Midway Veterans

1 Sept.' 40 to 31 Dec. '40

Navy Aviation Radio School, NAS North Island, San Diego, Calif.

5 Jan. 1941

Assigned to U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6)

Feb. '41

Assigned Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6)

Aug. '41

Assigned Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6)

7 Dec. '41

Enemy fleet reported; attack group dispatched. I MISSES MY FLIGHT! Worried about the extent of punishment. Cleared of any charges by Leading Chief, "Jake" Utley.

1 Feb. '42

(31 Jan U.S. Time)- Participated in a torpedo attack against Japanese shipping in the harbor at Kwajalein Atoll, in 6-T-9 with Ensign Rombach, pilot.

1 Mar. '42

(28 Feb. U.S. Time)- Participated in High Level Bombing attack against Japanese forces occupying Wake Island, in 6-T-9 with Ensign Rombach, (pilot) and Mac Dowell (bombardier).

Apr. '42

U.S.S. Enterprise rendezvoused with U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8) and furnished all necessary "air-cover" while accompanying Hornet to point of launch for "Jimmy" Doolittle and his flight of B-25s, who, on 18 April targets in Japan.

4 June '42

Serving aboard U.S.S. Enterprise (not scheduled for flight) during first day of "Battle of Midway". Squadron sent out fourteen (14) planes, four (4) returned to the ship. (The fourth so badly shot up it had to be pushed "over the side" after crew got out. A fifth (5th) crew survived; crash-landed in water; spent 18 days in a rubber raft.)

6 June '42

Participated in flight of 3 TBD aircraft, (last three torpedo planes remaining in the Pacific Fleet) which were launched to perform torpedo attacks (if necessary) against a Japanese "Mogami" Class Cruiser; dive-bombers finished the job; no torpedo attack necessary. This flight in 6-T-5, Mueller (pilot).

Mid June '42

Moved to NAS Kaneohe, Hawaiian Territory; Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) reformed with remainder of VT-6 and VT-2, off the U.S.S. Lexington. Furnished new TBF aircraft.

Early Aug. '42

Squadron moved aboard U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8)

Sept Or Oct.

Participated in a "Glide Bombing" attack on Japanese installations on the island of Bougainville

23 Oct. '42

Volunteered to serve as crewman aboard one of two TBF aircraft to be flown to Guadalcanal to replace planes lost by VT-8.

24 Oct. '42

Two TBFs flew from Hornet to Espirito Santos, refueled and supplied with items needed at Guadalcanal, then departed for Guadalcanal. Upon arrival, could not reach Henderson Field on Guadalcanal due to severe Pacific storm. Turned back south-east, jettisoned torpedo and much spare ammunition and proceeded to island of San Cristobal. Made water landing at night; spent four days with the natives. Rescued from island by a PBY, on patrol, returned to Espirito Santos.

29 Oct. '42

Aboard U.S.S. Curtis (Airplane Tender Craft), photographed and returned to surviving portion of squadron, after learning the U.S.S. Hornet had been sunk on 26 Oct. in the Battle of Santa Cruz. Placed in a "Survivors Camp", (a tent village) about 15 miles north of Noumea, New Caledonia.

Date unknown

Squadron places aboard the U.S.S. Nassau (Escort Carrier) given new TBFs and performed flight operations from that ship.

About 1 Dec. '42

Received orders to be returned to the "States"; sent to a holding camp, near Noumea, New Caledonia to await transportation to the states.

5 Dec. '42

Departed New Caledonia on a Dutch Coastal Liner, the "Klipfontein".

19 Dec. '42

Arrived San Francisco; after about 4 days, boarded a train and arrived at home (Soldier, Iowa) on Christmas night, 1942.

30 Dec '42

Married Marcella Mae Olson in Omaha, Nebraska.

22 Jan. '43

Reported to NAS Sand Point, Washington. Later assigned to "Composite Squadron" (VC-34); had F4F Fighters, SBD Dive-Bombers and TBF Torpedo planes.

June '43

Squadron split into three separate squadrons. I was assigned to Fighter Squadron (VF-34) which moved to "Clatsup County Airport" near Astoria, Oregon.

Sep. '43

Squadron moved to NAS Otay Mesa, Calif. (south of San Diego, near Mexican Border).

Dec. '43

Received orders to Navy Pilot Training.

Various phases of Navy Flight Training, as follows, beginning Jan. '44.

3 months

Flight Preparatory School- Louisiana State Normal College, Natchitoches, Louisiana.

3 months

"C.A.A.-W.T.S"- Lon Morris College, Jacksonville, Texas.

4 plus months

"Pre-Flight" training, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.

4 months

"Primary Flight" training, NAS Millington, near Memphis, Tennessee.

8 months

Three (3) different air stations:

	NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida
	NAS Bronson Field, west of Pensacola, Florida
	NAS Chevalier Field, Pensacola, Florida

13 Nov. '45

Received my Gold Wings; designated Aviation Pilot First Class

17 Dec. '45

Advanced to Ensign, (Temporary) U.S.N.

Jan. '46

Advance training in SBDs, NAS Saufley Field, Pensacola, FL.

Feb. to May '46

Fighter training, F6F Aircraft, NAS Opa Locka, near Miami, Florida.

2½ months

Carrier Qualification in the F6F, at Jacksonville, Florida and flown to Pensacola to complete actual carrier landings.

Aug. '46

Requested Discharge rather than go to Sea Duty.

28 Oct. '46

Received Honorable Discharge at rate of Chief Aviation Pilot.