May 2003 Cover |
by Steve Shay |
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USS HORNET |
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This cover was cancelled aboard the USS Hornet on May 27, 1942, one day after arriving at Pearl Harbor. She would sail the next day for what would become the Battle of Midway. Just over 1 month earlier Hornet had carried the Doolittle Raiders to within 600 miles of Japan and on April 18 launched 16 B-25 bombers on the first air strike against the Japanese homeland. One week later she sailed into Pearl Harbor and was then dispatched along with the Enterprise as part of Admiral Halsey's Task Force 16 to help in the Coral Sea, arriving too late for the battle which saw the sinking of the Lexington and the damaging of Yorktown. On May 16 Halsey was directed to return to Pearl Harbor. Intelligence estimates were predicting an imminent Japanese amphibious attack on Midway. Hornet arrived at Pearl on May 26 and began a very hurried resupply. The next day, May 27, Ensign Robert P. Friesz, a spare pilot with Bombing 8 (a dive bombing squadron flying the SBD Dauntless) stationed on the Hornet mailed this envelope to the Federal Services Finance Corporation. On May 28, the fleet set sail for Midway, Enterprise and Hornet under the command of Admiral Spruance, the Yorktown with Admiral Fletcher leaving 2 days later. The battle began June 4 with a Japanese aerial assault on Midway. At extreme range, the American planes were launched from all three carriers in what would become an uncoordinated attack, with Torpedo 8, Scouting 8, Fighting 8 and Bombing 8 launching from Hornet. In what would be the turning point in the Pacific War, the planes attacked and sank three carriers. However all 15 planes from Torpedo 8 were shot down while Scouting 8, Fighting 8 and Bombing 8 all never even found the enemy fleet. All turned back to the Hornet with most of Bombing 8 landing at Midway to refuel first. Fighting 8 never reached the Hornet with every plane having to ditch, out of gas. Scouting 8 and four planes from Bombing 8 were able to reach Hornet and land. Bombing 8 returned to Hornet later that day. On June 5 Bombing and Scouting 8 both participated in a fruitless search for the Japanese fleet, having to return to the Hornet after dark. Only the bold move of turning on the carrier lights allowed the planes to land. On June 6 the same groups sortied and struck two cruisers and a destroyer. Later the same day they attacked again, finishing what they started by sinking the cruiser Mikuma and leaving Mogami heavliy damaged and aflame, the last action of the battle. Ensign Friesz survived the Battle of Midway and went on to be a test pilot after the war and was killed while flying. Hornet would be sunk October 27, 1942 during the Battle of Santa Cruz Island. |
