The Battle of Midway Roundtable Opening Remarks
Welcome to the January issue of the Battle of Midway RoundTable. I was a little late getting everything put together this month due to some unforseen travel. At any rate.
This month we have more on the SBD and the Battle of Midway display at Midway Airport. Mr. Bill Vickrey, who never ceases to amaze me with his wealth of information on any topic, did not disappoint and came through with many details of the display and dedication. He also sent along a radio broadcast, well the transcript, from just after the Battle of Midway that was aired in Hawaii. It's a lengthy piece and may take a bit to download and read but it's quite interesting.
We also have a couple of questions, one that kind of baffles me, that being the apparent lack of any type of photo for the Yorktown CAG during the Battle of Coral Sea and Midway. Someone surely took a picture at some point.
And we also have a new book on Midway and Wade McClusky. David Rigby worked very hard on the book to insure he got as much as he could absolutely right. I know because of the many emails we traded over the past few years when he was trying to track down various people and how much trouble he went to get the research he needed to accurately portray the man and events around Midway. I do think this will be an absolutely delightful read and look forward to the book.
Next month I hope to return to a more normal schedule around the 1st of the month. Till then enjoy and may your 2019 be the best one yet.
SBD at Midway Airport
From Bill Vickrey January 8, 2019
In my earlier email on this subject, I failed to mention that I was privileged to be present at the “commissioning” of the SBD which hangs in the overhead at Midway Airport in Chicago. It was a very impression ceremony with some 8-10 men who flew at Midway...along with one ground Marine who lived in the greater Chicago area. I worked with the folks who put this ceremony together and recruited the pilots who were present. For the life of me, I cannot locate my file on this event. I spent 48+ years in management and thus always had someone else to keep my files in order. As my Midway research “evolved” I had chaos rather than a usable file system. I have spent the last half an hour trying to find this file – it does exist – but to no avail. Please hold this email and I will continue to search for this file which included the names of the pilots who were there. It is not much without the names.
Bill
From Bill Vickrey January 9, 2019
I found it!!!!
Strangely enough, it was in a folder called CHICAGO – SBD DEDICATION.
Attached is a copy of the program picturing the Battle of Midway vets who were present. Except for Arenth and Tobin I knew all these men before this dedication and played golf with many of them over the years.
The picture of the SBD – hanging from the overhead - was made at the celebration...great job of restoration!
Now I can go to sleep!!
Bill
SBD Midway Airport Dedication PDF
Chicago Vets at SBD Chicago
From Bill Vickrey January 11, 2019
Here’s a list of the Midway vets who were at the SBD dedication in Chicago along with a picture of them...sorry I scanned it upside down but I am sure you can fix that if you want to use it.
I knew all these men – before the SBD/Chicago dedication – except for Tobin and Arenth. While I had corresponded a lot with Walt Grist I had not met him in person. He had done a lot of Midway research which he shared with me. Some of them became very good friends.
Following retirement these men had settled all over – at least in California, New Mexico, Nebraska, Texas, North Carolina and Illinois.
There were three Marine Raider Companies at Midway... they came ashore and headed out and were not involved in any action so far as I know. I had a lot of contact – in person and by mail – with Colonel John Apergis (USMC Ret). He came over from Greece (legal alien, of course) when he was ten years old and joined the Marine Corps Reserve when he was 15.
I had a bit of correspondence with another raider officer who was from Arkansas. After his Marine Corps service he went to law school. After law school he became the youngest judge in Arkansas history. After his service on the bench he went into private practice and one of his early clients was a fellow named Sam Walton...ring a bell? He helped Sam with his early incorporation.
Bill
Radio Broadcast June 1942
From Bill Vickrey January 8, 2019
Attached is a copy a radio broadcast recorded in Hawaii on June 14, 1942. This is likely too long for you to use but it may be of interest. I brought this to life to give it to Howard Ady as his father – also Howard Ady - was one of the participants and – as you know – Howard was the PPC of the VP-23 PBY which first spotted the IJN carriers on the morning of 4 June 1942.
Bill
Editors Note: This is indeed a lengthy PDF file so be patient if you want to read it as it might take some time to download depending on the speed of your internet connection. But it is well worth the time.
Midway Radio Broadcast 14 June, 1942
Request about Oscar Pederson
From Alain-James Palisse January 8, 2019
You told me to get back at you when I would have a more specific question to ask. Here's one that is certainly challenging.
During my research, Ive been looking for graphical resources regarding officers of every kind involved in carrier ops in 1942 (Admirals & Captains of course, but also Air Officers, Intel Officers, CAG commanders, Squadron commanders, and even "special guests" such as Melvin Maas). My interactive project might include portraits, that will be used when addressing key actors as the commanding officer.
One man has been escaping very much all my attempts to find a usable photo: it is the honorable LCDR (later RADM) Oscar Pederson, CAG commander during USS Yorktown's finest hours.
After some effort, the only... "reference" I have found online is this blurry photograph (from his time as a young cadet obviously!) on the navsource website. This is the only image they had of him, and even then it is used to depict him on the USS Valley Forge list of commanders. Nothing about him on his time as a RADM, CAPT, and even less so during 1942.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/people/pederson_oscar.jpg
Problem is, I doubt he really looked like that in 1942 (and even more so in the fifties, but nevermind). I was a bit shocked to see how little info I could gather, despite RADM Pederson's key jobs at Coral Sea and Midway both. Naturally, I cannot imagine not depicting him, knowing that in both cases he stayed behind on board as CAG and makeshift FDO (a situation we know he didn't liked, but still). It makes him someone you might see often in Yorktown's command facilities - and someone I would like to put back in the core of the narration and in the spotlight, along with the others who didn't fly but still played a pivotal role during these fights.
I found out from a previous BOMRT issue that the very active and useful gentleman that is Bill Vickrey knew him and visited him, and I wonder if he could be of any help in this matter, maybe? Or perhaps Mr.Lundstrom might know of extra pics somewhere (we do catch a glimpse of RADM Pederson on the VF42 family photo from RADM Leonard's private collection, p.54 of the First Team - so, who knows!), even though we know how rare and precious all the shots of USS Yorktown in 1942 are? Anyway, in every respect it seems to me that the Roundtable is the perfect place to ask.
I don't even need a photo of RADM Pederson in full uniform or gear - I just need to have an idea of how he might have looked when he wasn't seventeen or so. As such, any additional picture depicting his face will certainly bring much comfort (to me and my illustrator both!)
Great thanks in advance, and of course - Happy New Year, and best wishes of health and happiness to you and all your loved ones. My warmest regards to the Roundtable community!
Editors Note: I'll have to admit I thought I had a photo of him in at least one book but did not come up with one. Anyone know of a picture of him around the Midway Battle?
Midway: Why did the Japanese Lose?
From Robert Jones January 25, 2019
There is a 20 minute program on You Tube titled
Midway: Why did the Japanese Lose?
It is a good bullet point outline and summary of many pre-battle points. For example, while the Japanese as an operational doctrine did not do air search recons from their carriers, their search on the morning of 4 June was probably the best that either navy did in the entire battle.
Also: the Shokaku was too seriously damaged in the Coral Sea to participate at Midway. The Zuikaku's air group had too many losses at Coral Sea to fight again at Midway. But if the Japanese had transferred Shokaku's air group to Zuikaku, they could have had a fifth carrier in the battle. Contrast this with the US replacing the Yorktown's air group during its 48 hours in Pearl.
It is a short program, primarily directed at the planning and preparation, but well worth the time for that. It is not an in depth discussion of battle tactics and events (i.e. Torpedo 8, McClusky's right turn), but it is well worth the time to watch.
Bob Jones
Editors Note: There are many fine videos on YouTube or the History Channel that are very good. The CGI on some of the productions is getting quite good. This one is average but interesting. Nothing new but that doesn't mean it's not worth watching.
C.E. Callaway, USS Yorktown
From John D. Callaway January 29, 2019
Just curious if you could verify “C. E. ‘Calvin’ Callaway was on the Yorktown during the Battle of Midway. I did not see him on the survivors list.
Thank you,
Tom Callaway
Grandson of John D. Callaway
Editors Note: I do not see him listed in the survivors list, which is pretty comprehensive, or the KIA/MIA list for Yorktown Personal. So I would have to say he likely was not. Now that's not to say he was not serving on the Yorktown prior to the Battle of Midway and was transferred off before the battle. But to be fair the clipping does not say much about or why C.E. Callaway is associated with the Yorktown other than I believe the Navy officially listed the Yorktown as lost at that time so maybe that is all it is saying. There is a site to look up deployments and other info on service records that is very good. I don't have a membership (As of January 29th but do now) to check his records. But I will as soon as I join.
From John D. Callaway January 29, 2019
Thanks so much for your reply! I have been doing some ancestry and ran across this in the military search. I think you maybe onto something about him possibly being transferred off the ship before the battle for some reason.
Thanks again for your reply!
Tom Callaway
Editors Note: Yes this is the kind of service record I was talking about. Although this is not his personal one it is from the Yorktown's sailing date of 30 May, 1942 It does look like he was transferred off the ship 28 May, 1942 and assigned to Pearl Harbor. Not sure what the line above it means as the Yorktown was not commissioned till 1937 so 1935 date is a bit confusing. Maybe that's when he joined the Navy?
From John D. Callaway
January 29, 2019
I’m thinking 1935 was his enlistment or reenlistment date.
New book on Midway (McClusky)
From Barrett Tillman January 28, 2019
Don't recall hearing about the author but apparently he's been around some.
Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway
BT
Editors Note: Barrett, February 2015 you first sent me a note that a new book on McClusky was coming out and shortly afterwards David Rigby contacted me for help on the book. I always kind of assumed the two events were connected. Apparently not. At any rate I have worked with him since February of 2015 on the book, not that I wrote any of it. But I supplied him with contacts, other books, articles, maps, and other info that I had in my research, as well as some suggestions on areas of further research. From all the work he did on the book I hope it turns out well.
Here is the note I sent Mr. Rigby after Barrett sent me the note about the book on Amazon
Mr. Rigby,
Barrett Tillman just sent me a note that your book is now listed on Amazon. Cover looks great. Congratulations. Know it was a lot of work. Looking forward to reading it. Will pass the info on to the RoundTable members with a link to the page to buy it.
From David Rigby January 29, 2019
Thanks. The publication date is May 21st.
Announcements and Questions
Last Months Survivor Story
From John Lundstrom January 7, 2019
I have very serious reservations about the authenticity of portions of the book "Radioman" on the service of Raymond Daves. I obtained it in connection with research for the upcoming Coral Sea book. I became suspicious of his account of being on the Yorktown at Coral Sea and Midway. It did not ring true. I checked the USN muster rolls on Fold3 and discovered they show that on 18 April 1942 Daves went on board the transport USS Henderson (AP-1) at Pearl Harbor and rode her to Seattle, where he arrived on 30 April and went to the Radio Materiel School at Bellevue for instruction. (see copies of muster roll). He was not listed on any Yorktown muster rolls for 1942 or survivors lists. [The Yorktown musters for 1941 do show him on board as a RM3c from 24 Jan to 26 March 1941.] He states he was picked up by the USS Hughes at Midway after the Yorktown was abandoned. However, he does not appear on her survivor list [copy attached]. Until these inconsistencies can be explained, I don't intend
to use the book in any of my research.
Best wishes,
John Lundstrom
Editors Note: Mr. Lundstrom sent several records that support his claim and also bring into question the account as from the official records it appears he was no longer on Yorktown and may not have been for over a year. The account he relates quite possibly are from friends that still were on board during the battles.
I spend quite a bit of time following up on the book and publisher but did not get anywhere other than the manuscript was published by them.
Like to thank John Lundstrom for the help and to keep the history accurate.
From John Lundstrom January 8, 2019
If you don't subscribe to Fold3 online, you should. It's absolutely indispensable. All the Midway action reports are there. This morning I just checked the muster rolls for the submarine Dolphin, which Daves said he served on a war patrol before joining the Yorktown before Coral Sea. Her first war patrol was from 24 Dec 41 to 3 Feb. 1942. Daves is not mentioned in any of the muster rolls. Her second war patrol began on 14 May 42, which was when Daves claimed he was already on board the Yorktown. So, he had no connection with the Dolphin, either.
Thanks for looking into this.
Best wishes,
John
Editors Note: Will do so. Thanks for the tip.
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