The Battle of Midway Roundtable Opening Remarks



Welcome to the July issue of the Battle of Midway RoundTable.  This month we have a number of replies to articles and notes from the June issue. This includes a letter written back to Lois Evans from the Secretary of the President, answers to several other questions and an interesting question on when the shoulder harness was installed on the Navy aircraft as well as an answer.

I have not gotten much done on the Chris Hawkinson site.  Last month was our annual convention for the franchise stores and we held it in Orlando so I was gone for a week and had a lot of prep to do before and of course a lot of work to do afterwards.  But I'll get to updating it again in a few days.

Thanks everyone for replying to questions and articles.  It is very nice to not have to go far to get answers.  So until next month.  Sit back and read the newsletter and continue to send in questions and articles.

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Wade McClusky

Referring to this Article  in last month's issue.

20 July 2023
From Barrett Tillman

Ref. McClusky: LONG ago I had the Avalon-Hill BOM game which included a first-person account by Himself. I sorta think it was online...but cannot find it now. Just FWIW.

Note:  The link below stopped working today.  Not sure if it's temporary or possibly they locked out the article.

Noted this in my search: https://www.hmgs.org/blogpost/1779451/323862/Book-Review-Wade-McClusky-and-the-Battle-of-Midway

Wargaming note, McClusky was hired by Avalon Hill as a paid consultant for their 1960s game Midway, which he played with his son. He also played the AH game Bismarck, although he apparently complained that his son would ahistorically 'hide' the German ship in the English channel. Enjoyed it.

Barrett sends

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Editors Note: Barrett, I scanned and published the pages on the RoundTable back in 2015. Here is the link to what McClusky wrote that was included in the game.

http://www.midway42.org/Backissues/2015/20150201.aspx#Link1

I was working with David Rigby digging up some research for him and this was one thing he had not read or even heard about.

I still have my copy of the game. Played it a lot back in the day with my little brother. He always took the US because his favorite ship was the Yorktown. As the Japanese it took me 21 tries to beat him. He really had mastered the strategy in that game.

TW

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20 July 2023
From Barrett Tillman

THANK YOU! Definitely a keeper. Rebranding for reference.

BT

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Lois Evans letter

Referring to the article in last month's issue: From Bill Evans' Mother

24 July 2023
From Michael Rogers

Thanks very much for including Lois' letter to President Roosevelt in the latest Midway Roundtable. Tonight, of course looking for something else, I found a reply from the White House to her letter. I have attached a PDF if you would like to include it in the next newsletter.

And, tomorrow (July 25th) is the date in 1943 when the Evans family became aware of Bill's letter which you quote from on the website. I may put together a little summary of that letter's history and a list of where it was used in part or in whole. No promises as to timing - but it's a project that's been on my mind for a while.

Cheers,
Mike Rogers

Reply to Lois Evans letter

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Critical Role of PBY at Midway

6 August 2023
From Patrick Hill

I read the article on Cmd. Wade McClusky in NavyOnline.com referred to by Howard Ady III in your June, 2023 newsletter. It was mildly interesting but there are better options about McClusky’s critical role in the battle. Since the author is attributed as “Bill the Goat” perhaps these particulars were not his focus.

While not wishing to diminish McClusky’s critical but often referenced role in the battle, I think a more interesting and much needed review of Lt. Howard Ady and the crew of his PBY 4V58, along with other PBYs who converged to help them is needed. Ady got the first indication of the IJN presence with a fly-by of a Jap plane at 0510. They continued to close on the fleet source of that plane sending another report at 0530 of “carriers”, another at 0540 noting their estimated distance, and another at 0552 noting the enemy course and speed. By this time they had been spotted and were being sought by the enemy CAP and had to take evasive action. The PBY was not designed for combat, but a number of PBYs stayed in the fight that morning even after the shooting started, contributing vital information. At least two were shot down. Talk about heroics. This was the critical information that Fletcher and Spruance had been awaiting and absolutely needed to launch McClusky and his brothers on their decisive attacks.

Respectfully,
Patrick Hill
Saint Paul, MN

PS Thanks for printing my info on the B-26 attack in your April newsletter. Sadly, it drew little interest. Curiously Barrett Tillman's link in June of Bert Earnest interviews did provide something that supports my version of the B-26 going in first. In Earnest 2nd interview he mentions two wrecked B-26 (Collins and Muri) on the runway as he came in to land suggesting they likely attacked before him. He says he saw no other planes during attack. Muri took a route back over the IJN fleet to return but Collins took a different route (north-west- south- then east to Midway) same as Earnest.

Regards.

Pat

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Editors Note:  I wouldn't put too much stock in getting no replies from your article.  One of the aspects of laying out a well researched article is that the less you get the more likely people have read it and respect the author's work.  So there is not a lot to say.  I found it very informative and interesting.  Sure others did as well.

TW

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TBD weapons at Midway

Referring to this Question  in last month's issue.

19 July 2023
From Chuck Wohlrab

Can you pass the following message and link to Frederick Seitz? If you open the link, it will lead you to an aftermarket printed Twin .30 Cal Machine Gun mount for an SBD. The image looks pretty good, and I'd judge this is exactly what you are looking for. The price isn't bad for aftermarket parts either. I noticed that the link also offers 30 day free return if not satisfied.


Happy modeling!

V/r, Chuck Wohlrab
Fellow modeler and longtime member of the BOMRT!

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20 July 2023
From Frederick Seitz

Thank you for the heads up with this! I ordered two. One for this TBD, and one for a 1:32 SBD I plan on building.

Thanks again, and I’ll send pictures when they are done.

Frederick J Seitz III

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Ring in Officers Club after Midway

Referring to this Question  in last month's issue.

19 July 2023
From Robert Mrazek

I'm in the middle of my last major home move before the formaldehyde truck rolls up, or would do more than say that an account of the Ring officers' club incident can be found on p. 197 of A Dawn Like Thunder. The source was Ensign Johnny Adams.

Best, Bob Mrazek

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19 July 2023
From Tom Rychlik

Another excellent edition of the Roundtable. Thank you for publishing my question on the Roundtable. I recalled reading it somewhere but couldn’t find it in any of the books. Chuck also remembered it. I even looked up Ring at the end of that book but apparently missed page 197 when I checked all the other pages that Ring was in. Please thank Robert for getting back to us so quickly.

Tom Rychlik

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24 July 2023
From John Lundstrom

With reference to Tom Rychlik's query regarding the snubbing of Ring after Midway, it appears in Robert Mrazek's excellent book "A Dawn Like Thunder" on Torpedo Eight.

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Movie review: Devotion

Referring to this review  article in last month's issue.

19 July 2023
From Barrett Tillman

My Devotion review in Naval History Magazine.

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USS Yorktown (CV-5) Club

4 August 2023
From Michael T. Naya, Jr.

I hope that you and your family are doing well. I was wondering if you might be able to help me out. Would you be able to include this in the next edition of the Midway Roundtable newsletter?

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My name is Michael Naya, Jr. and I am Historian for the USS Yorktown (CV-5) Club. Since 2016, I have been interviewing veterans in the hope of preserving their stories for the next generation. The USS Yorktown (CV-5) Club has worked closely with the Battle of Coral Sea Commemorative Association of Australia in the hope of ensuring these stories are being told. I was wondering if anybody reading this might know of any USS Lexington (CV-2) Survivors living who are lucid and willing to share their stories. It was believed that Garfield Ware (February 16, 1923 - March 23, 2022) and Cecil Wiswell (July 16, 1924 - March 26, 2022) were the final two survivors. That is until the passing of David Everett, Sr. (July 17, 1922 - April 20, 2023). With the learning of David being a survivor, it may indicate others might be out there as well.

Several USS Yorktown (CV-5) Survivors recalled witnessing the scuttling of the USS Lexington (CV-2) by the USS Phelps (DD-360). The last known USS Phelps (DD-360) veteran that was known was Luther Marden (December 17, 1922 – February 26, 2022). If anybody knows of any surviving USS Lexington and USS Phelps survivors, it would be greatly appreciated as the USS Yorktown Survivors and historians would enjoy a conversation with them. Additionally, any known veterans of ships who participated in the rescuing of survivors of the Lexington or later the USS Yorktown at Midway would be appreciated as well. Veterans who were out at sea at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack such as those who were aboard the Yorktown would be appreciated as well.

Understandably, it has been eighty-one years since these events occurred and time is running out for the final veterans to share their stories. Even ships who were out at sea at the time of the attack have answered the final roll call. Willard Norberg (November 13, 1922 - June 17, 2023), a friend of the USS Yorktown (CV-5) Club and veteran of the USS Enterprise (CV-6) passed away recently. Time is ticking for the greatest generation and soon they will all be gone. If you can help, please send a request to midwayroundtable@gmail.com and I'll forward the contact information to you.

Michael has interviewed several battle of Midway veterans including the late Jack Holder. He is currently in touch with USS Yorktown (CV-5) Survivor Robert Taylor, USS Yorktown (CV-5) Survivor Julian Hodges, and USS Ranger (CV-4) Veteran Robert Miller who was not at the Battle of Midway. Any veterans from the early days of World War II would be extremely beneficial.
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Thank You
-Michael Naya, Jr.
Archivist: Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors
Historian: USS Yorktown (CV-5) Club

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Shoulder Harness

2 August 2023
From Fredereick Seitz

Recently I had a discussion with another fellow about the shoulder harnesses on US Navy aircraft. He claims that the navy did not get around to equipping their aircraft with shoulder harnesses until late October, 1942. I seem to remember reading that, as early as Coral Sea, the Navy was working on acquiring shoulder harnesses for the fleet and having them installed in the field.

I believe it was in John Lundstrom's first book about fighter combat, that the first sets were literally cobbled together and installed as quickly as possible, so pilots wouldn't be thrown into the gun sight and injured. Given the funds allocated for training a Naval Aviator, even then, the Navy didn't want to be deprived of their services at all. To lose a pilot for a broken nose or knocked out teeth was bad enough. Could be a couple days, maybe a week, or maybe have to remove him from flight status, depending on the injury received.

If I remember correctly, most, if not all F4F's had shoulder harnesses by Midway. Grumman was making kits and sending them to the fleet in order to retrofit any that were missing them. New aircraft from the factory had them as original equipment.

Am I correct with this, or am I off the beam?

Respectfully submitted,
Frederick J Seitz III
IPMS 35450

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Editors Note:  I copied this from the forum on this site: https://ww2aircraft.net .  R. Leonard Staff Sergeant, a modeller, posted it in 2004  Since he refers to a story his father told him I consider it a reliable source.  I believe he would be the son of LT(jg) William Nicholas Leonard XO of Fighting Three.

"F4F-3s did not have shoulder belts, only a simple lap belt. Shoulder belts in Wildcats did not come out of the Grumman plant until around July 1942 in F4F-4s.

Even at Midway, the VF-3 and VF-6 F4F-4s had no shoulder belts. The VF-8 F4F-4s had a ship-designed and installed shoulder belt arrangement. My father remarked that he, having flown F4F-3s in VF-42 and F4F-4s in VF-3, with only lap belts, thought the VF-8 field mod was a clever idea when he saw it after flying over from Enterprise, where he had landed on 4 June after Yorktown was no longer available, on the 5th."

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Oregon PBY survivor Pearl Harbor

28 July 2023
From Barrett Tillman

https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/oregon-pearl-harbor-survivor-honored-for-102nd-birthday/article_c94703cc-29a1-11ee-a648-03297aeb80b8.html

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