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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
named the airfield for Lofton Henderson, a Medal of Honor aviator killed in June at the battle of Midway.

Lazy, ignorant columnist alert. Henderson was not awarded the Medal of Honor.

3 posted on 06/23/2003 11:20:36 AM PDT by SMEDLEYBUTLER
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
Thanks for the correction!
4 posted on 06/23/2003 11:24:58 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Iran Mullahs will feel the heat from our Iraq victory!)
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
Found this regarding Henderson:

Chapter 4: Midway Versus the Japanese, 4-5 June 1942

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Meanwhile, as Nagumo vacillated, Admiral Nimitz's orders for Captain Simard to "go all out for the carriers," while Marine antiaircraft batteries worried about Midway, were under execution. VMSB-241, like the fighter squadron, had divided into two striking units, the first composed of 16 SBD-2s led by Major Lofton Henderson, and the second of 11 SB2U-3s commanded by Major Benjamin W. Norris. Hendersons' group climbed to 9,000 feet to locate the enemy carriers, which were then undergoing the attack from the TBFs and the B-26s. Fliers of this group sighted the Japanese ships at 0744, but as the SBDs spiralled down they were set upon by swarms of Nakajima 97s and Zeros flying air cover, which were soon reinforced by more fighters from the carriers below. Henderson and several other were shot down (only eight of these planes got back to Midway) and the strike scored no hits although some were claimed.8

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7 posted on 06/23/2003 11:53:56 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (Iran Mullahs will feel the heat from our Iraq victory!)
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