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Eugene E. Lindsey

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Eugene E. Lindsey
Lindsey c. 1929
Born(1905-07-02)July 2, 1905
Sprague, Washington,U.S.
DiedJune 4, 1942(1942-06-04)(aged 36)
nearMidway Atoll
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Navy
Years of service1927–1942
RankLieutenant commander
Commands heldTorpedo Squadron Six
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsNavy Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart

Eugene Elbert Lindsey(July 2, 1905 – June 4, 1942) was an officer and aviator in theUnited States Navy.He is the namesake of thedestroyerUSSLindsey(DD-771).

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Cenotaph at Arlington National Cemetery

Lindsey was born inSprague, Washington,on 2 July 1905 and graduated from theUnited States Naval Academyin 1927.[1]William Brockman,Creed BurlingameandJohn Thatchwere some of his classmates.[2]After duty onUSSNevadaandUSSSaratoga,he completed flight training in 1929 and served with a bombing squadron onUSSLe xing tonand an observation squadron inUSSMaryland.From 3 June 1940 he commandedTorpedo Squadron Six(VT-6), which flewDouglas TBD-1"Devastator"torpedo bombers,inUSSEnterprise.[3]

On 7 December 1941, Lindsey was aboardEnterprisewhen he received word (along with most of the ship's company) of theJapanese attack on Pearl Harbor.That evening (at 16.30),Enterprisereceived a report of an enemy carrier south of Oahu. With most of the ship's dive bombers having either flown into Pearl that morning or been deployed on search, Lindsey was ordered to lead his 19 TBDs against the target. However, the contact report proved to be false, and the strike found nothing. On their return around 20.00,Enterpriseordered the strike to proceed to Ford Island. However, Lindsey, who knew his men were low on fuel, refused, and convinced his ship to take them in. The VT-6 pilots, landing with live torpedoes and (in some cases) no night landing experience, all got aboard safely.[4]

Lindsey's first real combat occurred on 1 February 1942, when he led VT-6's first division in two strikes against Japanese targets in theMarshall Islands.In the first, he led nine bomb-carrying TBDs as part of a full-scale dawn strike againstRoiandKwajalein.For the second, he took off as part of a follow-up strike of 8 SBDs and nine TBDs (again carrying bombs) to hit shipping and facilities atWotje.[5][failed verification]In both cases, Lindsey's division returned without loss. His performance and leadership on these strikes would earn him theDistinguished Flying Cross.

On 24 February 1942, Lindsey again led nine bomb-equipped TBDs as part ofEnterprise's strike againstWake Island.[6]Again, VT-6 returned without loss (although two SBDs went down). On 4 March,Enterprisecontinued the campaign by hittingMarcus Island.However, Lindsey's men missed out as they were being held in reserve in case any important shipping targets turned up.[7]

On 28 May 1942, asEnterprisedeparted Pearl Harbor in preparation for theBattle of Midway,Lindsey made a bad landing while leading his squadron aboard. As his plane neared touchdown, it suddenly stalled, struck the deck hard, and careened over the port side. The destroyerUSSMonaghanrescued Lindsey and his crew (ACRM Charles T. Grenat and Machinist Thomas E. Schaffer).[8]According to theEnterpriselog, Lindsey suffered "several cracked ribs, [a] punctured lung, multiple cuts, and other lacerations."[9]With such severe injuries, his shipmates expected him to be sidelined for the coming battle.

Lindsey, however, refused to let his injuries prevent him from leading his squadron. On 4 June, the day of the battle, he surprised Air Group CommanderWade McCluskyby joining him at breakfast.[10]After almost a week of recuperation, Lindsey was still so bruised about the face that he could not put on his flight goggles. However, when McClusky asked if he could fly, Lindsey answered, “This is what I’ve been trained to do”.[11]

Lindsey died in action on 4 June 1942 with his rear-seat gunner, Charles T. Grenat, ACRM, in theBattle of Midway,when theirDouglas TBD Devastatorwas shot down by JapaneseA6M2 Zerofighters, while attacking the aircraft carrierKaga.[12]VT-6 lost 10 out of 14 planes. He was posthumously awarded theNavy Cross[13]for his contribution to the battle.[14]

Awards and honors

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Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Naval Aviator Badge
Navy Cross Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart Navy Presidential Unit Citation American Defense Service Medal
w/Fleet clasp
American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
w/ three3⁄16"bronze stars 		World War II Victory Medal
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Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey
U.S. Navy
Date Of Action: June 4, 1942

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Squadron Commander of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Participating in a vigorous and intensive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant Commander Lindsey pressed home his attack with relentless determination in the face of a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The unprecedented conditions under which his squadron launched its offensive were so exceptional that it is highly improbably the occasion may ever recur where other pilots of the service will be called upon to demonstrate an equal degree of gallantry and fortitude. His extreme disregard of personal safety contributed materially to the success of our forces and his loyal conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[15]

Namesake

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In 1944, thedestroyerUSSLindsey(DD-771)was named in his honor.

Portrayals in film

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He was portrayed by Robert S. Woods in the TV miniseriesWar and Remembrance,Parts II & III (1988).

Eugene E. Lindsey was portrayed byDarren Crissin the filmMidway(2019).

References

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  1. ^Lucky Bag.Nimitz Library U. S. Naval Academy. First Class, United States Naval Academy. 1927.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^Lucky Bag.Nimitz Library U. S. Naval Academy. First Class, United States Naval Academy. 1927.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^"LCDR Eugene e. Lindsey of VT-6".
  4. ^Cressman and Wenger,Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts,pp 49, 52-53
  5. ^Action Report for 1 February 1942 athttp://cv6.org/ship/logs/action19420201.htm
  6. ^Lundstrom,The First Team,p.112-113
  7. ^Lundstrom,The First Team,p.118
  8. ^"80-G-7748 Lieutenant Commander Eugene e. Lindsey, USN, Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6)".
  9. ^Quoted in Prange,Miracle At Midway,p.120
  10. ^Lord,Incredible Victory,p.92
  11. ^"VMH: Eugene e. Lindsey, LCDR, Usn".
  12. ^*Cressman, Robert J.; et al. (1990)."A Glorious page in our history," Adm. Chester Nimitz, 1942: the Battle of Midway, 4–6 June 1942.Missoula, Mont.: Pictorial Histories Pub. Co. p. 94.ISBN0-929521-40-4.
  13. ^"Navy.togetherweserved: Lindsey, Eugene Elbert, LCDR"
  14. ^"Destroyer Photo Index DD-771 / DM-32 / MMD-32 USS LINDSEY".
  15. ^"Valor awards for Eugene Lindsey".Military Times.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
Public DomainThis article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

Bibliography

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  • Cressman, Robert J., and Wenger, J. Michael,Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts: The Enterprise (CV-6) Air Group and Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula 1990.ISBN0929521250
  • Lundstrom, John B. (1984).The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-59114-471-X.
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