On June 4th, 1942, from 1030 to 1050 hours, the USS Yorktown
launched her strike group against the Japanese Fleet off Midway
Island. 12 TBD Devastators from VT-3 were launched first, followed
by 12 SBD Dauntlesses from VB-3 and finally six Wildcat fighters
from VF-3 took off approximately an hour and a half after the
USS Enterprise and USS Hornet launched their attack groups.
Aviation and Maritime artist Marii Chernev has chosen this point
in history to depict the launch of America's strike against the
naval forces of Imperial Japan. Two of the 6 Wildcat fighters
that provided the Combat Air Patrol while the strike force launched,
are depicted as they roar overhead of LtCmdr M.F. Leslie's Dauntless
as it lifts off the flight deck. Off to the portside, the destroyer
USS Balch as well as the fleet oiler USS Cimarron are depicted.
To the stern of the Yorktown, the heavy cruiser USS Pensacola
adds its support to the operation. |