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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: 80-G-11635 (Complete caption)

Battle of Midway, June 1942

Rear cockpit and .50 caliber machinegun turret of the only survivor of six Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) Grumman TBF "Avengers" that had attacked the Japanese carrier force in the morning of 4 June 1942. Seaman 1st Class Jay D. Manning, who was operating the .50 caliber machinegun turret, was killed in action with Japanese fighters during the attack. Damage to the turret can be seen in this view.
The plane's pilot was Ensign Albert K. Earnest and the other crewman was Radioman 3rd Class Harry H. Ferrier. Both survived the action.

The plane (TBF-1, Bureau # 00380) was photographed near the foot of the Sand Island pier, Midway, on 24 June 1942, prior to shipment to the United States for evaluation.
Stencilled sign below the gun turret reads: "Do not stand on walkway when wing is being folded". That on panel in front of turret reads "Life raft comp."
Ship in the left background is probably USS Ballard (AVD-10).

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

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 625 pixels

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

 

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

If higher resolution reproductions than this digital image are desired, see "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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15 March 1999