God Bless each of them...these men and others like them are what this country is all about...when I see what is going on today and what they fought and died to protect being spent, given and borrowed away for an ideology ... it makes me sick!
It seems almost like an eerie symbolism that only one of them is dressed in a blue shirt and pants. I also appreciate the lack of criticism, debate, and meaningless 2nd guessing that seems all too common about these things, by people whos perspective is lacking to say the least. These guys knew what their duty entailed, and I find it a solemn lesson of the kind of selflessness and courage that man is capable of, but seldom seen, and leaves a standard for all to aspire to.
The Devastator was a very modern plane when fielded in 1935. By 1942, it was totally obolete, lacking armor, self-sealing fuel tanks, and only sporting a single .30 for rear defence. Waldron saw the futility of that, and had his planes rear guns doubled, but it did little good at Midway. These men changed the course of the war, and should be remembered.
Look at the faces of these young men. Handsome, fresh, happy and vibrant young men with futures ahead of them, loved ones at home and childhood memories and dreams inside each of them. Shortly after this was filmed, all of them bar one were dead. Imagine one of them to be your dad, or your brother and then you may get an inkling of the magnitude of their loss to their families. These men had lives worth living and none of them hesitated to give them up. Never forget them. Rest in eternal peace.
The two US Task-Forces embarked with 43 TBD Devastators prior to the Battle. At the end of the battle, they came home with just three. THREE! ( 34 shot down, three ditched due to battle damage, one lost in an take-off accident, one jettisioned due to damage and one pushed overboard during salvage attempts on the Yorktown). A total of 82 TBD crewmen took part in the fighting on June 4th flying with Torpedo Eight, Six & Three. Only 14 were still alive to see the sun go down. Please remember.......
Ensign George Gay was the only survivor of Torpedo 8. After a whirlwind trip around the country selling war bonds, Gay was offered any posting in the Navy. He chose to go back to the war. Lt. Gay was posted to Gaudalcanal, where he flew Avenger torpedo bombers on bombing missions. I don't believe that he ever carried another torpedo in the war, the one on his Devastator being the first and only war shot he ever carried.
@killingamps. Gay passed away in 1994 and upon his instructions, his ashes were scattered over the area of Pacific Ocean where his Torpedo 8 comrades had perished on June 4- 1942.
WMG don't care about our heroes. They are mercenaries and only understand a pile of money. Thanks to the guys from torpedo 8 you're not speaking japanese or your sons burning in Auchiwitz .
@usselliot76 Yes, you are right. Hornet's Bombing & Scouting Eight took a wrong turn and didn't find the Japanese carriers. Half of them landed on Midway island (where a couple crashed). Meanwhile the ten F4Fs of Fighting Eight, who had been following the dive-bombers, turned for home too late and all of them ditched in the sea after running out of fuel. Therefore Commander Waldron and Torpedo Eight attacked Nagumo's carriers alone.
They should show this to every aviation class that come thru Penesecola. Every high school should see this and look at the faces of each and every one of those MEN Only ONE SURVIVOR..ONE! And what the hell do these young folks worship now? Pro ball players who are over paid and whine about being hurt? THESE MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES SO WE CAN ENJOY OURS!
Mendo, thanks for uploading this video. I just read Robert Myrazek's 'A Dawn Like Thunder'. The story of the men and the battle - incredible sacrifice. Leaves the reader feeling thankful, selfish, and sad after 400 pages.
I was moved to tears. Thank you so much. For anyone wanting to learn more about the awesome sacrifice made by these men and all the brave Americans at Midway I recommend reading Walter Lord's "Incredible Victory."
thank you so much for showing this video. I had no clue it was around. Even though I am fully aware what happen during the battle of Midway alot of people forgets not all of the pilots were killed. Some of the torpedo pilots were taken off the ship to get the new TBM Avenger airplanes in Hawaii. These planes then flew to Midway to take part in the action. I read this from George Gay book "Lone Survivor"(of Torpedo 8). I met G.Gay at an Airshow in 1984. Great guy, my hero. God rest his soul.
Brought tears to my eyes as I was not aware of the Torpedo squadron video. I can remember seeing Ensign Gay on the "Today Show" about 20 years ago as well as owning a Life magazine with him recovering at the hospital.
Thank you so much for this great post! I will pass it on to my children and hope they feel as emotional as I did when I watched it. I appreciate the way you restored the video quality so I could read the names and see the men more clearly. I do like the original soundtrack better though and hope that your video version can accompany the original audio which is more somber. Thanks again and God Bless America, and all it's fallen warriors.
I remeber reading about two or three men who survived their crash, who from Torpedo Squadron 8. When the Japanese picked them up, they tied weights to their feet and threw them over board.
After they got defeated so badly I would not doubt it. The Japanese were very disillusioned by defeat and probably would not have kept survivors. Same goes with George HW Bush when he was shot down, thank God he was rescued. Now Japan is a free country and a great ally, I saw them in Iraq when I was there and have been to their country. At one time I hated them, but now I value their friendship. In the world now of friends and enemies Japan is a close friend of the USA.
My Father (1916-2003) was on the Hornet (CV-8) as an SK1 from pre-commission until sinking in October '42. He always spoke fondly of the crews associated with Squardron 8.
God Bless each of them...these men and others like them are what this country is all about...when I see what is going on today and what they fought and died to protect being spent, given and borrowed away for an ideology ... it makes me sick!
hardbluesguy 9 months ago
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FistFullofGaming 1 year ago
It seems almost like an eerie symbolism that only one of them is dressed in a blue shirt and pants. I also appreciate the lack of criticism, debate, and meaningless 2nd guessing that seems all too common about these things, by people whos perspective is lacking to say the least. These guys knew what their duty entailed, and I find it a solemn lesson of the kind of selflessness and courage that man is capable of, but seldom seen, and leaves a standard for all to aspire to.
siral000 1 year ago
The Devastator was a very modern plane when fielded in 1935. By 1942, it was totally obolete, lacking armor, self-sealing fuel tanks, and only sporting a single .30 for rear defence. Waldron saw the futility of that, and had his planes rear guns doubled, but it did little good at Midway. These men changed the course of the war, and should be remembered.
killingamps 1 year ago
Look at the faces of these young men. Handsome, fresh, happy and vibrant young men with futures ahead of them, loved ones at home and childhood memories and dreams inside each of them. Shortly after this was filmed, all of them bar one were dead. Imagine one of them to be your dad, or your brother and then you may get an inkling of the magnitude of their loss to their families. These men had lives worth living and none of them hesitated to give them up. Never forget them. Rest in eternal peace.
hill9868 1 year ago
The two US Task-Forces embarked with 43 TBD Devastators prior to the Battle. At the end of the battle, they came home with just three. THREE! ( 34 shot down, three ditched due to battle damage, one lost in an take-off accident, one jettisioned due to damage and one pushed overboard during salvage attempts on the Yorktown). A total of 82 TBD crewmen took part in the fighting on June 4th flying with Torpedo Eight, Six & Three. Only 14 were still alive to see the sun go down. Please remember.......
hill9868 1 year ago
Ensign George Gay was the only survivor of Torpedo 8. After a whirlwind trip around the country selling war bonds, Gay was offered any posting in the Navy. He chose to go back to the war. Lt. Gay was posted to Gaudalcanal, where he flew Avenger torpedo bombers on bombing missions. I don't believe that he ever carried another torpedo in the war, the one on his Devastator being the first and only war shot he ever carried.
killingamps 1 year ago
@killingamps. Gay passed away in 1994 and upon his instructions, his ashes were scattered over the area of Pacific Ocean where his Torpedo 8 comrades had perished on June 4- 1942.
hill9868 1 year ago 3
WMG don't care about our heroes. They are mercenaries and only understand a pile of money. Thanks to the guys from torpedo 8 you're not speaking japanese or your sons burning in Auchiwitz .
Cavelson 1 year ago
Also they were the ONLY part of Hornets airgroup to engage the enemy
usselliot76 1 year ago
@usselliot76 Yes, you are right. Hornet's Bombing & Scouting Eight took a wrong turn and didn't find the Japanese carriers. Half of them landed on Midway island (where a couple crashed). Meanwhile the ten F4Fs of Fighting Eight, who had been following the dive-bombers, turned for home too late and all of them ditched in the sea after running out of fuel. Therefore Commander Waldron and Torpedo Eight attacked Nagumo's carriers alone.
hill9868 1 year ago
@hill9868 Because of Stanhope Cotton Ring's iconic arrogance.
acepilot1997 11 months ago
They should show this to every aviation class that come thru Penesecola. Every high school should see this and look at the faces of each and every one of those MEN Only ONE SURVIVOR..ONE! And what the hell do these young folks worship now? Pro ball players who are over paid and whine about being hurt? THESE MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES SO WE CAN ENJOY OURS!
Paladin1441 2 years ago 3
Assuming the film of these brave men was taken the day of the attack, just hours later all but one would be dead.
Crimble67 2 years ago
Mendo, thanks for uploading this video. I just read Robert Myrazek's 'A Dawn Like Thunder'. The story of the men and the battle - incredible sacrifice. Leaves the reader feeling thankful, selfish, and sad after 400 pages.
tundradirtbiker 2 years ago
@tundradirtbiker I love that book! I am reading it again now!
acepilot1997 11 months ago
Thanks for sharing this better resolution memorial video. I can only marvel at the bravery.
AmericanDemon7 3 years ago
I was moved to tears. Thank you so much. For anyone wanting to learn more about the awesome sacrifice made by these men and all the brave Americans at Midway I recommend reading Walter Lord's "Incredible Victory."
cheshirebranch 3 years ago 2
...The heroes of Torpedo Squadron 8 caused the Japanese fighters to engage them instead!
Yep. The Japanese cover air patrol were all down at wave-top level when the SBD's arrived. Their attack wasn't in vain.
knightflyer42 3 years ago 10
Vey brave men,
peoplecan1965 3 years ago
thank you so much for showing this video. I had no clue it was around. Even though I am fully aware what happen during the battle of Midway alot of people forgets not all of the pilots were killed. Some of the torpedo pilots were taken off the ship to get the new TBM Avenger airplanes in Hawaii. These planes then flew to Midway to take part in the action. I read this from George Gay book "Lone Survivor"(of Torpedo 8). I met G.Gay at an Airshow in 1984. Great guy, my hero. God rest his soul.
A20havoc 3 years ago 2
Lest we forget.
windsor36 3 years ago
This video is outstanding. Thank you for sharing. We owe men like this more than we could ever repay. Truly American Hereos.
ScratchBuiltRCBoats 3 years ago
Brought tears to my eyes as I was not aware of the Torpedo squadron video. I can remember seeing Ensign Gay on the "Today Show" about 20 years ago as well as owning a Life magazine with him recovering at the hospital.
phillippatterson1 3 years ago
Thank you so much for this great post! I will pass it on to my children and hope they feel as emotional as I did when I watched it. I appreciate the way you restored the video quality so I could read the names and see the men more clearly. I do like the original soundtrack better though and hope that your video version can accompany the original audio which is more somber. Thanks again and God Bless America, and all it's fallen warriors.
From a Navy Veteran and family of Navy Vet's
verbusen 3 years ago
This video is outstanding video. Thank you for sharing. We owe men like this mre han we could ever repay. Truly American Hereos.
ScratchBuiltRCBoats 3 years ago
I remeber reading about two or three men who survived their crash, who from Torpedo Squadron 8. When the Japanese picked them up, they tied weights to their feet and threw them over board.
Thor599 4 years ago
After they got defeated so badly I would not doubt it. The Japanese were very disillusioned by defeat and probably would not have kept survivors. Same goes with George HW Bush when he was shot down, thank God he was rescued. Now Japan is a free country and a great ally, I saw them in Iraq when I was there and have been to their country. At one time I hated them, but now I value their friendship. In the world now of friends and enemies Japan is a close friend of the USA.
verbusen 3 years ago
Brave men...
kt1963 4 years ago
Very moving. Could you even imagine modern day Hollywood doing something like this for the families of servicemen in Iraq or Afghanistan?
Custer61 4 years ago
By God.
DEP717 4 years ago
Great vid. Thanks!!!
231x2 4 years ago
Very, very moving tribute. When people talk of how "brave" Japanese kamikaze pilots were, I say remember Torpedo Squadron 8. None more brave.
WNM52 4 years ago
My Father (1916-2003) was on the Hornet (CV-8) as an SK1 from pre-commission until sinking in October '42. He always spoke fondly of the crews associated with Squardron 8.
oldmoney1959 4 years ago 2
Thks for posting... this is really very rare.
claus250 4 years ago
It is said that Winston Churchill wept when he read the report of the loss of Torpedo 8.
bjeffrey0802 4 years ago
Nicely done...a great tribute
bobhosta 4 years ago