The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-15
NATIONS ROLL
 OF HONOR GROWS
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(NEA Radiophoto)

(Continued from Page 1) planes. Only one man = Ensign G. H. Gay of Houston, Texas,-out of the 30 who manned those torpedo planes survived.
 Squadron Fights IS torpedo planes led by Lieutenant Com mander John c. Waldron, Fort Pierre, s. D., were assigned to "in- tercept and attack" the large Japanese force known to be ap- preaching Midway. Waldron's squadron found the enemy.
 without protection or support of any kind, this squadron launched an effective attack so desperately opposed that only one member of the squadron, and no planes, came back" Gay protected himself in the water from Japanese machine gun bullets by hiding under a floating cushion.
 Several carriers were hit and "Tor- pedo Squadron No. 8 thus made certain for the task force, and for the Navy, that the Japs air power was crippled at the start" Before leaving on his assignment, Waldron had told his commanding officer:
 q have a well-trained squadron that asks only to share in the mis- sion. We will strike, regardless of the consequences" A similar share of the credit for the navy's firSt full-scale encounter with the enemy invasion fleet went to second squadron, assigned, like Waldron's, to find the Japanese force and flash back the word to navy task units waiting in ambush. Made Bold Gamble
 "A bold gamble" by Lieut.. Comdr. Clarence w. McClusky, Buffalo, N. Y, commander of the sqaudron, led the American forces to the enemy, the navy reported. Failing to find him on the course spotted by re- connaissance planes the day before, McClusky reversed his own course, assuming that the enemy might have decided to retire.
 He was right.
 "A lone Jap destroyer was sighted. A few minutes later cluster of dark bulls crawled over the horizon, and in another few minutes Lieut. Comdr. McCluskys squadron was unloading bombs on the main enemy concentration
 With the new course and loca- ton flashed, the entire naval at- tacking force descended on the Nip ponese fleet and lashed 1t with tor pedoes and bombs"
 The marine aviation groups heroic work came early on the morning of June when patrol planes reported many aircraft headed toward Midway" 1mmedi- ately, every plane on the island the navy did not disclose the exact number-took of for the fight
 Thirty miles from the island the dogfight began, developing into a mechanical maelstrom high above the waves" As the minutes passed 1t soon became impossible to tell friend from foe in the confusion.
 Planes. individual identities up- known, were falling in flames on all sides"
 Came Actual Attack
 Then came the actual attack on the !sland--by the few enemy planes able to weather the marines attack. Damage was considerable, but mot disabling" Disaster had been pre- vented. At least 40 Japanese planes had been destroyed. out of an esti- mated force of more than 100.
 But the defenders had paid dear ly.
 ""The Midway air commanders re- Iport tells of 'pitifully few fighters returning in response to radio in- structions for fighters to land and refuel by divisions It is a full and complete story of heroism and sacrifice that is told in the few words needed to relate that the ma- rine interceptors of the enemy could not return by divisions, but instead came home by ones and twog."
 Other individual heroes named in the navy's account of the complete Midway engagement over the period, June through June 6, included:
 Capt. Elmer c. Gliddon, Jr., West Roxbury, Mass. who took over com- mand of Henderson's squadron after the latter had diVed into the enemy carrier and led the group as it scored three direct torpedo hits on the same warship.
 Mother Very Proud
 Lorain. Ohio, July IS. (UP) = The mother of Majcr Lotion R. Henderson, USING. said today that my boy is just one among millions. q There was pride in her voice for the son one of two Marine Corps majors in the family = who dove his burning plane Into the smoke stack of a Japanese aircraft car rier during the battle Of Midway His was an act that fellow flyers said they were certain was deliber- ate, although 1t meant Henderson'i death.
 I'm deeply proud of him, but countless other sons and mothers are going through the same thing, Mrs. Fred Henderson added.
 That's the way he always wanted