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Photo # 80-G-64822: Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach in the cockpit of an F4F fighter plane, 5 May 1942

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

Admiral John Smith Thach, USN, (1905-1981) --
Informal Views of, and related to, John S. Thach, through 1943


This page features informal views of John S. Thach from the early years of his Naval career up to the mid-point of World War II, as well as views of contemporary subjects directly related to him.

For other views of John S. Thach, see:

  • Admiral John S. Thach, USN, (1905-1981) ; and
  • Informal Views of John S. Thach after 1943.


    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-450865

    Naval Aviators and Motion Picture Actors


    Standing by a Curtiss F8C-4 aircraft of Fighting Squadron 1-B, at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 16 September 1931, while filming the movie "Helldivers".
    Those present are (from left to right):
    Actor Cliff Edwards;
    Lieutenant (Junior Grade) John S. Thach, USN;
    Actor Clark Gable;
    Actor (and USNR Officer) Wallace Beery;
    Lieutenant (Junior Grade) H.S. Duckworth, USN, and
    Lieutenant (Junior Grade) E.P. Southwick, USN.

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

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

     

    Photo #: 80-PR-1154

    Grumman F4F-3 "Wildcat" fighter
    ,
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    Prepares to take off from USS Saratoga (CV-3), circa October 1941.
    The plane's pilot is probably Lt. John S. Thach, VF-3 Commanding Officer.

    Photograph from Department of the Navy collections in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     

    Photo #: 80-G-457493

    Lieutenant Edward H. ("Butch") O'Hare, USN,
    (left) and
    Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, USN

    Shaking hands in front of a Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighter plane at an Oahu air base, circa April-May 1942. Both men were assigned to Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3), of which Thach was Commanding Officer.

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

    Online Image: 109KB; 585 x 675 pixels

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

     

    Photo #: 80-G-10613

    Grumman F4F-3 "Wildcat" fighters,

    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    In flight near Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, 10 April 1942.
    The planes are Bureau # 3976 (marked "F-1"), flown by VF-3 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, and Bureau # 3986, flown by Lieutenant Edward H. O'Hare.
    Both of these aircraft were lost while assigned to Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2) with USS Lexington (CV-2), during the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942.
    Photographed by Photographer Second Class H.S. Fawcett.

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

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

     

    Photo #: 80-G-64822

    Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, USN,

    Commanding Officer, Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    Photographed on 5 May 1942, in the cockpit of a Grumman F4F "Wildcat" fighter plane.
    Note "victory" markings painted below the cockpit.

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

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     

    Photo #: 80-G-66154

    Grumman F4F-4 "Wildcat" Fighter
    (Bureau # 5171),
    of Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3)

    At Naval Air Station, Kaneohe, Oahu, on 29 May 1942, with ground crewmen folding the starboard wing.
    On 4 June 1942, in the Battle of Midway, this plane was flown by Lieutenant Commander John S. Thach, VF-3's Commanding Officer, during the afternoon combat air patrol defending USS Yorktown (CV-5), wherein Thach probably shot down Lieutenant Joichi Tomonaga, leader of the attacking Japanese torpedo planes.

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

    Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

     


    For other views of John S. Thach, see:

  • Admiral John S. Thach, USN, (1905-1981) ; and
  • Informal Views of John S. Thach after 1943.


    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 30 May 1999
    Coding updated 6 May 2009