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Photo # 80-G-66074: Lieutenant Commander Lance E. Massey seated in his TBD torpedo plane, 24 May 1942.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- PEOPLE -- UNITED STATES --

Lieutenant Commander Lance Edward Massey, USN, (1909-1942)

Lance E. Massey was born in Syracuse, New York, on 20 September 1909. A 1930 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he became a Naval aviator in 1932. In the first months of the Pacific War, he served with Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) on USS Enterprise (CV-6) and later took command of Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3), flying from USS Yorktown (CV-5). On 4 June 1942, during the Battle of Midway, Lieutenant Commander Massey was killed in action while leading his squadron in an attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier force.

USS Massey (DD-778) was named in his honor.

This page features views concerning Lance E. Massey.


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-66074

Lieutenant Commander Lance E. Massey, USN,
Commanding Officer, Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3)

Seated in his Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo plane, at Naval Air Station Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, 24 May 1942.
Massey was killed in action on 4 June 1942, while leading VT-3 in an attack on the Japanese carrier force during the Battle of Midway.
Note "Victory" flag marking on the plane, representing the sinking of a Japanese ship during the Marshall Islands Raid, 1 February 1942, when he was Executive Officer of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) on USS Enterprise (CV-6).

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

Online Image: 84KB; 640 x 675 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 95554

Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3)


Squadron pilots, photographed Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, Hawaii, in late May 1942, just before the Battle of Midway. Most of these men lost their lives in that action.
Those present are identified in Photo # NH 95554 (Complete Caption).

Courtesy of Captain John W. Myers, USN(Retired), 1985.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 460 pixels

 


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."


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    Page made 23 May 1999
    Coding updated 6 May 2009