They were originally supposed to go to Wake Island as part of the relieve force which left Pearl Harbor on December 17. But the Japanese landed on Wake before the relief force arrived. The relief force was recalled. It made a dogleg during the return to Pearl Harbor and the Buffalos of VFM-221 were flown off Saratoga as the force neared Midway so they could reinforce the air garrison there. The Buffalos presence at Midway was the result of a bank shot in the billiards game of the early Pacific War.
The illustration shows the Buffalos flying off Saratoga.
Freakin fullbore. Grandpa Scoobs (the brown shoe) signed up for the NavCad program shortly after Pearl Harbor but was waitlisted until after Midway to class up; he winged on 9 June 1943 (alongside a future president) and pressed on to advanced dive bomber training in Florida instructed by Midway veterans; while going through NAS Corpus Christi he said that there were a handful of surviving TBD Devastators still being used as trainers. In the 80's Papa Scoobs spent considerable time on Midway as the Naval Air Facility there was one of the tenant commands he owned. Growing up I was fortunate enough to meet a number of Midway veterans who lived in our local community - including the legendary Dick Best.
If you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend a ride in the backseat of an SBD Dauntless - I did mine on 4 June 2022. Had to sell a kidney but it was worth every penny ;-)
CDR Salamander - Another reminder of 'War Is A Come As You Are Affair.' I once spent a wonderful afternoon in the Hartsfield airport lounge with the legendary Joe Foss while we were trying to connect flights. While others called the F4F Wildcat obsolete, Foss vigorously defended 'his' Wildcat while flying with the Cactus Air Force defending Guadalcanal. Hands down - no contest - take it any day over a Japanese Zero. Even though they were flying against some of the finest pilots Japan had, Foss said that 'his' Wildcat held its own when flown to its strengths, with proper tactics (teamwork) and avoided turning dogfights. Joe Foss was a very humble, great and grand gentleman - that afternoon was such a memorable treat.
You were MOST fortunate to spend time with a Warrior and Gentleman such as General Foss was. The Wildcats held the line and when properly flown could win; men like Swett, Thach, Foss and O'Hare - as well as numerous others - proved that.
There are currently about a dozen Wildcats still flying; only one is a Grumman (F4F-3) the rest are GM Eastern built. The FM-Wildcats (the -2 especially) were every bit as good as the Grummans and were even improved in some respects (like the TBM vice TBF). Wildcats were produced throughout the war as they were needed for the CVE's
I had the pleasure of knowing one of the VMA-221 pilots via the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter in San Diego. His total description was "I flew a Buffalo at Midway." He never discussed his Navy Cross, or commanding VMF-113. He apparently separated at the end of the war and never looked back. He was always enthusiastic about his custom yacht company and the Glassair he was building.
Naval Ship Officers…Get out of their rack, shine the light, read the manual and press the GE Refrigerator buttons as directed!
No result… back into the rack.
At that early hour time of 0100 AM, that same Naval Ship Officer, overcomes the 8/10 pain, out of her rack, back-brace on, into the Galley to take her prescribed medicine.
Always attentive to “Sounds”, that Naval Officer hears motor noise coming from the broken GE Refrigerator!
The buttons that Naval Officer pushed according to the manual, took their sweet time to engage GE Refrigerator “Motor”!
Text message sent at 01:38 AM from the 04 LCDR mama, to the 03 Captain USAF, who ditched her at 19:40 PM, the day prior, with a broken refrigerator went unread.
Young lad phoned his mama at 06:30 AM asking, “Did I give you back your Drivers License?”
Awake LCDR said, “Yes, son, you did!”
Mother already knew young lad did not ready text message.
Naval Officer directed Junior USAF Officer, Pilot, “Please read that text message I send you!” Young lad complied.
Young lad confirmed, “You write the refrigerator is now working?”
Yes, it is!
Young lads comment, “Oh boy, now I don’t have to phone the Lieutenant Colonel to explain how I left my poor mother with a broken refrigerator!”
The young Squadron Commander continued to vocalize, “Now when I arrive at McGuire, I can handle the logistics of moving pallets to get me a seat on that plane heading to ____, Germany.”
1942 … 2026… Navy, USAF (formerly Air Corps), USMCR Officer or Enlisted, knows what must be done to keep those planes in the air… flying… on task, on mission!
Yes, what you see is frightening!
Your orders were… and you carry out those orders! Sometimes, remembering is too painful. You say only, “Yes, I flew one of those planes.” Nothing else may be said. Out of “Respect”, nothing else is asked.
The Officer’s After Action Report was written. Perhaps, same Officer took time to annotate in his “Journal”.
Years pass, and a caring person writes the Obituary for that brave WWII Pilot, USMCR.
We salute all who have died; we remember!
June 4th will now be a special remembrance day dedicate to all “Children”. Children must know they will be remembered, loved and cherished on 4 June. That is their special day!
A Navy mother still must teach her USAF Pilot son what has to be done.
“Tell the Colonel the truth, let him make the decision.”
The Navy mother, knowing full well that her son does not read text messages from his mother, politely redirects her son to do so!
Relief is heard instantly!
Echoing is… “Now I don’t have to call the Colonel!”
Wow! The USAF Lieutenant Colonel is feared more than mama?
Apparently so in these times of “Conflict”, 2026.
The Navy mother knows that she has taught her precious son one more thing!
Time will tell if he indeed learned.
“Who’s the best Naval Officer?”
“You are, ma!”
So we go back to status quo…
Navy mom in her hospital bed… young Squadron Commander back to his Duty Station to carry on the Mission. Both hoping the Lieutenant Colonel returned safely from Norfolk, VA to ___ and his load was delivered; he got some good shut-eye… and the “Beat goes on!”
Coincidently, I am now reading the account of Midway in John Keegan's "The Price of Admiralty." Midway was the first naval battle in which the opposing naval forces never saw each other. Aircraft, both naval and ground-based (at Midway) did all the fighting.
The USMCs Brewster F2A-3 “Buffalo” might have faired better, if the USMC used the same trick the Finnish Air Force did with their Brewster Buffalo’s, by shedding the ~900-pounds of armor plating used to protect the pilot! Finnish Buffaloes were far more nimble and maneuverable against the Soviet Air Force fighters being nearly 900-pounds lighter…
No drama and no DEI, just Semper Fi , Do or Die.
" The past is another country. They do things differently there."
L.P. Hartley
🫡
In my book Pacific Fleet 1941 (https://www.amazon.com/Navy-Pacific-Fleet-1941-battleship/dp/1472859502/) one of the plates (titled "Buffalo Run" shows how the F2Bs got to Midway.
They were originally supposed to go to Wake Island as part of the relieve force which left Pearl Harbor on December 17. But the Japanese landed on Wake before the relief force arrived. The relief force was recalled. It made a dogleg during the return to Pearl Harbor and the Buffalos of VFM-221 were flown off Saratoga as the force neared Midway so they could reinforce the air garrison there. The Buffalos presence at Midway was the result of a bank shot in the billiards game of the early Pacific War.
The illustration shows the Buffalos flying off Saratoga.
Will have to check that out - I’m a big fan of your books.
Freakin fullbore. Grandpa Scoobs (the brown shoe) signed up for the NavCad program shortly after Pearl Harbor but was waitlisted until after Midway to class up; he winged on 9 June 1943 (alongside a future president) and pressed on to advanced dive bomber training in Florida instructed by Midway veterans; while going through NAS Corpus Christi he said that there were a handful of surviving TBD Devastators still being used as trainers. In the 80's Papa Scoobs spent considerable time on Midway as the Naval Air Facility there was one of the tenant commands he owned. Growing up I was fortunate enough to meet a number of Midway veterans who lived in our local community - including the legendary Dick Best.
If you ever get the opportunity, I highly recommend a ride in the backseat of an SBD Dauntless - I did mine on 4 June 2022. Had to sell a kidney but it was worth every penny ;-)
I'm currently begging shamelessly for a ride in the Dauntless at the National Museum of WWII Aviation. Got a ride in a TBM a couple of years ago.
CDR Salamander - Another reminder of 'War Is A Come As You Are Affair.' I once spent a wonderful afternoon in the Hartsfield airport lounge with the legendary Joe Foss while we were trying to connect flights. While others called the F4F Wildcat obsolete, Foss vigorously defended 'his' Wildcat while flying with the Cactus Air Force defending Guadalcanal. Hands down - no contest - take it any day over a Japanese Zero. Even though they were flying against some of the finest pilots Japan had, Foss said that 'his' Wildcat held its own when flown to its strengths, with proper tactics (teamwork) and avoided turning dogfights. Joe Foss was a very humble, great and grand gentleman - that afternoon was such a memorable treat.
You were MOST fortunate to spend time with a Warrior and Gentleman such as General Foss was. The Wildcats held the line and when properly flown could win; men like Swett, Thach, Foss and O'Hare - as well as numerous others - proved that.
There are currently about a dozen Wildcats still flying; only one is a Grumman (F4F-3) the rest are GM Eastern built. The FM-Wildcats (the -2 especially) were every bit as good as the Grummans and were even improved in some respects (like the TBM vice TBF). Wildcats were produced throughout the war as they were needed for the CVE's
I had the pleasure of knowing one of the VMA-221 pilots via the local Experimental Aircraft Association chapter in San Diego. His total description was "I flew a Buffalo at Midway." He never discussed his Navy Cross, or commanding VMF-113. He apparently separated at the end of the war and never looked back. He was always enthusiastic about his custom yacht company and the Glassair he was building.
The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War on YouTube recently had an episode on VMF-221.
Pilots … Fly to the left of the Sun!
Naval Ship Officers…Get out of their rack, shine the light, read the manual and press the GE Refrigerator buttons as directed!
No result… back into the rack.
At that early hour time of 0100 AM, that same Naval Ship Officer, overcomes the 8/10 pain, out of her rack, back-brace on, into the Galley to take her prescribed medicine.
Always attentive to “Sounds”, that Naval Officer hears motor noise coming from the broken GE Refrigerator!
The buttons that Naval Officer pushed according to the manual, took their sweet time to engage GE Refrigerator “Motor”!
Text message sent at 01:38 AM from the 04 LCDR mama, to the 03 Captain USAF, who ditched her at 19:40 PM, the day prior, with a broken refrigerator went unread.
Young lad phoned his mama at 06:30 AM asking, “Did I give you back your Drivers License?”
Awake LCDR said, “Yes, son, you did!”
Mother already knew young lad did not ready text message.
Naval Officer directed Junior USAF Officer, Pilot, “Please read that text message I send you!” Young lad complied.
Young lad confirmed, “You write the refrigerator is now working?”
Yes, it is!
Young lads comment, “Oh boy, now I don’t have to phone the Lieutenant Colonel to explain how I left my poor mother with a broken refrigerator!”
The young Squadron Commander continued to vocalize, “Now when I arrive at McGuire, I can handle the logistics of moving pallets to get me a seat on that plane heading to ____, Germany.”
1942 … 2026… Navy, USAF (formerly Air Corps), USMCR Officer or Enlisted, knows what must be done to keep those planes in the air… flying… on task, on mission!
Yes, what you see is frightening!
Your orders were… and you carry out those orders! Sometimes, remembering is too painful. You say only, “Yes, I flew one of those planes.” Nothing else may be said. Out of “Respect”, nothing else is asked.
The Officer’s After Action Report was written. Perhaps, same Officer took time to annotate in his “Journal”.
Years pass, and a caring person writes the Obituary for that brave WWII Pilot, USMCR.
We salute all who have died; we remember!
June 4th will now be a special remembrance day dedicate to all “Children”. Children must know they will be remembered, loved and cherished on 4 June. That is their special day!
A Navy mother still must teach her USAF Pilot son what has to be done.
“Tell the Colonel the truth, let him make the decision.”
The Navy mother, knowing full well that her son does not read text messages from his mother, politely redirects her son to do so!
Relief is heard instantly!
Echoing is… “Now I don’t have to call the Colonel!”
Wow! The USAF Lieutenant Colonel is feared more than mama?
Apparently so in these times of “Conflict”, 2026.
The Navy mother knows that she has taught her precious son one more thing!
Time will tell if he indeed learned.
“Who’s the best Naval Officer?”
“You are, ma!”
So we go back to status quo…
Navy mom in her hospital bed… young Squadron Commander back to his Duty Station to carry on the Mission. Both hoping the Lieutenant Colonel returned safely from Norfolk, VA to ___ and his load was delivered; he got some good shut-eye… and the “Beat goes on!”
Keep ‘em flying! Keep ‘em in the air!”
Thank you brave warriors!
Very respectfully, Nurse Jane
Coincidently, I am now reading the account of Midway in John Keegan's "The Price of Admiralty." Midway was the first naval battle in which the opposing naval forces never saw each other. Aircraft, both naval and ground-based (at Midway) did all the fighting.
The USMCs Brewster F2A-3 “Buffalo” might have faired better, if the USMC used the same trick the Finnish Air Force did with their Brewster Buffalo’s, by shedding the ~900-pounds of armor plating used to protect the pilot! Finnish Buffaloes were far more nimble and maneuverable against the Soviet Air Force fighters being nearly 900-pounds lighter…