SBD-3 BuNo 3232, Lt. (j.g.) Jack ‘Dusty’ Kleiss and radioman 3/c John John Snowden, Scouting Six, USS Enterprise (CV6), June 4, 1942.
On the morning of June 4, 1942 Jack ‘Dusty’ Kleiss was flying one of 32 SBD-3s from USS Enterprise led by the Group Commander Wade McClusky in an attempt to locate the Japanese task force sent to bomb Midway. Kleiss was one of four pilots to score a direct hit on the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga, one of three Japanese carriers destroyed in the battle that morning.
Later that day, Kleiss would participate in another dive bombing mission sent to destroy the single remaining Japanese carrier Hiryu. Dusty Kleiss was one of four or five pilots to score a hit on the carrier, resulting in its destruction. Kleiss is one of only two pilots in history to score direct hits on two aircraft carriers in a single day (the other was Richard Halsey ‘Dick’ Best of Bombing Six from Enterprise, who also sank two carriers that same day.) Two days later on June 6, Kleiss would dive bomb and sink a third Japanese ship, the cruiser Mikuma. Kleiss was the only pilot to successfully dive bomb three ships in the Battle of Midway and received the Navy Cross for his actions in the battle.
Profile Notes: In doing this profile and analyzing photos of S-7, one surprising detail was found, the LSO stripe on the tail was at a steeper angle than on other Scouting Six (and Bombing Six) SBDs.
Special thanks to researchers Laura and Timothy Orr for their assistance with researching this profile – be sure to check out their book on Dusty Kleiss ‘Never Call Me a Hero’ linked below!
Click the gallery thumbnail below for a larger view of this aircraft.
Recommended books:
Never Call Me a Hero: A Legendary Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers The Battle of Midway
No Right To Win: A Continuing Dialogue with Veterans of the Battle of Midway
A Glorious Page in Our History: The Battle of Midway, 4-6 June 1942
Incredible Victory: The Battle of Midway
Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
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