George Gay

Ensign George Gay (right), sole survivor of USS Hornet's VT-8 squadron at Midway, standing in front of his Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bomber on 4 June, 1942.

Ensign (later Lieutenant Commander) George H. Gay Jr. (March 8, 1917 - October 21, 1994) was a pilot in United States Navy Torpedo Squadron 8 operating from the USS Hornet (CV-8) in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the crucial battle of Midway in World War II. Download high resolution version (600x707, 48 KB)Picture of George H. Gay from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (600x707, 48 KB)Picture of George H. Gay from http://www. ... Image File history File links Vt8-g-gay-may42. ... Image File history File links Vt8-g-gay-may42. ... The seventh USS Hornet (CV-8) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier of World War II, notable for launching the Doolittle Raid, as a participant in the Battle of Midway, and for action in the Solomons before being mortally wounded in the Battle of the Santa Cruz... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Chester W. Nimitz, Frank J. Fletcher, Raymond A. Spruance Isoroku Yamamoto, Chuichi Nagumo, Tamon Yamaguchi† Strength Three carriers, ~50 support ships, 233 carrier aircraft, 127 land-based aircraft Four carriers, Seven battleships, ~150 support ships, 248 carrier aircraft, 16 floatplanes Casualties 1 carrier... The Douglas TBD Devastator was a torpedo bomber of the United States Navy, ordered in 1934, first flying in 1935 and entering service in 1937. ... Insignia of a United States Navy Ensign In the military of various countries, ensign is a junior rank of commissioned officer. ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ... March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by United Nations. ... The United States Navy (also known as USN or the U.S. Navy) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) was a United States Navy squadron assigned to the Hornet Air Group operating from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8). ... The seventh USS Hornet (CV-8) of the United States Navy was an aircraft carrier of World War II, notable for launching the Doolittle Raid, as a participant in the Battle of Midway, and for action in the Solomons before being mortally wounded in the Battle of the Santa Cruz... A map of the Pacific Theatre. ... Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Chester W. Nimitz, Frank J. Fletcher, Raymond A. Spruance Isoroku Yamamoto, Chuichi Nagumo, Tamon Yamaguchi† Strength Three carriers, ~50 support ships, 233 carrier aircraft, 127 land-based aircraft Four carriers, Seven battleships, ~150 support ships, 248 carrier aircraft, 16 floatplanes Casualties 1 carrier... This article is becoming very long. ...

This Wikipedia reference is now just an ad for the just released fictional book (No Right to Win by Ronald W. Russell, (RELEASTED September 2006) iUniverse, $23.95 ) with the blessings for the Wikipedia Moderators because they allegedly have been given a kick backs.

If Google search author Ronald W. Russell you will come up with nothing. The author is apparently trying to make money by attempting rewrite history and discredit dead ww2 veterans.

Nice job Wikipedia Moderators!!!!

In the battle of June 4, 1942, Gay's commanding officer, Cdr. John C. Waldron, found the main Japanese fleet and launched an unescorted torpedo attack against four enemy aircraft carriers. Gay's Douglas TBD Devastator was shot down but he escaped from the sinking aircraft. Of VT-8's thirty carrier-based pilots and radiomen, Gay was the only survivor but two land-based members returned to Midway Atoll in their Grumman TBF. John Charles Waldron (24 August 1900 – 4 June 1942) was a U.S. Naval aviator who led a squadron of torpedo bombers in World War II. Waldron was born on 24 August 1900 at Fort Pierre, South Dakota. ... Two aircraft carriers, USS (left), and HMS Illustrious (right), showing the difference in size between a supercarrier and a light V/STOL aircraft carrier. ...

After being rescued at sea, Gay met with Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and described the destruction of three Japanese carriers, though subsequent research determined that he could not have seen most of what he reported. (See No Right to Win by Ronald W. Russell, iUniverse, New York, 2006.) Chester Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885 _ February 20, 1966) was the Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces for the United States and Allied forces during World War II. He was the nations leading authority on submarines, as well as Chief of the Navy Bureau of Navigation...

Following the battle, Gay took part in the Guadalcanal campaign with Torpedo Squadron 11, and he later became a navy flight instructor. Guadalcanal, position (inset) and main towns Guadalcanal is a 2,510 square mile (6 500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands. ... A person who holds a flight instructor certificate is authorized within the limitations of that persons flight instructor certificate and ratings to give training and endorsements that are required for, and relate to: (a) A student pilot certificate; (b) A pilot certificate; (c) A flight instructor certificate; (d) A...

Gay was awarded the Navy Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation for his actions in battle. The Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that can be awarded by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. ... USA and USAF Presidential Unit Citation Please see Presidential Unit Citation for other versions of this award The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and allies for extraordinary heroism in action on or after 7 December 1941 against an armed enemy. ...

After the war, he became a pilot for TWA. He often lectured on his Midway experiences. Following his death, Gay was cremated and his ashes were spread over the Pacific in the same place his squadron launched its ill-fated attack. The Twa are a pygmy people, of short stature, who were the oldest recorded inhabitants of anthe Great Lakes region of central Africa that now comprises the nations of Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ...

Gay was a graduate of Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University, often Texas A&M, A&M or TAMU for short, is the flagship[4] institution of The Texas A&M University System. ...

External links

• Naval Historical Center
• Naval Historical Center - Recollections
• Torpedo Eight in Color