Follow
Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT-8
Contents hide
(Top)
Midway
South Pacific
Central Pacific
Awards
Gallery
Literature
References
Toggle References subsection
Bibliography
External links
VT-8
Article
Talk
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
Appearance hide
Text
Small
Standard
Large
Width
Standard
Wide
Color (beta)
Automatic
Light
Dark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Torpedo Squadron 8
Standing (L-R): Owens, Ensign Fayle {transferred}; Waldron, R.A. Moore, U.M. Moore, Evans, Teats, Cambell.
Kneeling (L-R): Ellison, Kenyon, Gray, sole survivor Gay, Woodson, Creamer, Miles
Active 1942–1945
Country United States
Branch United States Navy
Type Attack
Role Close air support
Air interdiction
Part of Hornet Air Group, later Carrier Air Group 8
Engagements World War II
Battle of Midway
Battle of Guadalcanal
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable
commanders John C. Waldron
Harold H. Larsen
Aircraft flown
Attack Douglas TBD Devastator
Grumman TBM Avenger
Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) was a United States Navy squadron of World War II torpedo bombers. VT-8 was assigned initially to the air group of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, joining the ship shortly after her commissioning in October 1941.
After heavy losses in the Battle of Midway, VT-8 was assigned to USS Saratoga. When Saratoga was disabled on 31 August, VT-8 was transferred to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, operating there until November 1942. Due to heavy cumulative losses on Guadalcanal, VT-8 was then withdrawn and disbanded.
A second VT-8 was established in 1943, and served on USS Bunker Hill until the end of the war.
Midway
VT-8's first and best-known combat mission came during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942. Flying obsolete Douglas TBD Devastators, all of Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron's fifteen planes were shot down during their unescorted torpedo attack on Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carriers. The squadron failed to damage any Japanese carriers or destroy enemy aircraft.
Only one member of VT-8 who flew from Hornet on that day survived in the action, Ensign George Gay. Gay was rescued the day following the battle. VT-8 was afterwards awarded the American Presidential Unit Citation.
Just prior to the Battle of Midway, the reconstituted VT-8 was the first squadron equipped with the new Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, a bigger, faster, longer-ranged replacement for the TBD. When Hornet sailed to the Pacific, a detachment of the squadron under the command of Lieutenant Harold "Swede" Larsen remained in Norfolk, Virginia to receive the first shipment of the new aircraft. Larsen's detachment arrived at Pearl Harbor the day after Hornet sailed for Midway Island. Six of the squadron's Avengers were flown to Midway under the command of Lieutenant Langdon K. Fieberling to participate in the battle. These planes were the first Navy aircraft to attack the Japanese fleet that day. They attacked without fighter cover, and five of the Avengers were shot down, with only Ensign Albert K. Earnest and Radioman 2nd Class Harry Ferrier surviving, on a badly shot-up plane with damaged controls and landing gear, and a dead rear-gunner.
VT-8's losses have been attributed to several causes. Hornet's CAG, Commander Stanhope C. Ring, kept the group's fighter escort at high altitude in order to cover the dive bombers and to give the Wildcats an altitude advantage. This decision was supported by Admiral Marc Mitscher, then commanding officer of Hornet.[1] The Wildcats' deployment was ultimately of no consequence, however, as Ring led the group on an incorrect heading, so the dive bombers never made contact with the Japanese fleet. Commander Waldron made repeated attempts to take over the formation by radio before leading VT-8 off on his own.[1] Waldron's initiative coupled with Ring's faulty tactics led to VT-8 attacking the Japanese force without fighter or dive bomber support. It is important to note, however, that all of the carrier-based torpedo squadrons suffered heavily in the battle, including VT-3, which attacked with fighter escort.[citation needed]
Larsen's detachment of VT-8 that remained at Pearl Harbor was loaded aboard USS Saratoga when she was sent to reinforce the forces at Midway. They were later transferred to Hornet where they learned of the loss of their comrades. VT-8 was reconstituted with this detachment as nucleus and was reassigned to Saratoga.
South Pacific
VT-8 flew from Saratoga during the initial stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign. In the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, VT-8 assisted in sinking the light carrier Ryūjō. When Saratoga was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, the squadron was assigned to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, where it served as part of the Cactus Air Force. VTR-8 fought there to the point where all aircraft were disabled, and then operated as a single-aircraft unit, as one plane at a time was put back into service by salvaging parts (often themselves damaged) from other planes. VT-8 pilots and air crew also participated in the ground defense of Henderson Field, assisting to fend off Japanese infantry attacks on 24–26 October 1942. VT-8's last official mission was flown on 15 November 1942, against damaged transports from the last major Japanese convoy to the island. After leaving Guadalcanal and returning to the United States, the squadron was disbanded.[1]
Central Pacific
A new Torpedo Squadron 8 was established in 1943 as part of the new Carrier Air Group 8 (CVG-8). It was assigned to the newly commissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid at Norfolk in November 1943. After training in the Caribbean Sea, VT-8 left Intrepid at Pearl Harbor in January 1944.[2] Here, VT-8 was assigned to USS Bunker Hill, in March 1944. VT-8 attacked Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai on 30 March and 1 April 1944. Truk, Satawan, Ponape, and Hollandia on New Guinea were attacked a month later. CVG-8 then took part in the Marianas Campaign between 12 June and 10 August 1944. VT-8 flew sorties in the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The Western Carolines were attacked in September, Okinawa, Luzon, and Formosa were attacked in October and November 1944.[3] For this deployment on Bunker Hill, CVG-8 was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation.
In June 1945, VT-8 trained with USS Saratoga, but they did not deploy.[4] CVG-8 (including VT-8) was disestablished after the end of the war.
Awards
Torpedo Eight earned two Presidential Unit Citations: one for Midway and one for Guadalcanal. Its members also earned more than fifty medals for valor in combat.
Gallery
A VT-8 SBN-1 trainer, 1941
A VT-8 SBN-1 trainer, 1941
"8-T-7" at NAS Norfolk in March 1942
"8-T-7" at NAS Norfolk in March 1942
VT-8 was the first squadron equipped with the new TBF-1
VT-8 was the first squadron equipped with the new TBF-1
VT-8 CO LCdr. Waldron taking off
VT-8 CO LCdr. Waldron taking off
VT-8 in flight
VT-8 in flight
Ens. Gay (right), sole survivor of Devastator attack at Midway
Ens. Gay (right), sole survivor of Devastator attack at Midway
8-T-1, the only VT-8 TBF to return to Midway
8-T-1, the only VT-8 TBF to return to Midway
A VT-8 TBF landing on USS Saratoga off Guadalcanal, August 1942
A VT-8 TBF landing on USS Saratoga off Guadalcanal, August 1942
The wrecked TBF of Ens. Earnest on Guadalcanal, November 1942
The wrecked TBF of Ens. Earnest on Guadalcanal, November 1942
A VT-8 Avenger on USS Bunker Hill off Saipan, June 1944
A VT-8 Avenger on USS Bunker Hill off Saipan, June 1944
Literature
Herman Wouk's novel War and Remembrance pays tribute to Torpedo 8, whose pilots he called "the soul of America in action."
Robert J Mrazek's book "A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight" tells the story of VT-8 through interviews with surviving members, the official war record of the squadron and excerpts from letters written home by those who didn't make it.
References
Mrazek, R, A Dawn Like Thunder
"History of the USS INTREPID CV-11".
"U.S. Navy - A Brief History of Aircraft Carriers - USS Bunker Hill (CV 17)". Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
Terzibaschitsch, Stefan. Flugzeugträger der U.S. Navy, Band 1: Flottenflugzeugträger. Bonn, Bernard & Graefe 1986, p. 344. ISBN 3-7637-5803-8
Bibliography
Gay, George (1980). Sole Survivor. Midway Publishers. OCLC 7738297.
Mrazek, Robert (2008). A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight. Hachette Digital, Inc. ISBN 978-0-316-02139-5.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torpedo Squadron 8 (United States Navy).
Torpedo Squadron 8 on YouTube
Torpedo Squadron 8 photograph, US Navy Historical Center
History of Torpedo Squadron 8, US Navy
vte
United States Navy
Category
Leadership
Secretary of the NavyUnder Secretary of the NavyChief of Naval OperationsVice Chief of Naval OperationsMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Navy4-star admirals3-star admirals 1864–19592000–20092010–20192020–present2-star admiralsHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection ForcesSenate Subcommittee on Seapower
Structure
NavyNavy ReserveFleet Marine ForceExpeditionary Combat CommandMerchant Marine
UnitsActive shipsFuture shipsAircraft wingsAircraft squadronsCarrier strike groupInstallationsNaval ObservatoryMaster jet base
Operating
forces
Fleet Forces Command CommanderPacific Fleet CommanderNaval Forces Europe – Naval Forces AfricaNaval Forces Central CommandNaval Forces Southern CommandNaval Special Warfare CommandNaval Reserve ForcesOperational Test and Evaluation ForceNaval Network Warfare CommandMilitary Sealift Command
Shore
Naval Sea Systems CommandNaval Air Systems CommandNaval Facilities Engineering Systems CommandNaval Supply Systems CommandNaval Information Warfare Systems CommandFleet Cyber CommandNaval AcademyNaval Education and Training CommandNaval Meteorology and Oceanography CommandOffice of Naval IntelligenceNaval Aviation Warfighting Development CenterNaval Legal Service CommandNaval ObservatoryNaval Safety CenterBureau of Naval PersonnelChief of Naval PersonnelBureau of Medicine and SurgeryNavy Installations CommandNavy Working Capital Fund
Fleets
Second FleetThird FleetFourth FleetFifth FleetSixth FleetSeventh FleetTenth Fleet
Ships
A–BCD–FG–HI–KLMN–OPQ–RST–VW–Z
Aircraft carriersAirshipsAmphibious warfare shipsAuxiliariesBattleshipsCruisersDestroyersDestroyer escortsEscort carriersFrigatesMine warfare vesselsMonitorsPatrol vesselsRegistered civilian vesselsSailing frigatesSteam frigatesSteam gunboatsShips of the lineSloops of warSubmarinesTorpedo boatsTorpedo retrieversUnclassified miscellaneous vesselsYard and district craft
Personnel
and
training
People
Officers
InsigniaDesignators
Enlisted
RatesRatingsClassification
Personnel
Chaplain Corps ChiefDeputy ChiefExplosive ordnance disposalMedical CorpsDental CorpsNurse CorpsMedical Service CorpsSupply CorpsCivil Engineer CorpsJAG Corps JAGDJAGNCISBoatswain's matesHospital corpsmanNaval AviatorSEALsSeabeesMaster-at-armsOperations specialistSWCCsHispanic sailors
Training
RecruitOfficer Candidate SchoolSTA-21NROTCNaval University System (Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Academy, Naval Community College, Marine Corps University)BESSBFTTCNATTCOMPTUEXNAWCTSDAIMNaval Chaplaincy SchoolNaval Hospital Corps SchoolNaval Justice SchoolUnited States Armed Forces School of MusicNavy Senior Enlisted AcademyNavy Supply Corps SchoolNuclear Power SchoolJMTCTOPGUNUSNTPSUniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Equipment
UniformsAwards and decorationsBadgesCurrent fleetFuture fleetReserve fleetCurrent aircraftWeaponsNaval reactors
History and
traditions
History"Anchors Aweigh"Blue AngelsContinental NavyEnsignFleet bandsFleet WeekJackLine-crossing ceremonyNational MuseumNavy BandCeremonial GuardNavy FlagNavy HymnNavy MemorialNavy service numbersNavy WeeksRevolt of the AdmiralsSailor's CreedShip commissioningShip decommissioningShip naming conventionsTingey HouseUSS ConstitutionWAVESWetting-downUnited States battleship retirement debate
Categories: Torpedo squadrons of the United States NavyAircraft squadrons of the United States Navy in World War IIBattle of Midway
This page was last edited on 5 March 2024, at 20:30 (UTC).