Ens george gay

Ensign (later Lieutenant Commander) George Henry Gay Jr. (March 8, – October 21, ) was a Douglas TBD Devastator pilot in United States Navy Torpedo Squadron 8 operating from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

For Ensign George H. Gay, Jr. of Waco, Texas, the morning of June 4, began with groggy trepidation. With knowledge of a large Japanese invasion fleet moving towards Midway Island outnumbering the assembled American naval force, Gay did not sleep well.

Often mistakenly referred to as Torpedo Squadron Eight’s lone Midway survivor, George Gay nevertheless plays a huge role in the battle’s enduring mystique. In the 75 years since the Battle of Midway, Ensign George “Tex” Gay Jr. has evolved into an almost mythical figure.

Ensign Gay was the only survivor of thirty pilots and radiomen in that attack. While swimming after his plane went down, he observed the dive-bombing attack that destroyed three of four of the Japanese carriers.

Ensign George H. Gay Jr. (right), sole survivor of VT-8's TBD Devastator group, in front of his aircraft with his rear gunner, ARM3c George Arthur Field, while Hornet was in the Coral Sea, c. May During the Battle of Midway, Gay was the first of his squadron to take off from Hornet on June 4,

For Ensign George H. Gay, Jr. of Waco, Texas, the morning of June 4, began with groggy trepidation. With knowledge of a large Japanese invasion fleet moving towards Midway Island outnumbering the.

Often mistakenly referred to as Torpedo Squadron Eight’s lone Midway survivor, George Gay nevertheless plays a huge role in the battle’s enduring mystique. In the 75 years since the Battle of Midway, Ensign George “Tex” Gay Jr. has evolved into an almost mythical figure. Ennobled on the cover of Life magazine in August , he received the Navy Cross and became iconic as the “sole.

Gay is the widow of George Gay, a Navy pilot and decorated hero of the Battle of Midway. Tess Gay grew up outside Washington, D.C., in a military family.