Ensign George Gay

Ensign George Henry Gay Jr. was one of the most celebrated survivors of the Battle of Midway. Gay was born on March 8, 1917 in Waco, Texas and entered the Naval Reserve, February 1941 as a Seaman Second Class. He was an aviation cadet at NAS Jacksonville when he received his commission in September 1941. He received orders for Advance Carrier Training at NAS Norfolk and began training with the newly formed Torpedo Squadron 8.

Torpedo Squadron 8 was assigned to the USS Hornet (CV-8). Gay received rigorous training while at Norfolk, piloting a TBD Devastator, but he did not have any practical experience with taking off and landing on an aircraft carrier. It wasn’t until the battle on June 4, 1942, that Gay learned those skills firsthand. His squadron engaged the enemy without any fighter support.

His plane was shot down and he was wounded in the hand and leg. Gay survived the ensuing action treading water and avoided enemy capture by hiding under his flotation device while Japanese ships approached. He lasted over 30 hours in the water until he was finally rescued by a PBY. Torpedo Squadron 8 was made up of 30 people, Gay was the only survivor.

Gay went on to serve in the Guadalcanal and later became a flight instructor. He eventually retired as a Lt. Cmdr. and died October 21, 1994. His ashes were spread on the coordinates where his fellow shipmates of Torpedo Squadron 8 lost their lives during the Battle of Midway.

Gay received the Navy Cross and his unit received the Presidential Unit Citation for service in during the Battle of Midway.

George H Gay