Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # 80-G-312000: SBD-3 scout bomber warming up on USS Yorktown, in the late morning of 4 June 1942.

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

Scenes on USS Yorktown, 4 June 1942


This page provides images taken on board USS Yorktown (CV-5) during her operations in the morning of 4 June, prior to the Japanese air attacks on her.

For overall views of USS Yorktown during the 4 June battle, exclusive of the two Japanese air attacks on her, see:

  • USS Yorktown Operating on 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 views of ships of other U.S. ships operating during 4 June, including photos of the recovery on board USS Enterprise of a plane and crew from Yorktown's Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3), see:

  • U.S. Navy Ships in Action during the Battle, 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-312000

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    A Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" scout bomber warming up on USS Yorktown, in the late morning of 4 June 1942.
    It is Number 17 of "Scouting" Squadron Five (the temporarily redesignated Bombing Squadron Five), piloted by Ensign Leif Larsen, but was apparently not one of ten "VS"-5 planes launched on a scouting mission shortly before noon on 4 June. Another of the squadron's SBDs succeeded in locating Hiryu, the only Japanese aircraft carrier of the Midway striking force that was still operational.
    The next plane, at right, is "VS"-5's Number 4, which did fly the scouting mission, piloted by Lieutenant John Nielsen.

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

    Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312016

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    A Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" fighter (Bureau # 5244) takes off from USS Yorktown (CV-5) on combat air patrol, during the morning of 4 June 1942.
    This plane is Number 13 of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), flown by the squadron Executive Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William N. Leonard.
    Photographed by Photographer Second Class William G. Roy, from the ship's forecastle. Note .50 caliber machinegun at right and mattresses hung on the lifeline for splinter-protection.

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

    Online Image: 66KB; 720 x 650 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 95557

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    A Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" scout bomber (Bureau # 4542), of USS Enterprise's Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6), is parked on board USS Yorktown (CV-5) after landing at about 1140 hrs on 4 June 1942. This plane, damaged during the attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga that morning, landed on Yorktown as it was low on fuel. It was later lost with the carrier. Its crew included Ensign George H. Goldsmith, pilot, and Radioman 1st Class James W. Patterson, Jr.
    Note damage to the horizontal tail and dual stripes painted on the fin.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, 1984.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 100740

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    A Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" scout bomber (Bureau # 4542), of USS Enterprise's Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6), on USS Yorktown (CV-5) after landing at about 1140 hrs on 4 June 1942. This plane, damaged during the attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga that morning, landed on Yorktown as it was low on fuel. It was later lost with the carrier.
    Its crew, Ensign George H. Goldsmith, pilot, and Radioman 1st Class James W. Patterson, Jr., are still in the cockpit.
    Note damage to the horizontal tail.

    Courtesy of Kent Walters and Robert J. Cressman.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312008

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    An junior officer poses with a 20mm gun on USS Yorktown (CV-5), during the morning of 4 June 1942.
    This gun is one of five in Yorktown's after port 20mm battery. Several SBD-3 "Dauntless" scout bombers are parked on the flight deck alongside these guns.
    Note the officer's leather jacket, goggles and barely visible rank bar on his collar. Also note the white rubber eye cup on the gun's open sight. These eye cups were still present on some of Yorktown's 20mm guns when she was examined in May 1998.

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

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312011

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Two crewmen pass the time with a game of "acey-deucey" on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), during the morning of 4 June 1942.
    They are playing on the working platform of one of the ship's eight 5"/38 dual-purpose guns. Note rubber mat on the deck below this gun mount.

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

    Online Image: 139KB; 590 x 765 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-21610

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    View of the upper after end of USS Yorktown's island, taken on 4 June 1942, during the battle.

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

    Online Image: 83KB; 600 x 765 pixels

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

     


    For overall views of USS Yorktown during the 4 June battle, exclusive of the two Japanese air attacks on her, see:

  • USS Yorktown Operating on 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 views of ships of other U.S. ships operating during 4 June, including photos of the recovery on board USS Enterprise of a plane and crew from Yorktown's Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3), see:

  • U.S. Navy Ships in Action during the Battle, 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 6 April 1999
    Coding updated 24 April 2009