Last Mission of the TBD Devastator
VT-6
This image depicts the last combat mission of the Douglas TBD-1 Devastator, on June 6, 1942.
LT Robert E. Laub (pilot) and William Colquitt Humphrey, Jr., ARM1c (gunner) in
T-4 (BuNo 0350)
led
ENS Jamie S. Morris and David R. Butler, ARM2c in
T-3 (BuNo 0279)
and MACH Harry A. Mueller and
Ronald W. Graetz, ARM3c in
T-5 (BuNo 0368)
,
all survivors of Torpedo 6 from Enterprise, on a mission to
attack the retreating Japanese heavy cruisers Mogami and Mikuma. Laub was told by RADM Raymond
Spruance that if they encountered any resistance whatsoever that they were not to press an attack
and bring the "pickles" back home. The image shows the flight trying to make an approach against the
Japanese force, but receiving some close anti-aircraft fire, which led them after a few tries to return to
Enterprise without dropping their torpedoes. SBDs are in the background diving on the already damaged
cruisers and their escorts.
Ron Graetz - late 1942
The original work was presented to Ronald Graetz, the gunner of T-5 on June 6, 1942.
Here is Ron's description to me of the mission:
"I was a 20 year old kid; we enlisted men were only informed to the extent the "brass" felt
sufficient. When we prepared for that flight, Mueller (an ex-enlisted pilot now Warrant
Officer status) told me that the pilots were told they "wanted that ship sunk, at all cost, because
they thought a "flag officer" may be aboard it, BUT, to keep in mind that these three TBDs were
the only three remaining torpedo planes in the entire Pacific Fleet, and they wanted all three back."
Other than that, the flight was not only "routine", but was one of the best flights I ever enjoyed.
As we came over the horizon and saw the cruiser, the first SBDs were just beginning their dives.
We never got close to the target, but every once in awhile the three plane formation would turn
towards the cruiser and attract it's anti-aircraft fire. We flew a big circle around that cruiser and
watched the divebombers pound the hell out of that ship (Mikuma). It looked like a huge bathtub,
full of scrap iron and junk. Some aerial photographer took a picture of it and it was posted on the
bulletin board for all to see. It was one of the most pleasant flights I ever had.
Special Thanks to Ron and to Bill Vickrey
