Lieutenant Best noticed the error and broke off with his two wingmen to attack Akagi. And the caustic soda, he was told, had activated latent tuberculosis. Between ages 32 and 42, Portz said, Best spent four years in and out in the hospital recovering from tuberculosis. “Hiryu threw everything she had at us,” Best told Portz. Best is believed to be the first American pilot to successfully bomb two Japanese carriers in one day." LLEWELLYN, BARBARA ANN. Lieutenant Best noticed the error and broke off with his two wingmen to attack the Akagi. After discharge from the hospital, Best worked in a small research division of the Douglas Aircraft Corporation. The second bomb, aimed by Ensign Frederick Thomas Weber, landed in the water, near the stern. The three-plane CEAG section was expected to attack last, as their planes were equipped with cameras to later assess the damage. Richard H. Best, a former Navy bomber pilot who scored hits on two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk in the critical Battle of Midway during World War II, has died. Under the overall command of the air group commander (CEAG) Lt.Cdr. Other Comments: Battle of Midway June 4-7, 1944. Upon arrival at the squadron's base on land, Naval Air Station North Island, California, on June 10, Best was made flight officer (operations officer) of the squadron, who was third-in-command. Bombers from the Enterprise hit the Akagi and the Kaga. The first bomb, dropped by Lt.(jg) Edwin John Kroeger, missed. He died on October 28, 2001 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. If a new volunteer signs up in your requested photo location, they may see your existing request and take the photo. Try again. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Obviously, Best expected to attack according to the U.S. dive bomber doctrine. × On Monday, June 12, 2006, BARBARA ANN LLEWELLYN of Rockville, MD. Please enter location or other information that may help the volunteer in fulfilling this request. “I never tried to look where my bomb hit: she was shooting, the battleships were shooting, and the Zeros were swarming around. The flight deck of USS Enterprise on May 15, 1942: The first SBD is either Best's ("B-1") or that of the CO of VS-6 ("S-1"). After discharge from the hospital, Best worked in a small research division of the Douglas Aircraft Corporation. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Best, Lt. Cmdr Richard Halsey passed away October 28, in Santa Monica. The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander However, evidently, McClusky was not aware of this, having been a fighter pilot until becoming CEAG. What issues are on the ballot in California and Los Angeles County. The force wave of that hit jammed Akagi's rudder. “I knew my career was dead,” Best told Portz. or don't show this again—I am good at figuring things out. By mid-1942, Best was an experienced combat pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Enterprise in the Pacific. Dive bombers from the Yorktown hit the Soryu. Only the dive bombers stayed together and reached the enemy by 09:55h. Born in Bayonne, N.J., Best was inspired to become a pilot by listening to the exploits of air veterans of World War I. The material used in the rebreather to remove exhaled carbon dioxide was sodium hydroxide. His first assignment was Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2B) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, flying the Grumman F2F. Best, Lt. Cmdr Richard Halsey passed away October 28, in Santa Monica. We do not have any photo volunteers within fifty miles of your requested photo location. Of the 15 planes in Best’s squadron, Portz said, only three returned to the Enterprise in good condition. He put in a request for a transfer to the Pacific Fleet in that capacity. [8] The last bomb, dropped by Best, punched through the flight deck and exploded in the upper hangar, in the middle of 18 Nakajima B5N2 planes, parked there. Make sure that the file is a photo. In the spring of 1942 the SBD-3 replaced the SBD-2, being equipped with an uprated engine, armur, self-sealing fuel tanks and better armament. I dropped all the way to the deck to get out of there.”. Richard H Best was born in New Jersey in 1911. [1] >>>>>>>>>BATTLE OF MIDWAY>>>>>>>>>Flying off the Carrier USS Enterprise and under command of Air Grp Commander LtCmdr Wade McClusky, Lt. Dick Best leading two squadron mates arrived over the enemy fleet. To add a flower, click the “Leave a Flower” button. Drag images here or select from your computer for Richard Halsey “Dick” Best memorial. That morning, Portz said, torpedo bombers from the three American carriers attacked three of the Japanese carriers and were almost wiped out by Japanese fighter planes and anti-aircraft fire. Other Comments: Battle of Midway June 4-7, 1944 After contact reports of Midway-based PBY Catalina patrol aircraft on the morning of June 4, 1942, Enterprise … Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Upon arrival at Naval Air Station North Island, California, on June 10, Best became Flight Officer (operations officer) of VB-6. The force wave of that hit jammed the Akagi's rudder. After returning to the Enterprise, he began coughing up blood and developed a fever. Please note: You are asking volunteers to find and take a photo of the headstone. Resend Activation Email. Both carriers then sped to the south, but were too late to take part in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The second bomb, aimed by Ens. On the morning of June 4, 1942, the Enterprise and two other American carriers--the Yorktown and the Hornet--were a few hundred miles from Midway Island when a patrol plane spotted Japanese aircraft carriers and their escorts heading toward the island. Frederic Thomas Weber, landed in the water, near the stern. The Battle of Midway--June 4-6, 1942--is considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. If the device containing this material were abnormally heated, it could release caustic soda fumes through the pilot's oxygen mask; consequently Best had inhaled caustic fumes. [9] Later that day, Lieutenant Best participated in the attack on the last remaining Japanese carrier - the Hiryu, possibly scoring one of the four hits. He entered the hospital at Pearl Harbor on June 24, 1942. I’m so proud of the Greatest Generation! While flying the first mission during the Battle of Midway, a faulty oxygen canister had created gases that turned to caustic soda. Howard L. Young, 12 planes of Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and five from VB-6, Best not being among them. GREAT NEWS! Johanna was born in 1505, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England. At about 10:22h the Enterprise dive bombers started to attack two Japanese carriers, which proved to be the Kaga, and the Akagi. ): Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States), Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States), American military personnel of World War II, http://cv6.org/ship/logs/ph/org-am-19411207.htm, http://cv6.org/ship/logs/ph/ela19411210.htm, http://cv6.org/ship/logs/action19420201-vb6-1015.htm, http://www.immf-midway.com/narrative.html, http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rhbest.htm, Best's Bombing Squadron Six Action Report 4-6 June 1942, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Richard_Halsey_Best?oldid=5253876. On May 31, 1940, Best received orders to join Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6), which was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. A fourth plane came in later but was badly shot up. His grandfather Edward Best emigrated to the United States from England in the 1800s, living first in Wisconsin where he mustered into "F" Company of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry during the American Civil War, and later moving to California and then Oregon in his old age. At dusk VB-6 attacked Japanese shipping off Kwajalein under his command; before noon he led eight SBDs from VB-6 and one from VS-6 to attack Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll. ).
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