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Photo # 80-G-41686:  TBD torpedo planes are prepared for launching on USS Enterprise, 4 June 1942.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific -- Battle of Midway --

U.S. Navy Ships in Action during the Battle, 4 June 1942

This page presents views of and on board USS Enterprise and on board USS Pensacola, both units of Task Force 16, during the 4 June operations. Some of these views relate to USS Yorktown and to Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3), one of her squadrons that operated from Enterprise after Yorktown was damaged.

In the early afternoon of 4 June, Pensacola was one of the TF-16 ships sent to provide additional escorts to USS Yorktown, which had just received bomb damage. Many of the photographs seen in this and other Battle of Midway pages were taken from Pensacola, using a camera that inserted a distinctive aiming cross in the center of each image.

For pictorial coverage of and on board USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the 4 June battle, exclusive of the two Japanese air attacks on her, see:

  • USS Yorktown Operating on 4 June 1942 and
  • Scenes on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942.

    For pictorial coverage of the air attacks on Yorktown and of her abandonment, see:

  • Japanese Attacks on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942.

    For links to views of other aspects of the Battle of Midway, see:

  • Battle of Midway, Overview and Special Image Selection.

  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-32225

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    USS Enterprise (CV-6) steaming at high speed at about 0725 hrs, 4 June 1942, seen from USS Pensacola (CA-24).
    The carrier has launched Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) and is striking unlaunched SBD aircraft below in preparation for respotting the flight deck with torpedo planes and escorting fighters.
    USS Northampton (CA-26) is in the right distance, with SBDs orbiting overhead, awaiting the launch of the rest of the attack group. Three hours later, VS-6 and VB-6 fatally bombed the Japanese carriers Akagi and Kaga.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-41686

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) TBD-1 aircraft are prepared for launching on USS Enterprise (CV-6) at about 0730-0740 hrs, 4 June 1942. Eleven of the fourteen TBDs launched from Enterprise are visible. Three more TBDs and ten F4F fighters must still be pushed into position before launching can begin.
    The TBD in the left front is Number Two (Bureau # 1512), flown by Ensign Severin L. Rombach and Aviation Radioman 2nd Class W.F. Glenn. Along with eight other VT-6 aircraft, this plane and its crew were lost attacking Japanese aircraft carriers somewhat more than two hours later.
    USS Pensacola (CA-24) is in the right distance and a destroyer is in plane guard position at left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7746

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class Clifton R. Bassett, of Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3), is carried down the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), 4 June 1942. He was wounded by Japanese aircraft gunfire while VB-3 was attacking Hiryu.
    Bassett was radioman/gunner of the SBD "Dauntless" scout-bomber flown by Ensign Bunyan R. Cooner, USNR, seen here walking to the right of the stretcher party.
    Photographed looking forward from the carrier's island. Note flight deck distance markings and aircraft tie-down strips.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 154KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7745

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Aviation Ordnanceman Second Class Clifton R. Bassett, of Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3), is carried from the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), 4 June 1942. He had been wounded by Japanese aircraft while VB-3 was attacking Hiryu. Bassett was radioman/gunner of the SBD "Dauntless" scout-bomber flown by Ensign Bunyan R. Cooner, USNR, seen here at top center wearing an inflatable life jacket.
    Photographed looking forward from the carrier's island. Note flight deck details, including wooden decking, metal tie-down strips, palisade and flight deck distance markings. Aircraft wheel chocks are piled at the right.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32315

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    View looking astern on USS Pensacola (CA-24) as she steams to the aid of USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the early afternoon of 4 June 1942.
    Ships following are probably USS Benham (DD-397), at left, and USS Vincennes (CA-44). Wake at far right is probably that of USS Balch (DD-363). These four ships were detached from Task Force 16 to augment the screen of the nearby Task Force 17 after Yorktown was hit and temporarily stopped by Japanese dive bombers.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For pictorial coverage of and on board USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the 4 June battle, exclusive of the two Japanese air attacks on her, see:

  • USS Yorktown Operating on 4 June 1942 and
  • Scenes on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942.

    For pictorial coverage of the air attacks on Yorktown and of her abandonment, see:

  • Japanese Attacks on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942.

    For links to views of other aspects of the Battle of Midway, see:

  • Battle of Midway, Overview and Special Image Selection.

  • NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 5 April 1999
    Coding updated 24 April 2009