The primary reason the Japanese fighter CAP devoted all their attention to the torpedo planes is that coordination with the dive bombers broke down; they were supposed to go in together, and force the enemy to divide their defenses. But in the desperate search for the Japanese carriers, the torpedo and dive bomber formations lost sight of each other. When Lt Cmdr John Waldron (leader of Torpedo 8 from the USS Hornet) spotted the enemy flattops, he decided to press home his attack, realizing that without the dive bombers and fighter escort, it would be a suicide mission.
Many also forget that Waldron attacked the Japanese fleet with literally “half a squadron” that morning. His unit was among the first slated to receive the new TBF Avenger, and Waldron sent his less experienced pilots, gunners and maintenance troops to qualify in the TBF. Before Waldron and the rest of the squadron could complete the conversion, the Hornet was ordered to the Pacific, so the elements of Torpedo 8 still equipped with the obsolete TBDs sailed with her.
Meanwhile, the Avenger detachment had completed the conversion and headed for the Pacific, hoping to link up with the rest of the squadron at Pearl Harbor. But they arrived in Hawaii one day after the carrier deployed to Midway, so Navy commanders decided to send the Avenger-equipped element of Torpedo 8 to the island, and become part of the land-based air element that would attack the Japanese fleet in the early stages of the battle.
The crews flying the new TBFs fared only marginally better than Waldron and his men in the TBDs. Only one of the Avengers survived the battle; the last survivor from that crew, Radioman 3rd Class Harry Ferrier, died less than a month ago. Ferrier joined the Navy at 16 (his mother helped him forge his birth certificate) and flew in battle at Midway before his 18th birthday. Ferrier went on to serve 30 years in the Navy, earned his commission and retired as a Commander in 1971.
Here’s a link to Commander Ferrier’s obituary from last month:
With the passing of Captain Kleiss and Commander Ferrier, I wonder: are there any former crew members still living who turned the course of World War II in the matter of a few minutes? These men are not only amazing; they are national treasures.
One cannot repeat the name of John C. Waldron too often.