Keywords: SBD-3 VS-5 on USS Yorktown Midway.jpg U S Navy Ensign Leif Larsen and rear gunner Radioman John F Gardener of scouting squadron VS-5 temporarily redesignated VB-5 in their Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown CV-5 during the Battle of Midway in the late morning of 4 June 1942 This plane was 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 the Japanese carrier 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 U S Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No 1996 253 607 http //collections naval aviation museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/common/imagedisplay php irn 16028114 reftable ecatalogue refirn 16035976; http //www history navy mil Naval History and Heritage Command photo http //www history navy mil/our-collections/photography/wars-and-events/world-war-ii/midway/80-G-312000 html 80-G-312000 1942-06-04 U S Navy PD-USGov-Military-Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless Aboard USS Yorktown CV-5 Battle of Midway US forces |