One of the 15 Pilots, before they loaded up on the Hornet, told his Radio Man that he needed more Gunnery training. So he had him sent away to to Gunner's School. His Radio Man's gun skills were just fine. The Pilot knew his Radio Man had been married just a year or two and had a small baby at home. The Pilot knew the TBD Devastator's were very dated death traps. The Pilot saved his Radio Man's life. Even Torpedo 8's Commander, John Waldron knew they were screwed but he trained the hell out of his men so they could be as sharp as humanly possible. He even had them do extra Physical Training. He knew they needed every possible advantage to have any hope.
I read Dive Bomber Pilot, "Dusty: Kliess' book "Don't Call Me A Hero". He was on the USS Enterprise and said there was nothing harder than seeing his good friend, who was a TBD Pilot, as he left the Ready Room for their run on the Japanese Fleet. Both men just shook hands and looked at each other in the eye. Both welling up. They knew it was their last meeting. It was.
Back to Torpedo 8....I read End George Gay's book, "Sole Survivor" (He's the guy floating in the water, in "Midway", watching the battle) He described how anal Waldron was with training and advantage. At first, other crew members and Squadrons on the Hornet made fun of them but as time went on, the realized what Waldron was doing and why. Attitudes toward Torpedo 8 went from jokes to somber.
