George H. Gay, Jr.
| George H. Gay, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
March 8, 1917 Waco, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | October 21, 1994 (aged 77) Marietta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | U.S. Navy |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander |
| Unit | Torpedo Squadron 8 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Purple Heart Presidential Unit Citation Air Medal |
Ensign (later Lieutenant Commander) George Henry Gay, Jr. (March 8, 1917 – October 21, 1994) was a TBD Devastator pilot in United States Navy Torpedo Squadron 8 operating from the USS Hornet (CV-8) in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. Of the 30 VT-8 aircrew from Hornet that participated in the pivotal Battle of Midway, Ensign Gay was the sole survivor.
George Henry Gay, Jr. was born on March 8, 1917 in Waco, Texas. He attended school in both Austin and Houston before enrolling at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M University).
Like millions of Americans at the time, Gay chose to sign up for the coming war, leaving Texas A&M University. He tried to join the Army Air Corps as a pilot but was rejected for medical reasons. He then tried the United States Navy in early 1941. Gay completed flight training and was commissioned as an Ensign in Sept 1941.
He joined the newly formed Torpedo Squadron 8 under Lieutenant Commander John Charles Waldron. He and his unit were aboard the USS Hornet in April 1942 when Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle launched his raid on Tokyo. One week later, the Hornet arrived at Pearl Harbor to join the USS Enterprise as part of Task Force 16 during the Battle of Midway.
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