I wanted to write a new article for today, it being the 70th anniversary of Midway. However, real life interferes so here is a repost of an article from 2 years ago.

AW1 Tim's Blog

Scott the Badger reminds us all that today, 4 June, marks the 68th anniversary of Torpedo 8’s famous attack against the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway.  Of the core group onboard Hornet, 15 aircraft went into battle that day, and all  were shot down by Japanese fighters or anti-aircraft fire, with the loss of every man except one, Ensign George Gay.

VT-8 was equipped with Douglas TBD Devastators, a relatively slow and out-classed aircraft.  A portion of the squadron was stateside, receiving the new Grumman TBF Avenger. These crews missed the sailing of USS Hornet, and so flew their aircraft in a series of stages to Midway, where they launched in support of operations against the Japanese fleet. Another detachment of VT-8 was left behind at Pearl Harbor, and sailed with USS Saratoga. Upon transferring to Hornet, they learned of the loss of…

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