Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8, June 4, 1942)

Torpedo Squadron Eight's 15 Douglas Devastators (TBD-1's) attacked the Japanese carriers during the Battle of Midway after launching from the USS Hornet. Lt. Commander John Charles Waldron was their skipper. Before takeoff he appended his own final message to VT-8's attack plan. It read, "Just a word to let you know that I feel we are all ready. We have had a very short time to train and we have worked under the most severe difficulties. But we have done the best humanly possible. I actually believe that under these conditions we are the best in the world. My greatest hope is that we encounter a favorable tactical situation, but if we don't, and the worst comes to worst, I want each of us to do his utmost to destroy our enemies. If there is only one plane left to make a final run-in, I want that man to go in and get a hit. May God be with us all. Good Luck, happy landings, and give 'em hell." The attack by VT-8 paved the way for the USN's dive bombers by causing the Japanese to defend against an attack at sea level. Of the 15 pilots and 15 crew members only Ensign George Gay survived ... all 15 planes were shot down. George Gay's remains were dropped into the sea near the battle area a few years ago. Admiral Nimitz instructed John Ford to film the battle. Ford, then a Lt. Commander in the OSS, was severely injured during the attack while filming on the island. One of his crews, aboard the Hornet, was making a documentary film featuring VT-8. This was their film as it was edited and presented to the families. The film was never released to the public for obvious reasons. This was VT-8's first and only takeoff with a torpedo attached. For entire account see Life Magazine, August 31, 1942. Ford's 19-minute documentary film, Midway, was awarded an Oscar after its release. I've seen snippets from this material but never the entire video.
(National Archives 2002

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• Midway
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[Waistgunner39]

Waldron was part Souix and knew how to track an opponent...I think he knew he and his torpedo group couldn't possibly make it back & that in order for the Americans to win at Midway a sacrifical -and suicidal-attack had to be made. They -Torpedo 8- did it for their country...and should have been given the CMH (posthumously)

[n1014f]

I agree ... read A DAWN LIKE THUNDER: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight .... cheers

[slayerrat]

RIP, they truly were brave men

[MrMFHORN]

If only our youth would relize the integrity and bravery of such men.

[hoodoo2001]

The frustrating thing is that there are two known TBD Devastator wrecks in the ocean that are recoverable but the Navy keeps dragging it's feet. There are zero TBD's left in the world and one of these wrecks should be recovered. I don't think either wreck is a war grave and there is much talk of recovery but it does not get done. We need a fitting memorial to VT-8.

[andres1963]

@pavel41 Wow.... NICE!!!

[killerkirbydude]

At about 30-40 seconds in, play this.

watch?v=tMrFiOjxk5s

Maybe it's not fitting, but I thought it was.

[warwatcher91]

@cochranexyz Are you serious?

[tanatej]

"We will go in. We won't turn back. We will attack. Good luck....."

[maxsmodels]

This footage was take at Coral Sea a month before Midway. Fayle was not at Midway nor was Ellisons gunner. 

[cochranexyz]

You all realize that this is PROPAGANDA. Yes, the US won. But it is still propaganda.

[clintonearlwalker]

"Ring subsequently led the group on an incorrect heading which resulted in the failure of the dive bombers to make contact with the Japanese fleet. Commander Waldron made repeated attempts to take over the formation by radio before leading VT-8 off on his own.[2] Waldron's initiative coupled with Ring's faulty tactics led to VT-8 attacking the Japanese force without fighter or dive bomber support."--Wikipedia

[VeeGlo]

@jers59 Ironically, the 6 Avengers that were flown from midway were the transitional det. of the Hornets' own VT8! LCDR Waldron's squadron had been selected to switch over from the TDB to the new TBF. A det. of VT-8 personnel was ashore in Hawaii training on the new a/c when Hornet was ordered out toward Midway with Enterprise and, later, Yorktown. The TBFs were flown to Midway by VT-8 personnel and flown against the Japanese from land.