Captain’s Column

The United States Navy has two significant dates that are closely related that we pause and pay tribute to every year. One is the tragic surprise attack that took place at Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941, and the other is the first major victory, in the Pacific War, at the Battle of Midway, June 4-7, 1942. In an effort to find some historic facts about the first class of graduates, I stumbled across a story involving a flight school graduate from NASCC and his part in the Battle of Midway. In honor of the Battle of Midway this year, I’d like to share what I’ve learned.

The vicious surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese Navy pulled the United States into World War II. For the next six months, the U.S. would witness defeat after defeat as Japanese forces rapidly expanded their area of control. It wasn’t until June 1942, under the leadership of Admiral Nimitz, with timely advancements in code breaking, and the sheer grit of American Sailors, Marines, and Army aircrew, that the United States would finally score a decisive victory. The Battle of Midway was a major turning point in the war in the Pacific.

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi graduated its first class of 45 pilots in November 1941.

Ensign Gerald Child was a member of that first graduating class. He arrived in Hawaii as a PBY pilot for VP-23, in December 1941. After flying PBYs for a number of months with various Patrol Plane Commanders, he was finally assigned as Ensign Theodore “The Swede” Thueson’s copilot. Late May they were sent forward to Midway in anticipation of a Japanese attack and began flying search missions in early June.

According to Ensign Child, “On the day of the Battle (June 4) at approximately 8 a.m., one of the aircraft [another PBY in VP-23] reported that it had sighted an enemy aircraft carrier and a squadron of aircraft heading for Midway… At this point we really had no idea who was winning the war [or] whether or not we even had a safe base to return to...At this time we decided to open up on our radio and request instructions. This we did, and quite promptly received orders to ‘change course to another heading, and establish and maintain contact with enemy.’”

They had not been on that new heading for very long before they saw naval vessels on the horizon. Without delay, Ensign Thueson flew his aircraft right into the battle area. He later explained, “I picked up three large smudges on the horizon. We closed in to identify them regardless of what happened. We saw these blazing ships, later identified as two carriers of the Kaga and Akagi Class and one of the Soryu Class. They were dead in the water and burning badly. Two cruisers and five destroyers were standing by. I was fired upon by anti-aircraft from one cruiser and one destroyer.”

Making a hasty retreat, they departed the area and were soon attacked by a Japanese Zero, likely trying to return to its own carrier now on fire. Ensign Thueson quickly descended to wave top level and slowed his aircraft, with constant turns to make as difficult a target as possible. After four passes, the Zero finally departed, but not before its rounds impacted a fuel tank. Thueson had no other option but to attempt to ditch the aircraft.

Shortly after a successful night, instrument, water landing, an amazing feat in itself, the entire crew was picked up by a destroyer, USS Monahan, which then proceeded to the stricken aircraft carrier USS Yorktown to rescue more survivors.

It wasn’t long before word got back to Headquarters in Pearl Harbor that USS Monahan had two pilots on board who witnessed the aftermath of the U.S. attacks. After a number of ship transfers, they were quickly returned to Pearl Harbor where they were met at the pier by the admiral’s car. Upon arriving at the admiral’s personal residence, they were invited in for dinner. The price to pay for that dinner was an exact battle damage report of what they saw. Ensign Child, being the junior of the two ensigns, was responsible for making that report.

Less than eight months after getting his wings...he was briefing Admiral Nimitz! No pressure at all for NASCC trained Naval Aviator! Go NAVY!