Richard Halsey Best
✓ Source-basedfallingUS Navy pilot (1910-2001)
United StatesLived 1910 to 2001 · aged 91Richard Halsey Best was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, Best led his dive bomber squadron at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking two Japanese aircraft carriers in one day.
Photos 8
VB-6 pilots in January 1942: Best is seated 3rd from the left.
SBD-2s on Enterprise, April, 1942, Hornet in the background
The flight deck of USS Enterprise on May 15, 1942: The first SBD is either Best's ("B-1") or that of the CO of VS-6 ("S-1").![A group photo of the American dive bomber pilots of VB-6 from Enterprise, three of whom fatally damaged Akagi. Best is sitting in the center of the front row. The other two who attacked Akagi with Best were Edwin J. Kroeger (standing, eighth from the left) and Frederick T. Weber (standing, sixth from the right).[7]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/VB-6_June_1942.jpg/500px-VB-6_June_1942.jpg)
A group photo of the American dive bomber pilots of VB-6 from Enterprise, three of whom fatally damaged Akagi. Best is sitting in the center of the front row. The other two who attacked Akagi with Best were Edwin J. Kroeger (standing, eighth from the left) and Frederick T. Weber (standing, sixth from the right).[7]
Grave at Arlington National Cemetery
Awards 2
Connected to Richard 6
About this person
Richard Halsey Best was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, Best led his dive bomber squadron at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking two Japanese aircraft carriers in one day. His lungs were damaged by caustic soda fumes during the fight, leading to his medical retirement several months later.
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