. Shop united states navy torpedo squadron 8 books at alibris.

United states navy torpedo squadron 8 books alibris. At the battle of midway, beginning at 0702 hours, fifteen douglas tbd1 devastator torpedo bombers were launched from the united states navy aircraft carrier uss hornet cv 8 along with squadrons of douglas sbd dauntless dive bombers and grumman f4f wildcat fighters. Jun 01, 2017 three squadrons of torpedo planes had already made lowlevel attacks. Jun 19, 2020 on that day, the men from uss hornets torpedo squadron 8, without fighter protection, carried out an attack against the vastly superior naval forces of japan. Sep 12, 2019 the reason torpedo squadron 8 attacked alone was because hornets air group commander, stanhope ring, made an incorrect guess.

Complete caption photographed on board uss hornet cv 8, circa midmay 1942, shortly before. Torpedo squadron 8 was the first squadron scheduled to receive the aging devastators replacement. Jan 24, 2014 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 ensign. This time, ring ended up missing the japanese carriers flying too far to the north. Hornets torpedo squadron 8, was the sole survivor of his. That attack cost the lives of 29 of the 30 men in the squadron. Gay flew one of the 15 tbd douglas devastator torpedo planes from the aircraft carrier uss hornet cv 8 in an attack on japanese warships near midway island on june 4, 1942. Duty, courage, sacrifice torpedo squadron 8 and the battle.