John C. Waldron was born at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, on 24
August 1900. Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1924, he
became a Naval Aviator in 1927. During the years prior to World
War II, he served in several air units, was an instructor at the
Naval Academy and at Pensacola, Florida, and performed other duties
connected with aviation. In 1941, LCdr. Waldron became Commanding
Officer of Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8), which was to serve on
the new aircraft carrier Hornet
(CV-8). He led that unit during the Battle
of Midway, when all fifteen of its planes were lost to overwhelming
enemy fighter opposition while making an unsupported attack on
the Japanese aircraft carrier force. Lieutenant Commander John
C. Waldron was killed during that action.
USS Waldron (DD-699) was named in honor of John Charles Waldron.
This page features the only picture we have of John Charles Waldron and provides information on another that should be available from the National Archives.
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 #: NH 93595 Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) Pilots Photographed on board USS Hornet (CV-8), circa mid-May 1942, shortly before the Battle of Midway. They are identified in Photo # NH 93595 (Complete Caption). Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 525 pixels |
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While the Naval History and Heritage Command has no other views of John Charles Waldron, the National Archives appears to hold at least one more, as described below:
The image listed below is NOT in the
Naval History and Heritage Command's collections. DO NOT try to
obtain it using the procedures described in the page "How
to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.".
Lieutenant Commander John Charles Waldron, USN, standing in front of a Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" of Torpedo Squadron Eight, circa 1942. He is seen from mid-thigh up, wearing an aviator's helmet and pistol belt. Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval History and Heritage Command. The image above is NOT in the Naval History and Heritage Command's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.". |
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 16 May 1999
Coding updated 6 May 2009