Request for Battle of Midway and Battle of Coral Sea veteran stories

[WWIIinterviews]

 

 

 

As we approach the anniversary of the Battle of Midway from June 4-7, 1942, and reflect on the events that unfolded in the Pacific Theater, it is essential to acknowledge the courage and determination shown by those who served. We extend our tribute to the pilots and crews of both ships and planes, and the valorous individuals who were on Midway Island that pivotal day. Additionally, we recognize the unsung heroes who participated, yet may never have had their stories told. I invite you to share your hero's story on my WWII Interviews page. Please send me a message containing their narrative along with a photograph of the veteran. It would be a privilege to feature it on my page in honor of the anniversary.

 

[R Leonard]

My father was a fighter pilot in VF-42 off Yorktown from June 1941 thru the end of May 1942, including early raids and at Coral Sea,  When Yorktown returned to Pearl Harbor he was the senior, at the exalted rank of LTJG, of the VF-42 pilots who were TAD to VF-3 for Yorktown's Midway deployment.  VF-42 pilots made up a majority of the VF-3 pilots, generally, and specifically those who saw combat.  He rarely "told stories."  Most of what he was doing of any importance can be found in some well written and researched tomes, such as those by John Lundstrom.  When presented with tales from other sources he would either say "That's true," "That's not true," or "That's an out an out lie."  Most  of the Midway related crap presented in Astor's "Wings of Gold" fall into that last category.  So, not a raconteur or story teller, (hell's bells I never knew he was an ace until sometime when I was in high school in the late 1960's), but if you asked the right question, you'd get an answer.

 

As time went on, he was often the recipient of written enquiries from various folks on various subject on Naval Aviation in the Pacific.  Most of these he would carefully answer.  The good part was he always wrote a rough draft of any response to same before a final version went out.  I have most of those roughs in my files along with 99% of the letters sent home right up to the end of the war when he was Jimmie Thach's assistant in the TF-38 ops shop.

 

[WWIIinterviews]

2 hours ago, R Leonard said:

My father was a fighter pilot in VF-42 off Yorktown from June 1941 thru the end of May 1942, including early raids and at Coral Sea,  When Yorktown returned to Pearl Harbor he was the senior, at the exalted rank of LTJG, of the VF-42 pilots who were TAD to VF-3 for Yorktown's Midway deployment.  VF-42 pilots made up a majority of the VF-3 pilots, generally, and specifically those who saw combat.  He rarely "told stories."  Most of what he was doing of any importance can be found in some well written and researched tomes, such as those by John Lundstrom.  When presented with tales from other sources he would either say "That's true," "That's not true," or "That's an out an out lie."  Most  of the Midway related crap presented in Astor's "Wings of Gold" fall into that last category.  So, not a raconteur or story teller, (hell's bells I never knew he was an ace until sometime when I was in high school in the late 1960's), but if you asked the right question, you'd get an answer.

 

As time went on, he was often the recipient of written enquiries from various folks on various subject on Naval Aviation in the Pacific.  Most of these he would carefully answer.  The good part was he always wrote a rough draft of any response to same before a final version went out.  I have most of those roughs in my files along with 99% of the letters sent home right up to the end of the war when he was Jimmie Thach's assistant in the TF-38 ops shop.

 

If you like, I can share this on my FB page. Would you happen to have a photo of him during his service years? He flew F4F's during his time with VF-42?