4 June 1942, 0700: The atmosphere is tense as the Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8)  are poised for takeoff from the flight deck of the USS Hornet—soon to meet their tragic fate at the Battle of Midway.

Mitscher at Midway

By Ronald Russell
June 2026
On 4 June 1942, the Hornet air group flew the wrong way; did a falsified after-action report by Captain Marc A. “Pete” Mitscher cover up the mistake?

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