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George H. Gay Jr.

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United States Navy officer (1917-1994)

United StatesLived 1917 to 1994 · aged 77
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Fame49.6
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Languages9
In century#48,507

Ensign George Henry Gay Jr. was a Douglas TBD Devastator pilot in United States Navy (USN) Torpedo Squadron 8 operating from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

Photos 5

Ensign George H. Gay Jr. (right), sole survivor of VT-8's TBD Devastator group at June 1942 Battle of Midway, in front of his aircraft with his rear gunner, ARM3c George Arthur Field, while Hornet was in the Coral Sea, c. May 1942.Ensign George H. Gay Jr. (right), sole survivor of VT-8's TBD Devastator group at June 1942 Battle of Midway, in front of his aircraft with his rear gunner, ARM3c George Arthur Field, while Hornet was in the Coral Sea, c. May 1942.Plaque of Gay at the Georgia Aviation Hall of FamePlaque of Gay at the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame

Awards 3

Purple Heart
Air Medal
Navy Cross

Connected to George 6

Evans CarlsonAlso won Navy CrossJohn C. WaldronAlso won Navy CrossRoy GeigerAlso won Navy CrossArthur William RadfordAlso won Navy CrossDaniel DalyAlso won Navy CrossSeizō KobayashiAlso won Navy Cross

About this person

Ensign George Henry Gay Jr. was a Douglas TBD Devastator pilot in United States Navy (USN) Torpedo Squadron 8 operating from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Of the 30 VT-8 aircrew from Hornet that participated in the pivotal Battle of Midway, Gay was the sole survivor, though the squadron's attack on the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) carriers delayed the launching of a planned strike against the American carriers, enabling other USN planes to sink four of the IJN's seven fleet carriers then in service.

Country
United States
Type
Other
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1917 to 1994 · aged 77
Written about in
9 languages

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