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Online Library of Selected Images -- Picture Data

Photo #: 80-G-32235

Battle of Midway, June 1942


USS Astoria (CA-34) stops to pick up the crew of a ditched Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) SBD-3 scout bomber at about 1342 hrs on 4 June 1942. The downed plane, sinking just astern of the cruiser, was piloted by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Paul A. Holmberg.
A second SBD, flown by VB-3's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Maxwell F. Leslie, is low in the center, preparing to ditch. A PBY is also nearby, visible just to the left of Leslie's SBD. The two VB-3 planes were returning from attacking the Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu and were unable to land on USS Yorktown (CV-5) after she was hit and temporarily stopped by Japanese dive bombers.
Photographed from USS Pensacola (CA-24).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 530 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 

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19 March 1999