Seventy-five years ago this week, American pilot "Dusty" Kleiss began a near-vertical dive aimed the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga, 20,000 feet below. Seconds later, the smoldering Kaga was crippled by Dusty’s perfectly-placed bomb; at that moment—almost six months after the tragedy of Pearl Harbor--the course of World War II began to change. Now, Kleiss has published his memoirs, Never Call Me a Hero, co-written with Timothy and Laura Orr, who reflect here on the Battle of Midway and their collaboration with one the battle’s decisive participants.
On June 4-7, 1942, two U.S. Navy task forces won an unexpected victory in the waters near Midway Atoll, sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers and turning the tide of the Pacific War. America’s aviators paid a high price for that victory. When the echoes of combat subsided, American forces counted up 189 missing aviators. Lieutenant (junior grade) Norman Jack Kleiss, a dive bomber pilot attached to USS Enterprise’s Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6), was one of the lucky few to survive. Known as “Dusty” to his friends, the twenty-six-year-old Kansas pilot had quite a story to tell. He had participated in every air operation launched by his carrier and he had helped sink two aircraft carriers and one cruiser. Dusty was one of the few Battle of Midway veterans to live into the twenty-first-century. Toward the end of his life, he felt the urge to tell his tale in full and leave behind his account for future generations.
More
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Thanks for putting this on your blog. Most people don't realize the importance of the "Battle of Midway". It was the turning point in the war, not just the war in the pacific. Had the Japanese done to us what we did to them in this battle Hawaii would have eventually fallen to the Japanese(probably in less than 6 months). At that point there would have been real concern about the safety of the US west coast. This probably would have meant canceling the African Campaign and everything in Europe that followed. Often everybody talks about D-Day and forgets about the just as important Midway.
ReplyDeleteALL WERE OUR HEROES who fought these battles...Every ONE !!
ReplyDelete746
ReplyDeleteEven if they didn't kill anyone?
Never forget! We need to continue to honor and respect these men and women who gave everything and risked their lives day after day to protect our every day freedoms that we take for granted.
ReplyDelete