US Navy Torpedo Bombers at Midway Tribute

This is a small tribute to the three ill-fated US Navy torpedo squadrons at the Battle of Midway, June 4th of 1942. VT-8, VT-6 & VT-3. In all they totaled 41 obsolete TDB Devastator torpedo planes (of which only 6 survived) and six new Grumman Avenger torpedo planes (sent from Midway island but part of VT-8). The first two squadrons were seperated from their fighter escort yet pressed on the attacks regardless.

The aircrew footage shown here is of the men of VT-8. Of the healthy, happy and brave young men seen, all but one would be dead shortly after this footage was taken. VT-8 was the first to attack and lost all 15 planes. The only man to survive was rescued from the ocean the next day. The take off footage is the actual VT-8 mission departure. None of the planes would return.

The other TBDs fared little better. VT-6 lost 10 of 14 planes and VT-3 lost 10 of 12. All squadron leaders were killed. Of the 6 new Avengers all but one were lost and only 2 of 18 men survived.

No torpedos hit or damaged their targets but the planes were not lost in entirely on vain. The Japanese fighters that protected the carriers were pulled down to low altitude to chase the torpedo bombers thereby allowing high altitude dive bombers (which showed up shortly thereafter) to make their attacks unmolested. The SBD dive bombers sank 3 carriers and later claimed a fourth. The torpedo planes had their revenge.

The attackers had gotten in unimpeded because our fighters, which had engaged the preceding wave of torpedo planes only a few moments earlier, had not yet had time to regain altitude.

"Consequently, it may be said that the American dive-bombers' success was made possible by the earlier martyrdom of their torpedo planes". .......Mitsuo Fuchida, IJN


It should be remembered that four Army B-26 Marauder medium bombers had made a torpedo attack earlier in the day. 2 were lost and none hit their targets. The 2 surviving planes were horribly bullet riddled.

Despite these losses the TBDs were pressed back into service until the end of the Battle of Midway which understandably marked their last combat action.

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[Cavelson]

Respect and remember all the effort. And this would be an example for our and next generation!

[midsterproductions]

Respect to them all, R.I.P.