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Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: 80-G-312000

Battle of Midway, June 1942


A Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" scout bomber warming up on USS Yorktown, in the late morning of 4 June 1942.
It is Number 17 of "Scouting" Squadron Five (the temporarily redesignated Bombing Squadron Five), piloted by Ensign Leif Larsen, but was apparently not one of ten "VS"-5 planes launched on a scouting mission shortly before noon on 4 June. Another of the squadron's SBDs succeeded in locating Hiryu, the only Japanese aircraft carrier of the Midway striking force that was still operational.
The next plane, at right, is "VS"-5's Number 4, which did fly the scouting mission, piloted by Lieutenant John Nielsen.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 600 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

NOTES:

  • Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

  • If you want other types reproductions than this digital image, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

  • To the best of our knowledge, the picture referenced here is in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

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    Originally posted 19 March 1999
    Coding updated 29 April 2009