As the 71st (!) anniversary of the Battle of Midway was this week (4th through the 7th of June) I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate that titanic struggle with a tribute to the aircraft and men of those early days in the Pacific War.
The Dive Bombers
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| Douglas SBD Dauntless (One of my favorite aircraft!) |
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| Aichi D3A "Val" (Japanese counterpart to the Dauntless) |
The Torpedo Bombers
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| Douglas TBD Devastator |
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| Nakajima B5n "Kate" |
The Fighters
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| Grumman F4F Wildcat |
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| Mitsubishi A6M Zero |
The Men
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| VT-3 USS Yorktown |
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| Aviators of the 6th Buntai Aircraft Carrier Hosho |
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| American Veterans of Midway |
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| Japanese Veterans of Midway |
Their numbers dwindle every day. Let us remember those who fought the good fight. Let us honor the memories of those who did not come home. Let us respect those who did come home and returned to their loved ones. Scarred and battered, perhaps. Haunted by their memories, perhaps. Deserving of honor and respect, without a doubt.
Ave Atque Vale!
Nice pics like the Knights of old fighter pilots are.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir. I always look forward to doing the Friday Flyby. Researching all the images is a lot of fun. And there are tons of good pictures out here on the web of worldliness!
DeleteDeserving of honor and respect, without a doubt.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt in my mind.
You did a great job with this post, Chris. Brilliant images, each and every one.
Thanks Buck. Sometimes the images tell the story much better than words can.
DeleteThat took brass to life off from those carriers back in those old aircraft and fly into the face of all of the AA guns, knowing that it was probably a one-time, one-way flight. But we had no shortage of real Americans back then.
ReplyDeleteThey were something. I marvel sometimes at their bravery.
DeleteGreat pics, and thanks for the follow up pics also!!!
ReplyDeleteJust trying to honor those who went before.
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