George H. Gay Jr.
George H. Gay, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | Torpedo Squadron 8 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Navy Cross Presidential Unit Citation |
Ensign (later Lieutenant Commander) George Henry Gay Jr. (March 8, 1917–October 21, 1994) was a TBD Devastator pilot in United States Navy Torpedo Squadron 8 operating from the USS Hornet (CV-8) in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Of the 30 VT-8 aircrew that participated in the crucial battle of Midway, Ensign Gay was the Sole Survivor, which was the title of his autobiography[1].
Early years
George Henry Gay, Jr. was born on March 8, 1917 in Waco, Texas. He attended school in both Austin and Houston before enrolling at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University)
World War II
Like millions of Americans at the time, Gay chose to sign up for the coming war, leaving college (Texas A&M University) to do so. Wanting to fight the war as a pilot he tried to join the Army Air Corps but was rejected for medical reasons.
Not giving up on his original ambition to fight the war as a pilot he signed up with the United States Navy in early 1941. Gay completed flight training and was commissioned as an Ensign in Sept 1941.
He joined the newly-formed Torpedo Squadron 8 under Lieutenant Commander John Charles Waldron. He and his unit were aboard the USS Hornet in April 1942 when Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle launched his raid on Tokyo. One week later, the Hornet arrived at Pearl Harbor to join the USS Enterprise and become part of Task Force 16 during the Battle of Midway.
In the Battle of Midway, Gay's unit found the main Japanese fleet and launched a suicidal attack without being escorted by fighter planes. Gay was the first of his squadron to depart on June 4, 1942. Although he was wounded and his radioman/gunner was dying, Gay finished his bombing run on the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga. Rather than banking away from the ship and presenting a larger target, Gay continued in toward the carrier at low level. He then brought his Devastator into a tight turn as he approached the carrier's island, and flew aft over the flight deck's length. It was here that he mentioned the thought of crashing into the Japanese aircraft he saw being serviced on its deck if it seemed like his plane was going down.[2] Saying later;
It's when a fellow is just gone and knows it, it is just crash into the ship or crash into the sea, and you have enough control to do a little bit more damage, why you crash into the ship.[2]
His plane proved to be in good condition so he decided to make for the Hornet instead after clearing the Japanese carrier. Before he could do anything else, five A6M Zekes brought his aircraft down in a hail of machine gun and cannon fire.[2] Floating in the ocean, he hid under his seat cushion during the subsequent dive bombing attacks that sank three of the four Japanese aircraft carriers present.[3]
After dark Gay felt it was safe to inflate his life raft. He was rescued by a Navy PBY after spending over 30 hours in the water. Of the squadron's thirty pilots and radiomen, Gay was the only survivor. Gay met with Admiral Nimitz and confirmed the destruction of the three carriers.
Following the battle, Gay took part in the Guadalcanal campaign with another squadron, and he later became a navy flight instructor.
He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation for his actions in battle at Midway. He was also later awarded the Air Medal.
Later years
After the war, Gay spent over 30 years as a pilot for TWA.[4] He often lectured on his Midway experiences[citation needed], and authored the book Sole Survivor about his wartime experiences.[5] In 1975, he served as a consultant on the set for the movie Midway, in which Kevin Dobson played Gay.[6] He attended the decommissioning ceremony of the USS Midway on April 11, 1992.
On October 21, 1994, Gay died of a heart attack at a hospital in Marietta, Georgia.[7] Following his death, Gay was cremated and his ashes were spread over the Pacific in the same place that his squadron launched its ill-fated attack.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq81-8c.htm
- ^ a b c Interview with Lt. Gay regarding his experiences during Midway and the war in general. From the Naval Historical Center retrieved 02/18/2008
- ^ Joe James Custer (United Press), Watches Jap Carriers Go By in Flames, Waterloo Daily Courier, 1942-06-09 at 1, available at NewspaperArchive.com.
- ^ Obituary, George Gay Jr.; 77, Was Sole Survivor of Midway Attack, New York Times, 1994-10-24.
- ^ George Gay, Sole Survivor, ISBN-10: 0938300083 (1983).
- ^ Obituary.
- ^ Obituary.