Gay, George Henry, Jr.

Battle of Midway

Date of birth:: March 8th, 1917 (Waco/Texas, United States)
Date of death:: October 21st, 1994 (Marietta/Georgia, United States)
Nationality:: American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

Promotions:
September 1941: Ensign.

Career:
?: Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas;
?: Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8), U.S.S. Hornet;
?: Navy Flight Instructor;
?: Pilot Trans World Airlines (TWA).

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Navy Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Ensign
Unit:: Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8), U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8) (Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8), U.S.S. Hornet (CV-8))

Citation:
"For extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron EIGHT (VT-8), attached to the U.S.S. HORNET (CV-8), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Grimly aware of the hazardous consequences of flying without fighter protection, and with insufficient fuel to return to his carrier, Ensign Gay, resolutely, and with no thought of his own life, delivered an effective torpedo attached against violent assaults of enemy Japanese aircraft and against an almost solid barrage of anti-aircraft fire. His courageous action, carried out with a gallant spirit of self-sacrifice and a conscientious devotion to the fulfillment of his mission, was a determining factor in the defeat of the enemy forces and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."