None of Torpedo 8’s 15 Devastators returned, and Gay was the sole survivor of all who took off that morning from Hornet. Only two of VT-3’s 13 TBDs survived the attack. Only five of Torpedo 6’s 14 Devastators returned to the Enterprise.

None of the squadrons’ torpedoes scored hits, or if they did, none exploded, a serious problems with the U.S. Within the hour, Torpedo 6 and Torpedo 3 would also attack. Around 0915, Torpedo 8 sighted the Japanese carriers and began its attack.

Fourteeen TBD-1s of Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6) from USS Enterprise (CV 6), and 13 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT 3) from USS Yorktown (CV 5) were the other two Torprons attacking.

Another detachment of Torpedo 8, comprised of a few of the new TBF Avenger torpedo-bombers, was flying that day from Midway island itself. Navy Reserve, was the pilot of one of the 15 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) that took off from USS Hornet (CV 8) the morning of Jfor a strike on the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway.

Black navy war 2 torpedo planes