|
Home | Forums | Gallery | Register | Video Directory | FAQ | Members List | Calendar | Games | Today's Posts | Search | Chat Room |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Battle of Midway, 4-7 June 1942
Dive-Bomber Pilot's Narrative, Battle of Midway
The following individual narrative, submitted to the Historical Section by Major Allan H. Ringblom, then a second lieutenant and pilot in VMSB-241 during the battle of Midway, is reprinted in entirety as a vivid personal-experience account of the attack by Major Norris's SB2U-3s on the Haruna, 4 June 1942, and as an excellent picture of the hazards of aerial warfare for a young and relatively inexperienced pilot. Major Ringblom, who also served as war diarist of VMSB-241, was a member of the draft of nine new pilots who joined MAG-22, in late May 1942, within a few days prior to the enemy attack: The "greenest" group ever assembled for combat included Second Lieutenants George Lumpkin, E.P. Thompson, George Koutdas, D.L. Cummings, A.H. Ringblom, Jack Cosley, Ken Campion, Orvin Ramlo, and James Marmande. None of us had ever flown to SB2U, so we immediately checked out with no more trouble than a couple of ground loops. Before the fateful day we all had made two or three hops with practice bombs--mighty little preparation for the job at hand. Gasoline was at a premium, and our planes were only allowed 190 gallons (which was suddenly raised to 230 gallons on 3 June). Plotting boards were also so rare that out of our flight of 12, only four had plots. This was mighty awkward to one who found himself on the attack with neither plot nor chart (and had only a few quick glances at a chart of the area including Midway, Kure and Pearl and Hermes reefs). On the morning of 4 June, after an 0200 reveille we were all at standby and had warmed up the planes. Around 0515 the radio message was received to go on attack. Confusion was the order then as I had just cut off the engine. By the time I had started again I thought that the order was changed. Finally a runner came by in a jeep and verified the attack order. By 0605 we were all in the air. Captain Prosser returned with a loose fuselage panel so I assumed his lead position in the second box. By the time we were rendezvoused, the Jap's attack had fired a fuel storage tank, which served as a guiding mark throughout the day and night. On release at 400 feet, I pulled out right over the cruiser and was headed for the center of the fleet. One turn to join on two buddies at 240 knots convinced me that was no place to circle; a Zero passed right behind as I whipped into a tight turn. Then, at course 140º, I headed home, passing just behind a destroyer. I stayed below 50 feet for about 20 minutes, in a straight course, only luck making harmless the numerous passes made by the Zeros. My gunner later told me he was too busy shooting to even inform me of the situation, and I was too scared and ignorant to turn around and look. Following the major's instructions, I flew a compass course of 140º, not bothering to compensate for wind, variation, nor compass. At the appointed time of 0900 I sighted a lagoon which I took to be Midway and let down, made my recognition approach and was greeted by fire from a PT. I immediately left the area and regained altitude to continue on course. (Woe was me! That was Kure reef, just 50 miles west of home.) The radio had failed, as radios were wont to do, so radio navigation was out of the question (as was good sense in this instance). By 1015 I had gathered that my navigation or Major Norris was wrong. I used good judgment then, for the first time in the day, and turned 180º, figuring on finding that minute speck of land, about one hour behind me. As luck and poor navigation would have it, by 1100 I had sighted two lagoons in the offing and, mentally flipping a coin, chose the one to the right--how right I was! Within 10 miles of the reef I ran out of gas so I immediately set all tabs to glide at 90 knots and almost sat on my hands to resist lifting the nose to stretch my glide. I attempted to get the lift raft loose to no avail. Then I found I could no replace the pins holding the bucket seat. So I was faced with a water landing in a loose seat. I chose to land right in front of a PT boat and all went so well that I even forgot to inflate my life jacket, the pick-up was made so readily. So by 1115 I was back on Eastern Island to be greeted by Captain Prosser, who said, "Well, never expected to see you again."--"Hell, neither did I. * * * " Attack on Japanese Cruisers Mogami and Mikuma from Air by Griffith Baily Coale Charcoal, circa 1942 found at Naval Art Collection: http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/midway/midway2.htm Diver Bomber Account found here: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Midway/USMC-M-Midway-VI.html
__________________
Thomas Jefferson, Kentucky Resolutions of 1798: "In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution." |
Sponsored Links |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Presidential Unit Citation
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WASHINGTON
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP TWENTY-TWO for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For conspicuous courage and heroism in combat at Midway Island during June, 1942. Outnumbered five to one, MARINE ARICRAFT GROUP TWENTY-TWO boldly intercepted a heavily escorted enemy bombing force, disrupting their attack and preventing serious damage to island installations. Operating with half of their dive-bombers obsolete and in poor mechanical condition which necessitated vulnerable glide bombing tactics, they succeeded in inflicting heavy damage on Japanese surface units of a large enemy task force. The skill and gallant perseverance of flight and ground personnel of MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP TWENTY-TWO, fighting under tremendously adverse and dangerous conditions, were essential factors in the unyielding defense of Midway." For the President, Frank Knox Secretary of the Navy Citation found here: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Midway/USMC-M-Midway-VIII.html Find more on Midway here: http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Midway/index.html#VI and here: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/midway/mid-1.htm Thank you to One Marines View for posting Video found here: http://www.onemarinesview.com/
__________________
Thomas Jefferson, Kentucky Resolutions of 1798: "In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution." |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Aviation Time-line 1940 - 1942 | David | World War II | 0 | 05-22-2008 12:23 PM |
Airman Lost in 1942 Crash is Identified | darrels joy | World War II | 0 | 03-10-2008 07:39 PM |
1942 Paratrooper | cadetat6 | General Posts | 0 | 10-21-2005 12:33 AM |
USS Midway memory | 82Rigger | Navy | 3 | 05-06-2004 02:49 PM |
Battle Of Midway | thedrifter | World War II | 13 | 01-30-2003 12:05 PM |
|