Jun 04, 2009 historian, novelist and former congressman robert mrazek has written a new history of ensign george gays unit, torpedo squadron eight. More than 300 americans lost their lives during the battle of midway, including all but one. After heavy losses in the battle of midway, vt8 was assigned to uss saratoga. Although a fact based retelling of the adventures and tragedies of torpedo squadron eight at the start of wwii in the battle of midway and later in guadalcanal, this book flows like a good fictional novel. A complete story of the squadron, it highlights my uncle bill, the squire, and his poignant writings. The british squadron was in the harbor of fort malden, nearly opposite on the canadian shore.
After boot camp and aviation radio school, he joined torpedo squadron 8 vt8 stationed on the aircraft carrier uss hornet. These men were perhaps the main reason that the battle of midway was an american victory. If any torpedo squadron should get credit for bringing enemy air cover down to sea level, it would be vt3. Nov 08, 2019 subscribe book shop travel with us smartnews history science ingenuity. The memoirs of ski kowalewski, wwii veteran and member of the. 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. The battle of midway through the eyes of those who were there. The aircraft carrier uss yorktown was sunk, and an entire squadron of 15 torpedo planes was shot down.
It begins with the men of torpedo 8, then covers their attack at midway and then their exploits in the battle for guadalcanal. It was small, fast, and inexpensive to build, valued for its maneuverability and speed but hampered at the beginning of the war by ineffective torpedoes, limited armament, and comparatively fragile construction that limited some of the variants to coastal waters. Please supply us immediately, read the message sent by american. The attackers bravery and determination made a great impression on the japanese who witnessed it. Not every person who encounters personal trials in their life is a hero. Due to heavy cumulative losses on guadalcanal, vt8 wa. On the morning of october 24, 1944, in the sibuyan sea amidst the philippine islands, vt18, a closeknit squadron of six young american torpedo bomber pilots, departed the aircraft carrier uss intrepid on a search and destroy mission. The book sole survivor is an autobiography written by george gay. George gay was rescued by the seaplane almost 30 hours after being shot down, the sole survivor of 15 devastator crews of torpedo squadron 8. During world war ii torpedo squadron eight helped an outmatched u.
Vt6 and vt8 did not accomplish much, there was a a full halfhour between the last attacks from vt7 and appearance of the dive bombers that eventually crippled the japanese carriers. The project gutenberg ebook of four american naval heroes, by. After heavy losses in the battle of midway, vt 8 was assigned to uss saratoga. He was the only survivor of the 4 june 1942 torpedo squadron eight vt8 tbd torpedo plane attack on the japanese carrier force. Prepare yourself to decipher fact vs fiction in roland. Herman wouks novel war and remembrance pays tribute to torpedo 8, whose pilots he called the soul of america in action. There were 30 men in the vt 8 s tbd devastator squadron and on june 4, 1942 they flew off of their carrier in pursuit of the japanese naval fleet. The pows who endured vietnams most infamous prison.
Check out this excellent book for much more on john fords service and the battle of midway. The entire squadron was killed except for one pilot, george gay, who authored the book, sole survivor the battle of midway 1980. A dawn like thunder tells the story of gays squadrons. Jun 05, 2017 the aircraft carrier uss yorktown was sunk, and an entire squadron of 15 torpedo planes was shot down. 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. 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. The book is illustrated and tells the story of the builder and work of the little boat that made history, before the hunley. A legendary american divebomber pilot remembers the battle.
Jan 01, 2008 the naval aviators of torpedo squadron 8, celebrated by robert j. The heroic flight of torpedo squadron 8 warfare history. A dawn like thunder hooked me from the first page and didnt let go. On the morning of september 10, 18, from the masthead of the lawrence, the english fleet was seen approaching. Jul 01, 2012 an excellent and well researched book of a squadron of american torpedo bomber pilots from the aircraft carrier uss intrepid on a mission to destroy the super battleship musashi, the pride of the imperial japanese navy around leyte gulf in the philippines during world war ii. George gay was the sole survivor of his squadron in a battle that took place in the middle of the pacific ocean during wwii. The naval aviators of torpedo squadron 8, celebrated by robert j. He is remembered for his order at the battle of mobile bay usually paraphrased as damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead in u. This book provides a muchneeded picture of them and the air war for guadalcanal. Fourteeen tbd1s of torpedo squadron 6 vt6 from uss enterprise cv 6, and devastators of torpedo squadron 3 vt 3 from uss yorktown cv 5 were the other two torprons attacking. Early in august the american squadron left the harbor of erie, and sailed to putinbay, an island not far from the west end of the lake. Battle of midway june 36, 1942, world war ii naval battle, fought almost entirely with aircraft, in which the united states destroyed japans firstline carrier strength and most of its best trained naval pilots. Mrazek 2008, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Torpedo squadron 8 vt8 was a united states navy squadron of world war ii torpedo.
Gays book sole survivor indicates that the date of this photograph is probably 7 june 1942, following an operation to repair his injured left hand and a meeting with admiral chester w. On the day the attack began, kenneth pier was shooting footage on the deck of uss hornet. This book tells the story of the american torpedo squadrons that were all but wiped out by the japanese carrier task force at the battle of midway on june 4, 1942. Vt6 and vt 8 did not accomplish much, there was a a full halfhour between the last attacks from vt7 and appearance of the dive bombers that eventually crippled the japanese carriers. Torpedo squadron 8 is a film memorial that shows the men mugging for the camera and posing. Just like other two torpedo squadrons, they had no fighter protection it would arrive later, but too. It includes not only the three carrierlaunched squadrons of vt3 yorktown, vt6 enterprise and vt8 hornet, but also the group of tbf avengers and b26 marauders based on midway. In the aftermath of torpedo 8 s heroic attack, two additional torpedo squadrons located the japanese carriers. Navy and author of three novels, including stonewalls gold. The american victory at midway had more to do with bold leaders than lucky breaks. The squadrons older and slower douglas devastators were no match for the japanese zeros. On june 4, 1942, fifteen of the squadrons planes took off from the aircraft carrier hornet, and six more from midway island, to attack an oncoming japanese fleet.
After boot camp and aviation radio school, he joined torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 stationed on the aircraft carrier uss hornet. Historian, novelist and former congressman robert mrazek has written a new history of ensign george gays unit, torpedo squadron eight. Defiant is an excellent book for younger readers with little knowledge of this searing chapter in american history, when a brash united states stumbled its way deeper and deeper into the indochina morass. As commander of motor torpedo boat squadron 3, in philippine waters during the period 7 december 1941 to 10 april 1942. They gave up their lives, and perhaps changed the war when they attacked without cover. The true story of the world war ii pacific naval battle that pitted the uss intrepids naval aviators against japans superbattleship musashi during the battle of leyte gulf. Intrepid aviators book charlotte mecklenburg library. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. He and twentynine of the thirty men of his squadron perished in the battle of midway. Over their radios most of the squadron members of scouting six and bombing six heard the voice of ensign manuel gonzales shout, do not attack me. A stirring, truly heroic book that is destined to become a classic.
A dawn like thunder and millions of other books are available for instant. Heroic wwii navy pilot memorialized in a new book youtube. All but one of the members of the squadron perished in its first combat mission in the battle of midway. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 was a united states navy squadron of world war ii torpedo bombers. Torpedo squadron 8 was created in 1941 to become part of an air group. Subscribe book shop travel with us smartnews history science ingenuity. An ominous radio transmission from one of the sbds set the tone. The brave men of this squadron attacked the japanese fleet at midway in 1942 in antiquated tbd torpedo aircraft. These young men, with much to live for, sold their lives dearly to blunt japanese aggression against the u.
Vt8 was assigned initially to the air group of the aircraft carrier uss hornet, joining the ship shortly after her commissioning in october 1941. Soon after, the men of torpedo squadron 8 vt8 were the first to fight the. On the morning of october 24, 1944, in the sibuyan sea amidst the philippine islands, vt18, a closeknit squadron of six young american torpedo bomber pilots, departed the aircraft carrier uss intrepid on a search. Squadron eight and their heroic efforts in helping an outmatched u. This is a discussion on torpedo squadron 8 within the wall of honor forums, part of the armed services category. May 04, 2019 though not an inveterate book reader or particular collector of war tales, ive reread this particular book 4 or 5 times. The destruction of the american torpedo squadrons the yale library of military history english edition ebook. Intrepid aviators navy general library program downloadable. Soon after, the men of torpedo squadron 8 vt 8 were the first to fight the. The true story of torpedo squadron eight has 5 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Louis zamperini left makes broadcast to the united states after spending 28 months in a japanese prison camp. The story of the first successful torpedo boat attack in american naval warfare. July 5, 1801 august 14, 1870 was a flag officer of the united states navy during the american civil war. Never call me a hero tells the story of dusty kleisss role in the battle of midway.
The memoirs of ski kowalewski, wwii veteran and member of. This was about a month after the battle of the coral sea, and six months after the japanese attack on pearl harbor the united states navy defeated a japanese attack against midway atoll northwest of hawaii. The following video is in memory of torpedo squadron eight vt8. What the viewer is not told is that gays torpedo squadron 8 from the uss hornet lost every aircraft that morning and gay, picked up after 30 hours in the water, was the only survivor of his squadron. Their lowlevel attack brought the japanese zero fighters down to the surface, allowing the. Oct 26, 2009 the account of waldrons attack, and the general overall content of the book, contains many incorrect assumptions, which have already been clearly demolished in recent years, the principal one being being that, as all the torpedo squadron 8 torpedobombers were destroyed with ease by the japanese an hour before the american divebombers. Today the appellation hero is thrown about frivolously. On june 4, 1942, fifteen of the squadron s planes took off from the aircraft carrier hornet, and six more from midway island, to attack an oncoming japanese fleet. Click download or read online button to get 633 squadron book now. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the united states navy. Jun 27, 2019 the memoirs of ski kowalewski, wwii veteran and member of the famous torpedo squadron eight vt8 devastated at the battle of midway. Yorktowns torpedo squadron, vt3, arrived at the scene at just as the vt6 ended its attack. Only four of 41 american carrier torpedo planes returned. Torpedo 8 was afterwards awarded the american presidential unit citation.
George gay, survived the doomed attack of torpedo squadron 8. At the time japanese carriers were 3040 miles away. Intrepid aviators the true story of uss intrepids torpedo squadron 18 and its epic clash with the superbattleship musashi book. A pt boat short for patrol torpedo boat was a motor torpedo boat used by the united states navy in world war ii. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Yale university press, 2005 considers torpedo squadron 8. Of the tens of thousands of aggies who served in the nations military, woodall has selected twelve individuals who stand out as singular examples of bravery and heroism. Navy cross, distinguished service cross, silver star. The true story of torpedo squadron eight by robert j. The true story of torpedo squadron eight 9780316056533. As world war ii raged, six young american bombers from torpedo squadron 18 were sent on a searchanddestroy mission in the sibuyan sea. C arved into the marble walls of the national world war ii memorial in washington, d. The account of waldrons attack, and the general overall content of the book, contains many incorrect assumptions, which have already been clearly demolished in recent years, the principal one being being that, as all the torpedo squadron 8 torpedobombers were destroyed with ease by the japanese an hour before the american divebombers. Dec 24, 2014 his story is the inspiration for the bestselling book, unbroken and now a major motion picture by the same name.
An excellent and well researched book of a squadron of american torpedo bomber pilots from the aircraft carrier uss intrepid on a mission to destroy the super battleship musashi, the pride of the imperial japanese navy around leyte gulf in the philippines during world war ii. Battle of midway simple english wikipedia, the free. Following on the success of texas aggie medals of honor, james r. The pilots were tasked with preventing the immense enemy warship from inflicting damage on american supply.
I knew of the illfated attack of the torpedo 8 squadron at the battle of midway, but this was only a small part of the story of torpedo 8. The project gutenberg ebook of four american naval heroes. The latter half of the book is devoted to the exploits of torpedo 8 in the battle for guadalcanal. When saratoga was disabled on 31 august, vt8 was transferred to henderson field on guadalcanal, operating there until november 1942. Mrazeks research and obvious affection for his heroes is indeed extraordinary. 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. A dawn like thunder tells the story of gays squadron s. Thank you for this blog which helps keep the memory of these young men alive. Torpedo squadron 8, flying off the uss hornet, didnt fly toward the last reported sighting of the japanese fleet, but lcdr waldron had a hunch that they would be moving away from midway island. Hornets torpedo squadron 8, was the sole survivor of his. Mrazek has written the definitive account of how the few american pilots of torpedo squadron eight changed history at midway and guadalcanal.
Like the light brigade at balaclava and the 7th cavalry at the little big horn, torpedo squadron 8 achieved immortality through a shattering defeat. The battle of midway was an important naval battle of world war ii, between the united states and the empire of japan. Waldron led torpedo squadron 8 straight to the enemy aircraft carriers, and straight into the protective cover of 32 fast and highly maneuverable japanese zero fighters. Another detachment of torpedo 8, comprised of a few of the new tbf avenger torpedobombers, was flying that day from midway island itself. The douglas tbd1a devastator that bill evans flew has recently been identified. The heroic flight of torpedo squadron 8 warfare history network.
The true story of the battle of midway history smithsonian. Ferriers aircraft was the only one of torpedo squadron 8 to survive. All but one of the 29 men from torpedo squadron 8 were killed in action. In 1941, vt8 was flying the outdated tbd devastator, but in early 1942, the squadron was selected to receive the first of the new tbf avengers. In the firsthand story of a young american pilot who flew with the famous torpedo squadron eight from the deck of the carrier uss hornet cv8 in some of the great battles of the pacific in world war ii. John ford made this memorial film for the families of members of torpedeo squadron 8. Pearl harbors forgotten dogfights warfare history network. While the exploits of john waldron and those who followed him are well known the subsequent actions of torpedo 8 on guadalcanal are not. In 1941, vt 8 was flying the outdated tbd devastator, but in early 1942, the squadron was selected to receive the first of the new tbf avengers. The divebombers were not the first american carrierbased planes to attack the enemy flattops. Townley also adds an important, and often overlooked, dimension to the prisoners stories that of their wives campaign at home to.
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