However, evidently McClusky was not aware of this, having been a fighter pilot until becoming CEAG. That evening, he flew in the first Enterprise strike of the war as one of six SBDs carrying smoke generators. Richard Halsey Best was born on March 24, 1910 in Bayonne, New Jersey, to Frank Ellsworth Best and Euretta L. Halsey. He had been against it initially. He had breathed in the soda to clear it out. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Just in the knick of time salvos from the cruisers and destroyers caused havoc in the facilities, distracting the attention of the Japanese. Bruno Gaido jumped into a parked SBD Dauntless aircraft and manned the rear machine gun. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Before noon, he led eight SBDs from VB-6 and one from VS-6 to attack Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll, a mission that would cost him one plane. Richard is 28 degrees from Lance Reddick, 33 degrees from Bruno Cremer, 27 degrees from Angie Dickinson, 21 degrees from Don Knotts, 33 degrees from Jimmy Little, 39 degrees from Helen Mirren, 36 degrees from Pat Morita, 26 degrees from Leslie Nielsen, 23 degrees from Kyra Sedgwick, 27 degrees from Tom Selleck, 28 degrees from Efrem Zimbalist and 24 degrees from David Draper on our single family tree. It came from the designation of the Enterprise as a "CV-6." They were from Kwajalein Island in the Marshall Islands, a long-standing Japanese possession. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. He was 91. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. [14] According to Stephen L. Moore, Best may have been "the first pilot to successfully bomb two Japanese carriers in one day". By this time Roosevelt had war powers. Richard Halsey Best was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. Cancelling the relief, he argued that the Japanese had just been reinforced by two carriers, and that it was too late to save the island. In addition to these two ships the Pacific Fleet included the Saratoga, which was not at Pearl, but was far away in San Diego. By early 1942, after the war had begun, he had advanced to executive officer, a standard Navy term for second-in-command, under his close friend and USNA classmate, William Hollingsworth, known as "Holly," as commander. That hit doomed the Akagi. Sorry! One of the most common causes of toma, Start Gardening This Summer and Reap the Rewards | Successful Harvesting for Beginners, Gardening is a rewarding experience that brings with it many benefits, from improved physical and mental health to the joy of harvesting fresh produce. Just after he landed on Enterprise, he began to cough up blood. Try again later. I dropped all the way to the deck to get out of there.. In 1940 VB-6 was equipped with the Northrop BT-1 dive bomber. If so, login to add it. The U.S. would have had towering production by 1943 or 1944. And the caustic soda, he was told, had activated latent tuberculosis. After these raids Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor and accompanied USS Hornet during the Doolittle Raid in mid-April. Richard Halsey Best II (1950-2017) - Find a Grave Memorial Learn more about merges. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Weve updated the security on the site. He had received an intelligence report indicating Wake was about to be attacked. After discharge from the hospital, Best worked in a small research division of the Douglas Aircraft Corporation. Meanwhile Lindsey, discovering heavy shipping at the Anchorage, had radioed the presence of choice targets of opportunity. Barbara Ann Llewellyn Librarian Barbara Ann Llewellyn, 68, a Rockville resident who retired as a librarian from the Rand Corp., died June 12 of sepsis at Montgomery General Hospital. Richard Halsey Best, II (deceased) - Genealogy Enterprise and Hornet left Pearl Harbor on May 28, the hastily repaired Yorktown two days later to take part in what became known as the Battle of Midway, from 4 to June 6, 1942. The torpedo bombers going in first without fighter protection were easily destroyed. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS: Enterprise, Best led his dive bomber . After graduating with honors in 1932, he served for two years aboard the light cruiser USS Richmond. Before you get started, you'll need to decide what type of vegetables you want to grow. A defeat at Midway would have forced a reallocation of industrial production and warships. She was operating 330km (150mi) south of Pearl Harbor. He was 91. Nimitz, surprisingly, could see Pye's point of view, and rescued him from oblivion. Richard H Best was born in New Jersey in 1911. His commanders in the field were Frank Jack Fletcher of TF-17, a Medal of Honor winner, and William Halsey Jr. of TF-8, known as the quasi-legendary "Bull Halsey," whose portraits now typically reflect his knickname. Richard H. Best, a former Navy bomber pilot who scored hits on two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk in the critical Battle of Midway during World War II, has died. Try again later. The base was under attack; there were Japanese aircraft everywhere. With the carriers were fleets of cruisers, destroyers and other ships. "Arizona, Payson, Obituaries, 1948-2008", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W7-V59M: 25 October 2019), Richard H Best, 2001. Alev Aydin. The Enterprise returned to port on the evening of the attack, too late to be of much assistance there, but intact and ready for the coming defense of the United States. Richard Halsey Best (March 24, 1910 - November 1, 2001) was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Ann Llewellyn; his son, Richard Halsey Best II; and a grandson. Login to find your connection. Its 2000 defenders, always on the verge of starvation, were bombed repeatedly by the Americans. Home Travel Question: What Happened To Richard Best Wife. Male. The Enterprise was scheduled to return to Pearl on the very day of the attack. However, James S. Grey, commanding 5 additional F4F's, having disappeared from the target area to bomb the wrong island, now discovered that Taroa had been further constructed into a major base. The few that did manage to land were advised to get into the air immediately. On May 31, 1940, Best received orders to join Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6), which was assigned to the aircraft carrier USSEnterprise. Managed by: Dan Berwin Brockman. Richard Halsey - Wikipedia After the initial Japanese air attack they launched three squadrons of torpedo bombers, fighters, and dive bombers, in the direction of the Japanese retreat. Richard H. Best was appointed to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in 1928. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. In late 1941 it converted to the Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless. Gaidos fire into the low-flying bombers cockpit caused it to lose control. The wreck was found 3 miles (5 km) beneath the surface and was photographed. Navy code-breakers discovered that they would attack Midway. The United States Naval Station Tutuila (an island) was the major base in the region. Not only did the message attract Young's SBD's, but Halsey, hearing it on the Enterprise, switched 9 TBD's to torpedoes and dispatched them also. Please enter your email and password to sign in. At 10:26h Best's three SBDs attacked the Akagi. The sinking of the Akagi was unique in that it was only struck once, most likely the devastating result of a 1,000-pound bomb dropped by Lieutenant Dick Best, who was serving as commander of VB-6. Only the dive bombers stayed together and reached the enemy by 09:55h. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. A fourth plane came in later but was badly shot up. He subsequently participated in the Battle of Midway, where he was killed in action, choosing to go down with the aircraft carrier Hiry when it was scuttled after being crippled by aircraft from USS Enterprise and USS Yorktown. Wade McClusky were 14 TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6), 34 SBDs of VB-6 and VS-6, and ten F4F-4 Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron 6 (VF-6). Richard Halsey Best, US Navy pilot. Richard's first assignment was Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2B) aboard the aircraft carrier, 8. I never tried to look where my bomb hit: she was shooting, the battleships were shooting, and the Zeros were swarming around. As a result 6 Claude fighters got into the air and began to attack the Americans. The attack was a dress rehearsal for the coming Battle of Midway. While flying the first mission during the Battle of Midway, a faulty oxygen canister had created gases that turned to caustic soda. Halsey and Alev Aydin's Relationship Timeline - Us Weekly Concluding that the. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 - 6 June 1942. Nimitz therefore attacked all 6 bases at the same time in the early morning hours of February 1, 1942. Richard Halsey. They had a difficult time finding it, due to the inaccuracy of historic maps and ground fog. Best subsequently became squadron Commander in time for the Battle of Midway. He never bragged about it, but he was obviously very proud of it because he would tell of his experiences to groups such as ours, said Matthew H. Portz, a retired Navy captain who, along with Best, belonged to the Order of Daedalians, the national fraternity of military pilots. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, Best led his dive bomber squadron at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking one Japanese aircraft carrier and . This division became part of the Rand Corporation in December 1948, where Best headed the security department until his retirement in March 1975. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, her father, Richard H. Best, moved his wife and young daughter . This browser does not support getting your location. Daughter of Richard Halsey Best 03/24/1910-10/28/2001 A dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the US Navy during World War II.LLEWELLYN, BARBARA ANNOn Monday, June 12, 2006, BARBARA ANN LLEWELLYN of Rockville, MD. For defense the Japanese had Mitsubishi A5M's, or "Claudes," predecessors of the famed "zeros." As the leading squadron dove past him, Best realized what was happening and broke off to attack Akagi. Richard Halsey Best US Navy Pilot. Having no hope of relief, it surrendered. Hiryu threw everything she had at us, Best told Portz. Just after Best landed on Enterprise, he began to cough up blood. How many veterans are alive from Pearl Harbor? Later that day, Best participated in the attack on the last remaining Japanese carrier, Hiry, possibly scoring one of the four hits that sank her. [4] On February 24, 1942, Best took part in the attack of Wake Island by the Enterprise Air Group, and on March 4 Marcus Island was attacked. They were part of a recent force, the Command Battle Force, under the command of William Halsey Jr., the commander of a somewhat larger and more permanent group, Carrier Division 2, a group of carriers. The three-plane CEAG section was expected to attack last, as their planes were equipped with cameras to assess the damage later. ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), a WWI military coalition, was temporarily reconstituted in 1941. Stationed on the Enterprise, Best led his squadron in most of the major actions of the early war in the Pacific before being invalided out with tuberculosis in 1942. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. The Saratoga took a Japanese torpedo on January 11th and was out of action at Pearl and San Diego for repairs and updating until the spring. 10. Richard Halsey Best - History, War & Politics The second bomb, dropped by Best, penetrated the flight deck and exploded in the upper hangar amongst 18 fuelled and armed Nakajima B5N2 aircraft. The oxygen rebreather of Best's SBD had become heated during the unusually long search on the morning mission on June 4. This division became part of the Rand Corporation in December 1948, where Best headed the security department until his retirement in March 1975. He not received, nor did he anticipate, the one about Pearl Harbor. 2008 - 2023 INTERESTING.COM, INC. Four bombs struck home, wrecking the ship. At dawn, he led VB-6's second division as part of a full-scale strike against Japanese shipping off Kwajalein. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Richard Halsey Best was portrayed in the 2019 film Midway by actor Ed Skrein. Before Richard Halsey Best's death in 2001, Admiral Thomas Moorer and Vice Admiral William Houser spearheaded an unsuccessful effort to get Richard Halsey Best the Medal of Honor. He became acutely ill with a temperature of 103F (39C), and was admitted to Pearl Harbor Hospital. Richard H. Best was born in New Jersey in 1910. Just after Best landed on Enterprise, he began to cough up blood. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. However, the strike found nothing, and Best's group returned to Enterprise without incident, although he later called the resulting night landing "the worstof [his] 330 carrier landings. In order to earn a living, Best began working in a small research division of the. [10] Although only Best's bomb struck Akagi, the resulting fuel- and ordnance-induced explosions in the confined hangar deck were enough to doom the carrier. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Drag images here or select from your computer for Barbara Ann Best Llewellyn memorial. After taking an exile from navy, Best moved to, 9. His first assignment was Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2B) aboard the aircraft carrier, "It'd be nice to please everyone but I thought it would be more interesting to have a point of view. His first assignment was Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2B) aboard the aircraft carrier USSLexington, flying the Grumman F2F. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Obviously, Best expected to attack according to the U.S. dive bomber doctrine. Not finding any, it returned to Pearl on the 13th. Early career (1928-1941) Richard H. Best was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1928. Best, a retired security manager at the Rand Corp., died Oct. 26 in Santa Monica. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The carrier was abandoned and also intentionally sunk by Japanese torpedoes at about 5 a.m. on June 5. Best was transferred from Pearl Harbor Hospital to Fitzsimons General Hospital in Aurora, Colorado, where he received proper treatment for his tuberculosis. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Richard H Best was born in New Jersey in 1911. Richard Halsey Best | Military Wiki | Fandom He snorted the gas fumes out, not thinking about it anymore. In June 1940, Best returned to the fleet and requested to be assigned to dive bombers. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Wildfires in Anchorage? The inhaled caustic fumes caused an aspiration pneumonia and eroded away a tuberculosis granuloma, transforming the inactive form of the organism into an active form, resulting in the progression from latent TB infection to TB disease. At 0430 (4:30 A.M.) on the 1st, the Enterprise turned into the wind to launch 6 F4F's under Wade McClusky, headed for Wotje. It failed of its mark, awakening, as its commander, Isoroku Yamamoto, is believed to have said, "a great, sleeping giant." Just after he landed on Enterprise, he began to cough up blood. Norman Kleiss Norman Jack Kleiss Service/branch United States Navy Years of service 19381962 Rank Captain Battles/wars World War II Battle of Midway. After the battle, Richard Halsey Best was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. It has an airfield useful as a stop-over for long-range flights. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Bayonne, Hudson, New Jersey, United States, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VTHF-868, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W7-V59M, https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Blog/Post/10258/Battle-of-Midway-Hero-Rests-at-ANC?fbclid=IwAR0k_rqxLdRKAfo-YKaYxWWy2GK3_ntMiZieaoP8-6CiqAkzzpEZc_gny-g, https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/19777, https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-profiles/best-vb-6.html, https://peoplepill.com/people/richard-halsey-best/, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Distinguished Flying Cross (United States), USS Enterprise (CV-6), United States Navy, World War II. Naval Academy in 1932, served on the light cruiser Richmond and began flight training in 1934. On the morning of June 4, 1942, the Enterprise and two other American carriers--the Yorktown and the Hornet--were a few hundred miles from Midway Island when a patrol plane spotted Japanese aircraft carriers and their escorts heading toward the island. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 296 are expected to die every day between September 2020 and September 2021. This division became part of the Rand Corporation in December 1948, where Best headed the security department until his retirement in March 1975. He was 91. After one such bombing they executed the 80 civilians still being held, for which the commander was hanged after the war. However, she chose not to give in to it. If the device containing this material were abnormally heated, it could release caustic soda fumes through the pilot's oxygen mask; consequently Best had inhaled caustic fumes. The Lexington was left at sea longer with orders to drop the ferrying and conduct a search pattern for the attackers. Leave a message for others who see this profile. Pye was relieved on the 31st amidst a general outcry that he had abandoned the Wake defenders. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. A California law says yes. William F. Bull Halsey, Pacific commander, was forced to the sidelines because of a severe case of psoriasis that left him itching all over. Lieutenant Commander Richard Halsey "Dick" Best, USN, (March 24, 1910 October 28, 2001) was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. He later taught instrument flying and evaluated torpedo bomber tactics in Pensacola, Fla. Richard Halsey was born on March 24, 1910 in, 3. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Whether you are using plastic or fabric containers, Earthboxes, or even old buttercream buckets, there are a few important things to consider before planting. Despite some of the Hollywood aspects, this is still the most realistic movie about naval combat ever made, commented retired Navy Rear Adm. "[12] After the battle, Best was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. The actual cause of the defeat is that a daring and resourceful enemy struck a brilliant though ill-advised blow. Did Japanese admiral go down with ship at Midway? On the morning flight, Best had tested an oxygen bottle to be sure that it was not leaking caustic soda. San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. After the attack he was relieved of duty and reduced a rank for "bad judgement" and "dereliction of duty," which amounted to failure to keep the base in readiness. She would be in TF-17, but by the 30th she was only in San Diego. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. 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. With merits, he went on to become a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the, 4. The President acted swiftly. Please try again later. I knew that I could make the most contribution as a bomber rather than a fighter, he told The Hook, a journal of carrier aviation, in 1996. Choosing Pensacola, he was assigned to instruct Training Squadron Five, which was not named according to the codes and rules that had been developed for fleet aircraft (see List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons). Sources that support Pye erroneoulsy extend the date of decision past the fall of Wake. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Despite these difficulties, the crew of only one plane of VB-6, "6-B-3" was lost. He was moved to a non-combat command. The fighters subsequently also were shot down. After the victory at Midway, the Allies took the offensive in the Pacific. After Richard's father's birth, Burt Best, their entire family shifted to California. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. In charge of the search was Commander of the Enterprise Air Group, LtCdr. Climate change sparks disaster fears, Police manhunt continues for suspect in Texas mass shooting, A powerhouse U.S. doctor slain in Sudan, killed for nothing, In final Mass in Budapest, pope urges Hungary to open doors. The next day Best began to cough up blood repeatedly. Richard Halsey Best - Wikipedia He had stationed the First Marine Defence Battalion there, about 500 men, who guarded the 1300 civilians. Best was married and had a daughter - Barbara Ann Llewellyn, a son - Richard Halsey Best II., a grandson and a step-daughter - Amy Best. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He was still aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), which had been delayed by bad weather as she returned from delivering a Marine fighter squadron to Wake Island. Under the overall command of the air group commander (CEAG) Lt.Cdr. There was an error deleting this problem. After reinforcing Samoa, the Yorktown and Enterprise went their separate ways on January 29, the Yorktown to raid the Gilbert Islands, an archipelago between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea (off Australia), and the Enterprise to raid the Marshall Islands. Each carrier would be the center of a supporting task force (TF) of ships. Best and his squadron succeeded in destroying it, but unlike the morning mission when the Japanese fighters were down low defending against the American torpedo bombers, they were aloft. The force seemed sufficient, so Kimmel sent the Lexington as part of TF-11 (formerly TF-12), into the Marshalls to attack Japanese bases and supply lines. Wake fell on the 23rd after an intense battle with high cost to the Japanese. After earning his wings . Richard Halsey Best - Age, Birthday, Biography & Facts | HowOld.co Carriers were treated differently. In June 1938, Best was given the choice to either join a patrol squadron at Panama or Hawaii, or become a flight instructor at Pensacola: he chose Pensacola, and was assigned to instruct Training Squadron Five. Back in Pearl Harbor, Best was examined by the flight surgeon. The contribution of Best and his pilots to victory in the Pacific cannot be over-estimated. This account has been disabled. The Marshall Islands are mid-way between the Solomons and the Hawaiian Islands. Richard Halsey Best (1910-2001) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree All students took Training Squadrons One and Two, and elements of Three, but those intended for multi-engine scout work took only Four, while carrier pilots took only Five, thus increasing the output of pilots. First, it is important to choose the right type of planter and support system for your plants. About Lt. Later, pointing out to Roosevelt that he was past the mandatory retirement age, he received the reply, "So what, old top?" Feinstein has vowed to return to Washington, but what happens if she doesnt? WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Instagram. Pye was allowed to play a part in planning the subsequent campaign in the Marshalls. Best, a retired Security Manager at the Rand Corporation, died October 26, 2001, in Santa Monica, California. I enjoy creating and spreading knowledgeable content for everyone around the world and try my best not to leave even the smallest of mistakes go unnoticed. Was James Murray in Midway a real person? VB-6 thus identified "Bombing Squadron 6," which could only be of the Enterprise, in historical sources usually shortened to "Bombing 6.". After undergoing 32 months of treatment, Best retired from the Navy in 1944 with a 100% disability. Gender. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Ente. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? For his actions in the battle, Best received the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Lieutenant Commander Richard Best served in the United States Navy in World War II. She passed away in 1968. Numberng of aircraft squadrons followed from the hull number. Add to your scrapbook. After his retirement from the Navy, Best moved to Santa Monica, California, where he lived for the rest of his life. Aircraft attempting to land on the island were destroyed by friendly fire from gun crews now fully aware and in a "trigger-happy" frame of mind. Nevertheless, the President utilized the opportunity to revive COMINCH, now CINCUS. Note her natural wood flight deck stain and dark Measure One camouflage paint scheme. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. She sank on 19 June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea due to explosions resulting from design flaws and poor damage control after suffering a single torpedo hit from the American submarine USS Albacore. Richard tied the knot with Doris Avis Albro on June 24 1932 in, 7. Richard Halsey Best - Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Birth Place: Upon arrival at the squadron's base on land, Naval Air Station North Island, California, on June 10, Best was made flight officer (operations officer) of the squadron, who was third-in-command. Over the next twenty-four hours, his hemoptysis (coughing up blood) continued. Pye's replacement as CINCPACFLT was a submariner, Chester W. Nimitz. Having graduated with honors in 1932, he served for two years aboard the light cruiser USSRichmond. Failed to report flower. It steamed the next day, also with search duties. 2K views, 27 likes, 7 loves, 18 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Dbstvstlucia: DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 No. DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 - Facebook https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/219480337/barbara-ann-llewellyn. On December 17, Kimmel was jerked suddenly from his command, to be replaced by William S. Pye, a vocal opponent of Kimmel, and opponent of the policy of fortifying Wake. He put in a request for a transfer to the Pacific Fleet as that. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Best's first inhalation was then filled with gas fumes. Richard Halsey Best was born in Bayonne, New Jersey on March 24, 1910.. On Popular Bio, Richard Halsey Best is one of the successful Military. Richard H. Best was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1928. To him, the island was not worth the cost of keeping it. Today, June 4th, in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, America owes an enormous debt of gratitude to a man few have ever heard of - Lieutenant Commander Richard Halsey Best. This would have left key allies, Australia and the Soviet Union, in an impossible position. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Please reset your password. Bruno Gaido jumped into a parked SBD Dauntless aircraft and manned the rear machine gun. A system error has occurred.