And how can man die better than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods?
Thomas Babington Macaulay
Director John Ford served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II making films. Here is a film that he made as a tribute to the men of Torpedo Squadron Eight from the Hornet, who, as noted last week in a post on Midway, which may be read here, played a pivotal role, along with Torpedo Squadron 6 from the Enterprise, by their sacrificial heroism in attacking the well guarded Japanese carriers, knowing that they would almost certainly not survive. The film was originally intended only for the families of those gallant men, all but one of whom died in their attack on the Japanese carriers on June 4th.
It is a sad fact of war that brave men must die. It speaks well for humanity however that so many men are willing to give up life itself to defend their loved ones and what they believe in.
Donald R. McClarey
Paul Zummo
Whoever first thought of torpedo planes is responsible for more deaths in proportion than probably any other weapon in WWII – and they were deaths on one’s own side. Losses made submarines and daytime bombers look positively safe by comparison, and I have yet to hear of a single ship sunk or seriously damaged by air-to-sea torpedoes. It was the same in the Mediterranean, where Italian pilots mounted on these misbegotten machines died in their hundreds. Planes weren’t made to have to come close to huge enemies, release a small amount of payloads, and hope to make it back.
Agreed Fabio. Torpedo bombers were only effective when the target was taken completely by surprise, Pearl Habor being the prime example, or under assault from other planes, as in the attack on the Yamamoto. Wikipedia, mirable dictu, actually has a good article on the torpedo bomber and why it disappeared following World War II.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpedo_bomber