menu-header-menu

Follow Us

Follow us   

The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

Donate

Hornet

Ship Designation: 
CV-8
Date Lost: 
Thursday, June 4, 1942
The Battle of Midway
Hornet dive bombers missed contact, but 15 planes comprising her Torpedo Squadron 8 found the enemy and pressed home their attacks. They were met by overwhelming fighter opposition about eight miles from three enemy carriers and followed all the way in to be shot down one by one. Ens. George H. Gay, USNR, the only surviving pilot, reached the surface as his plane sunk. He hid under a rubber seat cushion to avoid strafing and witness the greatest carrier battle in history. Of 41 torpedo planes launched by the American carriers, only six returned. Their sacrifices drew enemy fighters away from dive bombers of Enterprise and Yorktown who sank three Japanese carriers with an assist from submarine USS Nautilus. The fourth Japanese carrier, Hiryu, was sunk the following day.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 50

Name Service Branchsort ascending
ARM 2c Ronald Fisher USN
LCdr John Waldron USN
AP 1c Robert Miles USN
CRM Horace Dobbs USN
Ens Grant Teats USN
Ens Ulvert Moore USN
Lt(jg) George Campbell USN
ARM 3c William Sawhill USN
AM 3c William Lawe USN
Lt Langdon Fieberling USN

Pages

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships