Half a league half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred:
‘Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns’ he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: The Charge of the Light Brigade
They were not six hundred and they were not mounted on horses but the Naval Aviators of Torpedo Squadrons 3, 6 and 8 and their aerial steeds 42 Douglas TBD Devastators and 6 TBF Avengers wrote a chapter of courage and sacrifice seldom equaled in the history of Naval Aviation. Commanded by veteran Naval Aviators, LCDR Lance “Lem” Massey, LCDR Eugene Lindsey and LCDR John Waldron the squadrons embarked aboard the carriers flew the obsolete TBD Devastators and the young pilots of the Midway based Torpedo 8 detachment under the command of LT Langdon Fieberling flew in the new TBF Avengers.
The TBD which first flew in 1935 entered service in 1937 and was possibly the most modern naval aircraft in the world when it entered service. It was a revolutionary aircraft. It was the first monoplane widely used on carriers and was first all-metal naval aircraft. It was the first naval aircraft with a totally enclosed cockpit, the first with hydraulic powered folding wings. The TBD had crew of three and had a maximum speed of 206 miles an hour and carried a torpedo or up to 1500 pounds of bombs (3 x 500) or a 1000 pound bomb.
LCDR Lem Massey C.O. of Torpedo 3
129 TBDs were built and served in all pre-war torpedo bombing squadrons based aboard the Lexington, Saratoga, Ranger, Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet with a limited number embarked aboard Wasp. The Devastator saw extensive service prior to the war which pushed many airframes to the end of their useful service life and by 1940 only about 100 were operational by the beginning of the war, and now were for all purposes obsolete antiques.
They were still in service in 1942 as their replacement the TBF Avenger was not available for service in large enough numbers to replace them before Midway. The TBDs performed adequately against minor opposition at Coral Sea and in strikes against the Marshalls but the squadrons embarked on Yorktown (VT3), Enterprise (VT-6) and Hornet (VT-8) were annihilated at Midway with only 6 of 41 aircraft surviving their uncoordinated attacks against the Japanese Carrier Strike Force. They were too slow, had poor maneuverability, insufficient armor and defensive armament.
The Torpedo squadrons attacked independently of each other between 0920 and 1030 on June 4th 1942. Lacking coordination and with inadequate escort, the lumbering aircraft were easy prey for the modern Japanese A6M Zeroes.
The Japanese Combat Air Patrol ripped into the slow, cumbersome and under armed TBD Devastators as they came in low to launch their torpedoes. Torpedo Eight from Hornet under the command of LCDR John C Waldron pressed the attack hard but all 15 of the Devastators were shot down. Only Ensign George Gay’s aircraft was able to launch its torpedo before being shot down and Gay would be the sole survivor of the squadron to be picked up later by a PBY Catalina patrol plane.
LCDR John Waldron C.O
Torpedo Six from the Enterprise under the command of LCDR Eugene Lindsey suffered heavy casualties losing 10 of 14 aircraft with Lindsey being one of the casualties. The last group of Devastators to attack was Torpedo Three from the Yorktown under the command of LCDR Lem Massey losing 11 of 13 aircraft with Massey a casualty last being seen standing on the wing of his burning aircraft as it went down.
These aircraft were also decimated and Massey killed but they had drawn the Japanese Combat Air Patrol down to the deck leaving the task force exposed to the Dive Bombers of the Enterprise and Yorktown. The six aircraft of the Torpedo Eight detachment from Midway under the command of LT Fieberling lost 5 of their 6 aircraft while pressing their attacks. Only Ensign Bert Earnest and his aircraft survived the battle landing in a badly damaged state on Midway. Four U.S. Army B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers were pressed into service as torpedo bombers of which 2 were lost. No torpedo bomber scored a hit on the Japanese Task force even those torpedoes launched at close range failed to score and it is believe that this was in large part due to the poor performance of the Mark 13 aircraft torpedoes.
Despite the enormous losses of the torpedo squadrons their sacrifice was not in vain. Their attacks served to confuse the Japanese command and delay the rearmament of aircraft following the Japanese strikes on Midway. They also took the Japanese Combat Air Patrol down to sea level and opened the way for American Dive Bombers to strike the Japanese with impunity fatally damaging the Akagi, Kaga and Soryu in the space of 5 minutes.
After Midway the remaining TBDs were withdrawn from active service and no example survives today. The TBF became the most effective torpedo bomber of the war.
As we remember the brave men that fought at Midway it is imperative that we remember the brave aircrews of the torpedo squadrons that like the Light Brigade rode into the Valley of the Shadow of Death against the First Carrier Strike Force and Midway.
Peace
Padre Steve+
The Inglorius Padre Steve's World 
Padre Steve,
Thank you for a great reminder story. I would also let you know about a great-uncle-in-law of mine, Lt. Charles Murphy Kunz, was a Marine pilot with VMF-221 stationed on Midway Island. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Midway. Flying a Brewster Buffalo, he shot down two Japanese aircraft during its assault on Midway, received a head wound and still was able to land his aircraft back at Midway Island. He was also a member of the Cactus Air Force at Guadacanal between August and October, 1942, during which time he was awarded three DFC’s and had a further six kills, making him an Ace.
My Great Uncle ENS Leonard L. Smith was a pilot in VT3. He unfortunately was shot down. he was 23 yrs old. I recently found a picture of his squadron taken a week before they were shot down. Thank You for this here.
My Name is Leonard Beal from Ontario Calif. Leonard Smith was my fathers best friend, they attended school togeather. I have his graduation 8×10 photo from flight school. I did meat his parents in the 50″s
My uncle, Raymond J Darce, was listed as flying with your uncle at Midway. Raymond was 18–19 at time of battle.
Man, it took giant balls to do that… atleast the dive bombers have speed on thier side.
They were sacrificed to a God, who, in the end, delivered victory to their spirits, their comrades, and their country. A countryman and civilian, who never knew any of them, I do not feel worthy even to salute them, as they bring a tear to my eye, every time I hear of them.
Thank you for this info. I am hoping that perhaps, one day, Hollywood could take the initiative to do a remake of the 1975 film, Midway; or at least a story about Ensign George Gay. I think that this would be a nice way to honor the sacrifice to the lost squadrons. I also appreciate the facts concerning the role of the new but few TBF Torpedo bombers, which is not mentioned by Wikipedia, for some reason.
Thank you for this tribute. My great aunt Jean Suesens’ 1st husband Ltjg Richard Wayne Suesens was a member of Vt-3 and posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. The USS Richard W. Suesens (DE-342) was christened by his widow in his honor.
The following is an excerpt from an article publish by The Iowa State University.
“When his squadron was transferred to Pearl Harbor one month after the attacks, Suesens went to a local welder to reinforce the underbelly of his aircraft below the cockpit by attaching steel plates. Suesens’ idea helped protect the pilot from enemy fire, and he wrote home asking his parents to send $500 so he could cover the cost to install the plates on as many aircraft as possible, especially for the men who couldn’t afford it.”
The sacrifice of all the men on that day and a small glimpse into thier character is a most humbling view into our greatest generation.
Sincerely, C. Ita
Great-grandson of LtCmdr Lindsey here
I always heard the stories growing up but its something else to read about it like a history book.
LCpl Lindsey,
Wow, I am honored. Your great Great Grandfather has always been a hero to me. By the way, my nephew Darren is a LCpl in the Marines. He’s stationed at MCAS Yuma. Your Great Grandfather’s story is well recounted in Walter Lord’s book “Incredible Victory” and Gordon Prange’s “Miracle at Midway.” Both are still in print and also available on Kindle. I first learned about him in 1970 when I was in 7th grade. Thank you for your service Marine. BTW 7 years of my 39+ years of military service were with the Marines serving as a Chaplain with 2nd MARDIV and Marine Security Forces. Nothing but respect for you and all Marines.
Peace, Padre Steve+
Nice job. You got it correct.
Thank you Ma’am. I first read about him in Walter Lord’s book “Incredible Victory” when I was in 6th or 7th grade in 1970 to 1971. Though injured he led his squadron as any commander worth his salt would do, even though it meant his death. He was and always be a hero and example for me. Thank you again. Peace and blessings always,
Steve+
LCMDR Eugene Lindsey could have laid in bed on the morning of 4 June 1942 but as he stated: “I will do what I was trained to do.” He was 36 and had a wife and two children and that man put his ass on the line and got into that crappy TBD and led his squadron to the attack. I get a lump in my throat every time I see his picture or read his name. Fair wind and a following sea RIP Eugene.