Sole Survivor: Torpedo Squadron Eight - Battle of Midway

by George Gay

This is a hardcover book with copyrights of 1979 and 1986. There was a First Edition and a Revised Edition in 1986. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 80-81497. It contains numerous black and white photographs. Ensign George "Tex" Gay Jr. was a 25-year-old Navy pilot. Mr. Gay flew one of the 15 TBD Douglas Devastator torpedo planes from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) in an attack on Japanese warships near Midway Island on June 4, 1942. All the planes in his squadron were shot down, and he was the only one of 30 men in Torpedo Squadron 8 to survive. Historians have credited the attack by his squadron as clearing the way for an attack by American dive bombers that eventually resulted in victory in the battle. He died in October 1994.

Genres: History, World War II, Military Fiction, Biography, Aviation

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was thrilled to find a copy on ebay of this book. As a Naval Officer and aviator, I was truly curious about Ensign Gays outlook on his survival experience, especially in view of the great odds. In short, it was a disappointing read. Although he wrote of his historic "ringside seat" to the Battle of Midway and the circumstanses working up to it. He appeared to share little on his outlook of being the sole survivor. He was open and extremely honest about being made a hero, making appearances with Hollywood Starlets and the other extra activities that came his away. I read it with a bad feeling of someone who capitalized on his luck to get the most out of life and the benefits the war had brought to him. I think, in retrospect, I'd been better off not reading it. It certainly didn't answer the questions his existence triggered in my mind.

[Peter#pintobeans · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Sole Survivor is an autobiography written by George Gay. George Gay was the sole survivor of his squadron in a battle that took place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean during WWII. There were 30 men in the VT-8's TBD Devastator squadron and on June 4, 1942 they flew off of their carrier in pursuit of the Japanese Naval Fleet. After many bullets ad torpedoes were exchanged between the two sides, every single man in the Devastator Fleet was killed except for George Gay, who somehow managed to survive the battle. I loved the book Sole Survivor because of its unique historical account, its intriguing story, and the emotion expressed in all sections of the book.

I enjoyed the commentary that Gay would make at certain points in the book, which showed his opinion on different matters. At one point during the battle, Gay was watching as his companions took suicidal dives at the enemy ships, in an effort to make a last ditch effort to destroy them. On this issue Gay said that "It's when a fellow is just gone and knows it, it is just crash into the ship or crash into the sea, and you have enough control to do a little bit more damage, why you crash into the ship." (Gay 276). These comments made by Gay help to elaborate on what the unit was thinking during the battle. Gay also told of how his squadron was an inexperienced one, and they had many issues stacked against them even before the battle took place. While describing these different problems, Gay said “Well, Torpedo 8 had a difficult problem, we had old planes and we were new in the organization.”(Gay 144). This means that their planes were not very updated, and the Japanese had newer and better models of these planes which would make the Americans job much harder.

In conclusion, Sole Survivor accomplished its goal of showing the bravery of all men in the VT-8’s squadron. They faced a more modernized fleet then themselves in territory much more adept for the Japanese military tactics, yet despite the odds, the American squadron was able to sink 3 of the Japanese carriers. This thrilling story kept me on the edge of my seat as a read further and further into the battle. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to those who share my enjoyment of reading about military related stories, or anyone who wants an exciting story depicting the final moments of the lives of many brave men.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found an autographed copy at a thrift store. Lieutenant Commander Gay recounts his WW II service. As the sole survivor of Topedo Squadron 8 in the Battle of Midway, he has an interesting story to tell. Despite his retelling of the hero's reception he received after the battle, the book did not come off as self-serving. I appreciated reading this first-hand account of important history.

The book was written at the end of the Carter presidency and at the end of the book, he provides some frank commentary about his view of the military's preparedeness circa 1979, so it's dated due to that, but even that is a nice bit of history.

[Karan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tale and insightful. Would have been better without his sexual exploits.

[Mark Fischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Signed copy of this book. 1/2 the crews lost their lives for the Americans at Midway. It was a great victory, but those young men of World War II paid the ultimate price. This book covers the entire early years in the Pacific. From an very personable perspective. Flying a Devastator was dangerous to your health, however without the sacrifice does the Dauntless Dive Bombers get their chance to revenge Pearl Harbor.

[Randall Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book detailed the experiences of George gay Before & After the battle midway and how he survived. I found it to be a very good and informative work. Especially surrounding the destruction of the Japanese carriers as he was in the water.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from a neighbor. He had bought it at a talk by George Gay and it was signed, "May you be as lucky as I was at Midway!"

It was well written, informative and interesting.

Gay grew up poor in Texas.

Everyone knows about his attempt to attack the Japanese fleet with the rest of a squadron. He had a view of the attack that sank their Carriers. In 5 minutes he witnessed the hopes and dreams of a generation of Japanese burst into flames. Maybe one of the most unique sights every seen by human eyes.

He was sent home for recovery and good will tours but returned to combat.

He was very open and honest. Even back in the 40s being a hero made it easier to get sex. He became friends with a movie start and was once picked up off a train by her wearing only a fur coat. Later on Iwo Jima he was trying to find a place to spend private time with a Nurse when they ran into a Marine patrol. He was cursing a lost opportunity. The patrol was thrilled and asked if they could do anything for her. She asked if they could rig a shower. In thanks she added her bra to the flag pole and left it as a, "Memory of what you are fighting for."

He was honest in other ways too. After a briefing on a bombing mission he asked, "after dropping our bombs do we stick around and strafe?" The answer was no the mission was to bomb. Gay said sticking around doing extra work is a good way to get killed. Do your job and go home so you can do your job tomorrow. I think, having proved himself he could be sensible and no longer flirt with the fool hardy.

That is a few of the highlights, you will enjoy this book if you read it.

[Michael Toleno · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Gay published and promoted the book himself, so most copies are personally signed by him. I borrowed this from a library across the country through an inter-library loan, and the copy I read had the author's signature. Gay gives a great, detailed perspective about pursuing and attaining his commission, getting into undergraduate pilot training, completing that training and follow-on training in Fleet aircraft, and being in the squadron (VT-8) with Lieutenant Commander John Waldron, the commanding officer, who died with most of the rest of his squadron at Midway and earned a posthumous Medal of Honor. Sadly (and embarrassingly, considering that his wife was still alive and married to him), Gay included many salacious details that don't add to the story but rather just make him come off as an arrogant rube.

[Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this from the author at an airshow at San Diego's Brown Field, just over the border from Mexico.

George Gay was the sole survivor of the carrier Hornet's Torpedo 8 at the Battle of Midway. His Devastator torpedo plane was the last of his squadron's fifteen to be shot down, and he spent the rest of the battle hiding under a seat cushion to avoid being stafed by patroling Japanese "zeros", where he had a ringside seat for the eventual destruction of three of Admiral Nagumo's carriers at the hands of divebombers from Hornet's sister carriers, Enterprise and Yorktown.

George spent the rest of the war following Admiral Halsey's orders to remind those Americans at home just what his 29 comrades from Torpedo Eight had fought and died for on the 4th of June, 1942.