This is my Dauntless SBD dedicated to Major Lofton Henderson, USMC, Commanding Officer of VMSB-241 during the Battle of Midway
The first to engage the enemy were the land based Marines of 241, taking off from Midway Island.
Major Hendersons force was a hastily assembled group of out-dated Vindicators and SBD’s. He split them into two echelons, flew in with no fighter escort, and attacked….
His plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire during the first groups bomb run. He was last seen holding on-target with his left wing ablaze….in the heat of battle no one actually saw him crash, or observed any parachutes…. he was never seen again….Major Lofton Henderson and Rear Gunner P.F.C. Lee Reininger were declared K.I.A.
When Marines later landed at Guadalcanal and captured its strategic airfield, it was re-named Henderson Field in his memory.
Semper Fi
The first to engage the enemy were the land based Marines of 241, taking off from Midway Island.
Major Hendersons force was a hastily assembled group of out-dated Vindicators and SBD’s. He split them into two echelons, flew in with no fighter escort, and attacked….
His plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire during the first groups bomb run. He was last seen holding on-target with his left wing ablaze….in the heat of battle no one actually saw him crash, or observed any parachutes…. he was never seen again….Major Lofton Henderson and Rear Gunner P.F.C. Lee Reininger were declared K.I.A.
When Marines later landed at Guadalcanal and captured its strategic airfield, it was re-named Henderson Field in his memory.
Semper Fi
