Fletcher/Biard conflict
From Dr. Stephen D. Regan, Ed.D.
The Biard/Fletcher issue seems to survive in spite of the literature over the last 20 years. John Lundstrom's reply in the last Roundtable is very accurate and polite. I too discussed Frank Jack Fletcher's perspective with Tex Biard and with one of Fletcher's staff members. Tex Biard burned my phone line for over an hour ranting and raving against Fletcher that matched exactly what I expected. He called me but he refused to allow me to see his manuscript, utterly avoided responding to questions, and cared nothing about an actual discussion. Fletcher's surviving staff told me that Biard was almost intolerable, insufferably secretive, and blatantly odd to the point that no one on Fletcher's staff had any confidence in his intelligence analysis whatsoever, least of all the admiral himself.
In my biography of Frank Jack Fletcher,
In Bitter Tempest, I discussed the Biard/Fletcher situation; however Lundstrom did a much better job than I. As a former member of the cryptological community I understand Biard's personality and abilities. Just being "right" is meaningless if you can't convince anyone that you are. Biard seems to be a brilliant nerd who lacked the personal skills to exude confidence and to build an effective communications link between himself and his superiors (in this case, Fletcher and his staff). He simply was the wrong person in the wrong job at the wrong time. Bluntly, because of his personal inabilities Tex Biard utterly and totally failed at his job.
Dr. Stephen D. Regan, Ed.D.
Author
In Bitter Tempest: the biography of Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher.
Were Torpedo 8's Torpedos fitted with a plywood field-modification that "boxed" the traditional Mk.13 fins?
From John Mollison:
I am an aviation artist, writer and host of “Old Guys and Their Airplanes.” Recently, I was given a commission to do Lt.Cmdr. John Waldron’s TBD from Torpedo 8. My question is whether the Torpedoes were fitted with a plywood field-modification that “boxed” the traditional Mk.13 fins? Any information will be helpful... When I’m finished, my work will be hung in some rather credible places and I simply must eliminate all errors possible.
Editor's Note: I am looking for a definitive answer here but if anyone has one please send me a note and I'll pass it along. I can't recall reading any account that mentioned whether they had the modification or not. I know later in the war the torpedo was fitted with both a fin guard and nose modification to stabilize the torpedo when dropped.
From Al Kernan:
The plywood boxes designed to stabilize the torpedo when dropped were made on board ship and added some time in the spring of 1942 to all drops. They were on board at Midway on June 4.
Alvin Kernan,
AOM3/c on Enterprise at time.
Colonel Alfred Booth, USMC (Ret)
From Bill Vickrey:
Attached is a copy of Colonel Booth’s obituary which was published in the current issue of SHIPMATE. Colonel Booth (then a Captain) was CO of Battery G, Sixth Defense Battalion on Midway during the Battle.
I had some correspondence with Colonel Booth in the early 90’s.
I am now in touch with only one Ground Marine who was on Midway on 04 June 1942. Colonel (then a Pfc) John Miniclear, USMC (Ret) was in Battery G on 04 June 1942 and was in the tower with Commander John Ford during The Battle of Midway.
Bill
Colonel Booth’s Obituary
Commander Doug Davis
From Bill Vickrey:
The attached article appeared in the ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH on 14 June 1942. Doug and I could not find a copier big enough not to cut off a bit of the story.
Doug was the PPC of one of the four PBY’s who made a torpedo run in the IJN invasion fleet after Jack Reid had located them.
Doug was the most decorated PBY pilot I ran across with a Navy Cross, a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and a Purple Heart and – I suspect – several Air Medals along with a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Citation, an Army Presidential Unit Citation and an Air Force Commendation Medal.
Doug got his Wings of Gold on 27 September 1940 and had 1,500 flight hours at the beginning of June, 1942. He flew over 150 hours in June, 1942.
Doug died on October 28, 2002 with Captain Stanford E. Linzey, USN (ChC) (Ret) officiating at his funeral. I say this only to mention that Stan Linzey was a Musician 1/c aboard YORKTOWN at Midway. He later became a minister, went back in to the Navy in the Chaplin Corps and retired as a Captain. I met Stan at a couple of YORKTOWN reunions and found him to be a great guy to be around and a good source of history.
Bill
Doug Davis Article
Japanese Surrender - Priceless v.clip.....
From Ed Fox:
This film is believed to have never been seen before, only shots of the surrender were known. If you are a history buff you will enjoy this. General McArthur's voice is a rarity in these old film clips. Japanese Surrender- Amazing Footage. This is a 'must see' for the WWII history buff or anyone interested in history. This is an actual film made of the surrender ceremony of the Japanese to McArthur in Tokyo Bay in September 1945. Actual voice of the General. Never been shown to the general public before. We always saw the "stills" but never the film itself.
Click Here: Japanese Sign Final Surrender YouTube
Ed Fox USMC RET
Midway - Iwo - Korea
Editors Note: There was a color film of the surrender filmed by by Commander George F. Kosco. It was kept by him till his passing in 1985 when it was sent to a Naval archive for safe keeping. In 2010, his son had the film restored. It was released to Military organizations and other groups later that year.
Color Footage of the Japanese Surrender