John C. Waldron, the torpedo squadrons of Midway, and the continuing case for national recognition
By Charles Race and Major Thomas Rychlik, USMC (Ret.)
Originally published in the Watertown Daily Times on September 9, 2023.
Presented on HonorAmericanHeroes.org with the permission of Major Thomas Rychlik, one of the work’s credited authors.
The Courage Behind the Turning Point
During the opening months of 1942, Imperial Japan appeared nearly unstoppable. Much of the American battle fleet had been destroyed or damaged at Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces had advanced across the Pacific, and the United States faced an enemy carrier force hardened by months of victory.
Into that moment stepped Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron, commanding officer of Torpedo Squadron Eight aboard USS Hornet.
In this historical essay, Charles Race and Major Thomas Rychlik trace Waldron’s journey from South Dakota to the United States Naval Academy, his development as a naval aviator, and his determined preparation of a squadron equipped with the slow, vulnerable Douglas TBD Devastator.
The article examines Waldron’s disagreement with the course ordered for the Hornet air group, his decision to lead Torpedo Eight toward the Japanese carriers, and the unsupported attack that cost the lives of 29 of the squadron’s 30 airmen.
Waldron’s attack scored no torpedo hits, but the authors argue that its importance can’t be measured by hits alone. Torpedo Eight found the Japanese carrier force, forced an immediate defensive response, drew fighters down to low altitude, and began a sequence of attacks that continued with the arrival of Torpedo Squadron Six under Lieutenant Commander Eugene E. Lindsey and Torpedo Squadron Three under Lieutenant Commander Lance E. Massey.
Together, these attacks kept pressure on the Japanese carriers and their combat air patrol at the moment American dive bombers were approaching from above.
A Chain of Courage
The Battle of Midway wasn’t won through one action alone. It was won through intelligence, judgment, persistence, sacrifice, and the willingness of American aviators to continue attacking under conditions that offered little hope of survival.
Waldron, Lindsey, and Massey led three separate torpedo squadrons toward the most powerful enemy carrier force in the world. Their aircraft were slow. Their torpedoes were unreliable. Their fighter protection was inadequate or nonexistent. They attacked anyway.
This essay places those decisions within the larger tactical sequence that helped make possible the devastating dive-bomber attacks against Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu. It also explains why the authors believe the three torpedo squadron commanders deserve renewed consideration for the Medal of Honor.
Editorial Note
This work is presented as a historical article and should be reproduced in its original form beneath this introduction.
References to congressional correspondence, Department of the Navy reviews, Freedom of Information Act requests, and unanswered requests reflect the status of the recognition effort when the article was published in September 2023. Current campaign developments and legislative updates are published separately by Honor American Heroes.
Read the Original Article
The complete article by Charles Race and Major Thomas Rychlik appears above as originally provided to Honor American Heroes. Readers are encouraged to examine the authors’ full account of Waldron, Torpedo Eight, the successive attacks of Torpedo Six and Torpedo Three, and the continuing effort to secure appropriate recognition for the commanders who led them.
Why Honor American Heroes Is Publishing This Work
Honor American Heroes exists to preserve the record, restore forgotten names to the national conversation, and build support for Medal of Honor recognition for the Midway Six.
This article helps readers understand why John C. Waldron, Eugene E. Lindsey, and Lance E. Massey stand at the center of that mission. Their attacks weren’t isolated acts of desperation. They were connected parts of the battle’s decisive sequence.
Their men followed them into overwhelming danger. Their courage helped create an opening. Their sacrifice became part of an American victory that changed the course of World War II. Their stories deserve to be read in full.
Author Credit
Major Thomas Rychlik, USMC (Ret.)
Major Thomas Rychlik is a retired United States Marine Corps officer and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1979. He initiated efforts to seek upgraded recognition for Midway torpedo squadron commanders John C. Waldron, Eugene E. Lindsey, and Lance E. Massey.
Charles Race
Charles Race has written about naval history and has worked to preserve the story of Lieutenant Commander John C. Waldron and the men of Torpedo Squadron Eight.
Permission and Publication Notice
This article is presented with the permission of Major Thomas Rychlik, one of its credited authors. Original authorship and publication information have been preserved. The historical interpretations and conclusions expressed in the article belong to its authors.