As per usual with the Vikings, note that this is reduced to 33%. Click on the profile to see it on Photobucket where you can click again and see it at 100%.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Vought%20Viking/Reduced%20to%2033%20Percent/USNViking11.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v132/loganov/Profiles/Vought%20Viking/?action=view¤t=USNViking11.jpg)
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the NAVY CROSS to
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Richard_Halsey_Best.jpg)(http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/assets/images/awards/medals_navy_cross_100x200.jpg)
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER RICHARD HALSEY BEST
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following CITATION:
For extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Bomber and Squadron Commander in Bombing Squadron SIX (VB-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 - 6 June 1942. Defying extreme danger from concentrated anti-aircraft barrage and powerful fighter opposition, Lieutenant Commander Best, with bold determination and courageous zeal, led his squadron in dive-bombing assaults against Japanese naval units. Flying at a distance from his own forces which rendered return unlikely because of probable fuel exhaustion, he pressed home his attacks with extreme disregard for his own personal safety. His gallant intrepidity and loyal devotion to duty contributed greatly to the success of our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
This is going to be the final profile in the Midway series and, as you can see, I've saved the Best for last (pun absolutely intended). Of the aviators that took direct part in the Battle of Midway, LCdr "Dick" Best was perhaps the most extraordinary. He participated in both attacks on the Japanese carriers that took place on 4 June. In fact, he was almost single-handedly responsible for the destruction of Akagi.
After contact reports of Midway-based PBY Catalina patrol aircraft on the morning of June 4, 1942, Enterprise started to launch her air group starting on 07:06h. Under the overall command of the air group commander (CEAG) Lt.Cdr. Wade McClusky were 14 TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6), 34 SB4U-4 Vikings of VB-6, the CEAG section, and VS-6, and ten F4F-4 Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron 6 (VF-6). However, the squadrons became separated and reached the Japanese independently. Only the dive bombers stayed together and reached the enemy by 09:55h. At about 10:22h the Enterprise dive bombers started to attack two Japanese carriers, which proved to be the Kaga, and the Akagi.
(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g700000/g701869.jpg)
At this point, the attack became confused, as all 34 Vikings started to attack Kaga, and none the Akagi. Obviously, Best expected to attack according to the U.S. dive bomber doctrine. This was that VB-6 would attack the nearer carrier (in that case Kaga) and VS-6 the one further away (here Akagi). The three-plane CEAG section was expected to attack last, as their planes were equipped with cameras to assess the damage later. However, evidently McClusky was not aware of this, having been a fighter pilot until becoming CEAG. Therefore McClusky began his dive on Kaga, being followed by VS-6, and Best's VB-6 was also attacking Kaga according to doctrine. Lieutenant Best noticed the error and broke off with his two wingmen to attack the Akagi.
(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g700000/g701870.jpg)
At 10:26h Best's three SB4Us attacked the Akagi. The first bomb, dropped by Lt.(jg) Edwin John Kroeger, missed. The second bomb, aimed by Ens. Frederick Thomas Weber, landed in the water, near the stern. The force wave of that hit jammed the Akagi's rudder. The last bomb, dropped by Best, punched though the flight deck and exploded in the upper hangar, in the middle of 18 Nakajima B5N2 planes, parked there. That hit doomed the Akagi. Later that day, Lieutenant Best participated in the attack on the last remaining Japanese carrier - the Hiryū, possibly scoring one of the four hits. After the battle, Best was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
(http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h73000/h73065.jpg)
However, on the morning flight Best had tested an oxygen bottle to be sure that it was not leaking caustic soda. Best's first inhalation was then filled with gas fumes. He snorted the gas fumes out, not thinking about it anymore. The next day Best began to cough up blood repeatedly. The flight surgeon found out that the gas fumes had activated latent tuberculosis. He entered the hospital at Pearl Harbor on June 24, 1942. After undergoing 32 months of treatment, Richard Best retired from the US Navy in 1944.
Cheers,
Logan