OSMUS-WESLEY

 

A  WAR  CRIME  VICTIM

 

The Battle of Midway is considered by many to be the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign during World War II.  The Japanese sought to eliminate the United States as a strategic power in the Pacific Theater by luring United States aircraft carriers into a trap and then occupy Midway Island.  However, unknown to the Japanese their messages were being intercepted and decoded by the Americans, and thus the United States, knowing the Japanese plans, devised a plan to overwhelm the Japanese.  The Battle of Midway began on June 4, 1942, when four PBYs flying at night attacked the Japanese transport ships northwest of Midway.  Later, between 0930 and 1030, American bombers from VT-3, VT-6 and VT-8 attacked the Japanese carriers.  Although almost all of the American planes were shot down, their presence caused the majority of the Japanese fighters to be pulled away from the main fleet and bombers from the USS Enterprise, VB-6 and VS-6, were able to inflict fatal damage on two Japanese carriers, the Akagi and Kaga.  Bombers from VB-3, flying from the USS Yorktown, were than able to bomb and totally wreck the Japanese carrier Soryu.  The Battle of Midway resulted in a decisive defeat on the Imperial Japanese Navy as it lost four carriers, one cruiser, an estimated 248 aircraft and over 3,000 killed, compared to American losses of one carrier, one destroyer, 150 aircraft and 307 killed.  The loss of over 100 experienced veteran pilots and four carriers was a loss from which the Japanese fleet was never able to recover.

 

Ensign Wesley F. Osmus was the pilot of a Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomber from Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3) which launched as part of a twelve bomber group from USS Yorktown.  He was accompanied by his radio-gunner in the back seat, Benjamin R. Dodson, ARM3.  When the American formation was about fourteen miles from their target VT-3 came under sustained attack from defending Japanese Zero fighters. 

 

NAVY  CROSS  CITATION

The Navy Cross is awarded posthumously to Ensign Wesley F. Osmus for extraordinary heroism as pilot of an airplane of Torpedo Squadron Three in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942.  Participating in a torpedo plane assault against Japanese naval units, Ensign Osmus, in the face of tremendous anti-aircraft fire and overwhelming fighter opposition, pressed home his attack to a point where it became relatively certain that, in order to accomplish his mission, he would probably sacrifice his life.  Undeterred by the grave possibilities of such a hazardous offensive, he carried on with extreme disregard for his own personal safety until his squadron scored direct hits on two enemy aircraft carriers.  His self-sacrificing gallantry and fortitude were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

 

The TBD of Ensign Osmus was the last aircraft in the formation and shortly after unloading his munitions his plane took a burst of Zero cannon fire.  Within seconds his fuel tank exploded in flames.  Unclipping his safety harness, he bailed out after desperately attempting to get a response from Dodson over the plane’s intercom. Dodson did not follow as he was either dead or badly wounded and he went down with the blazing aircraft.

 

The countless atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II are reasonably well known.  What is less well known is the dark war record of the Imperial Japanese Navy.  Following the close of World War II when the U.S. Navy gained access to the Japanese Battle of Midway Action Report it was revealed that Ensign Osmus had been plucked from the sea by the Japanese destroyer Arashi.  The circumstances of his death while on board Arashi were investigated as a war crime.  The investigation confirmed that after Ensign Osmus was rescued he was intensely interrogated by the Arashi’s commanding officer.  Faced with continual slaps and the threat of beheading, Osmus told the Japanese they were up against three U.S. carriers.  Osmus probably believed that his cooperation under extreme duress had probably bought him his life but this was not to be as later that same day the commander gave the order for Osmus to be executed.  Accordingly, Ensign Osmus was taken to the stern of the destroyer by a group of sailors, one of them carrying a fire axe.  Roughly ordered to face astern, a Japanese sailor swung the axe at Osmus’ neck but failed to decapitate him with the blow.  The blow knocked Osmus partly over the ship’s rail but, although in agony, he managed to catch hold of the chain railing and clung on desperately.  The axe wielding sailor struck Osmus again, and dead or critically injured, he fell into the destroyer’s wake and disappeared.  This war crime was never prosecuted as most of the Japanese involved in Osmus’ death perished later in the war and so building a case was impossible.

 

Ensign Osmus enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1940 and was commissioned an Ensign on April 3, 1941.  He served aboard the USS Saratoga and USS Yorktown prior to his death on June 4, 1942.  Unfortunately his death occurred on his first combat action.  In his honor the USS Osmus (DE-701) was commission on February 23, 1944, and served until decommissioned on March 15, 1947.

 

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)