What 2 pilots hit multiple carriers in one day?

If you’ve seen the new epic World War II movie “Midway,” you know the story of dive bomber pilot Dick Best. A caption at the end of the movie [SPOILER ALERT] reveals that Best was one of only two pilots to score multiple hits on a Japanese carrier in a single day.

Who played Dusty in Midway?

ED SKREIN: 100% there’s more responsibility. I’ve never felt anything like this before in my life. I’ve played real life characters on occasions, but this was representing a man from the Greatest Generation.

What two pilots hit multiple carriers?

At the end of the 2019 film Midway, a what-happened-to-them montage notes that Best was one of two pilots to score hits on multiple ships in the battle. The other was his shipmate, Lt. (j.g.) Jack “Dusty” Kleiss, who hit Kaga and Hiryu on June 4 and the cruiser Mikuma two days later.

Did any pilots survive Midway?

All 248 carrier aircraft were lost, most going down with their ships, along with several cruiser- and battleship-launched float planes. However, most Japanese pilots were rescued; only 36 were lost on the carriers and 74 in the air, mostly from Hiryu.

Did the Japanese throw American overboard?

After interrogation, and when it was clear that the Japanese had suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Midway, O’Flaherty and Gaido were murdered by the angry and vindictive Japanese. The two unfortunate American airmen were bound with ropes, tied to weighted fuel cans, and then thrown overboard to drown.

Who hit the Hiryu?

Earl Gallaher. Gallaher’s dive bombers located the fourth Japanese carrier, the Hiryu, and fatally crippled it. Again, Kleiss scored a direct hit on the bow, one of only four or five pilots to do so.

What did dusty kleiss do?

With fuel running low, gunshots firing from below, Kleiss bombed two Japanese aircraft carriers in a surprise attack, the start of what became known as the Battle of Midway. In all, four Japanese carriers were destroyed, and the course of the war in the Pacific was forever changed.

What is the true story of Midway?

Director Roland Emmerich’s new movie Midway, out Friday, is based on the true story of the battle of Midway Island. Fought June 4 through 7, 1942, the U.S. victory at Midway is considered by many the moment when the U.S. regained its military dignity six months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Was Dusty kleiss married?

It wasn’t long before he married Jean in Las Vegas in 1942 – a marriage that lasted until Jean died in 2006. “She was three times as smart as me, that’s for sure,” he said.

What did AF stand for Midway?

The attack location and time were confirmed when the American base at Midway sent out a false message that it was short of fresh water. Japan then sent a message that “AF” was short of fresh water, confirming that the location for the attack was the base at Midway.

Did Japanese throw POWS overboard?

A postwar investigation found Japanese accounts that said he was interrogated and then thrown overboard with weights attached to his feet, drowning him. In terms of naval commanders, two of the greats participated in Midway and they complemented each other perfectly.