Ens. George Gay, Texas A&M Class of 1940. Sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron 8, at the Battle of Midway. texag57/Deo Vindice




Ens. George Gay

The crewmen of the American search plane that located the Japanese invasion force headed for Midway atoll pose beside their Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat.

PBY crew

All of the men of "Torpedo Eight" (VT8), in the above photo, save Ensign George Gay (with the circle around him) were killed in action on June 6, 1944 in a gallent charge of the Japanese Carriers while flying slow, obsolete planes with no fighter cover. Their actions were not in vain however, as they distracted the Japanese fighters and AA gunners just long enough that they did not notice the Dauntless dive-bombers soon to reign down death from above.
texag57/DeoVindice