The Grey Knights of Patrol Squadron (VP) 46 gathered at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Officer’s Club June 6, to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Midway. NAS Whidbey Island Commanding Officer Capt. Gerral David and retired Cmdr. Harry Ferrier, an aircrew veteran of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 8 who participated in the battle.

The Battle of Midway, fought from June 4-6, 1942, marked the turning point of U.S. Navy’s war in the Pacific Theater. Only six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the aircraft carriers Enterprise, Lexington and Yorktown faced the numerically superior Japanese fleet near Midway Atoll.

The Japanese hoped that their surprise attack on the island would force the Americans to sue for peace. American code breakers, however, learned of the plan and Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz deployed the Pacific carriers to lie in wait for the unsuspecting Japanese fleet. Instead of capturing the island of Midway and consolidating their strategic defensive perimeter in the Pacific, the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered the loss of four carriers and over three thousand men at the hands of the Sailors of Task Forces 16 and 17.

Cmdr. Mark Hamilton, VP-46 commanding officer put the heroic actions of Cmdr. Ferrier and his squadron mates VT-8 into historic context.

“The bravery of the men of VT-8 was clearly evident,” Hamilton said. “Of the 21 aircraft and 48 men that launched that morning, only one torpedo plane and three men survived, including Harry Ferrier.”

Ferrier then shared some of his recollections as a young radioman who flew on a Grumman TBF-1 Avenger from Midway Atoll on the morning on June 4, 1942.

“My aim tonight is not to talk about what I did and how I survived, but to speak of the sacrifices and heroic actions of those who were not as fortunate to come back with me,” said Ferrier. 

Capt. David emphasized the dedication of men that were even younger than the youngest VP-46 pilots today. “Many of these officers and men were not even 20 years old, but were engaged in combat for the first time in a battle where this nation’s survival depended on them,” said David.

“It’s remarkable how times have changed and how these brave men changed the course of history in the span of a few days,” said Lt.j.g. Patrick Fisher, comparing to the event with the current war on terrorism.