July 15, 1942

MARINE PILOT SACRIFICES SELF
Crashes Into Enemy at Midway
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Information released by the navy yesterday tells of the sacrifice by a marine pilot at the battle of Midway. The plane flown by Major Lofton R. Henderson was hit by enemy fire as his scout bombers initiated the first attack on the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island. He chose to sacrifice himself by crashing his plane into the enemy fleet. Marine corporal Eugene T. Card of Oakland, Calif., a gunner on another of the planes in the scout group, witnessed the action. “The left wing of Major Henderson’s plane burst into flames as he was beginning the final approach. Despite this, he continued the attack, and I saw him dive down the smokestack of the carrier. I am convinced it was deliberate.” Major Henderson was from Gary, Ind.

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