Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway

Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway cover

Wade McClusky and the Battle of Midway

Description

During the Battle of Midway in June 1942, US Navy dive bomber pilot Wade McClusky proved himself to be one of the greatest pilots and combat leaders in American history, but his story has never been told – until now.

It was Wade McClusky who remained calm when the Japanese fleet was not where it was expected to be. It was he who made the counterintuitive choice to then search to the north instead of to the south. It was also McClusky who took the calculated risk of continuing to search even though his bombers were low on fuel and may not have enough to make it back to the Enterprise. His ability to remain calm under enormous pressure played a huge role in the US Navy winning this decisive victory that turned the tide of war in the Pacific.

This book is the story of exactly the right man being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. Wade McClusky was that man and this is his story.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. June 4, 1942 – The Search Begins
2. Background of a Battle – and of a Leader
3. The McCluskys of Buffalo
4. Annapolis and a Navy in Transition
5. Naval Aviator
6. The 1930s – Origins of a Troubleshooter
7. Fighting Six
8. Commander, Air Group Six
9. Last Minute Preparations
10. June 4, 1942 – Take-off
11. June 4, 1942 – North or South?
12. June 4, 1942 – The Attack
13. June 4, 1942 – Escape, A Shot-up Airplane, and Two Gallons of Gasoline
14. June 4, 1942 – The Afternoon Attack
15. June 5, 1942 – McClusky Versus Browning
16. McClusky and Historians
17. The Midwar Period – Training Pilots and a Desk in Washington
18. CVE 58
19. The End of the War and the Transition to Peace
20. Postwar

Appendix A: Annapolis Class of 1926 Alumni at Midway
Appendix B: Wade McClusky Navy Cross Citation
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index

Product details

Published 30 May 2019
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 384
ISBN 9781472834713
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

David Rigby

David Rigby is a historian and the author of Allie…

Resources

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