Eugene E. Lindsey
{{short description|United States Navy officer}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Eugene E. Lindsey
|image= Eugene Lindsey;h84903.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Lindsey c. 1929
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{Birth date|1905|07|02}}
|birth_place= Sprague, Washington, U.S.
|death_date= {{death date and age|1942|06|04|1905|07|02}}
|death_place= near Midway Atoll
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United States
|branch= United States Navy
|serviceyears= 1927–1942
|rank= Lieutenant commander
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= Torpedo Squadron Six
|battles= World War II
|awards= Navy Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Eugene Elbert Lindsey (July 2, 1905 – June 4, 1942) was an officer and aviator in the United States Navy. He is the namesake of the destroyer {{USS|Lindsey|DD-771}}.
Naval career
File:Eugene E. Lindsey Arlington National Cemetery.jpg
Lindsey was born in Sprague, Washington, on 2 July 1905 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/luckybag1927unse |title=Lucky Bag |date=1927 |publisher=First Class, United States Naval Academy |others=Nimitz Library U. S. Naval Academy}} William Brockman, Creed Burlingame and John Thatch were some of his classmates.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/luckybag1927unse |title=Lucky Bag |date=1927 |publisher=First Class, United States Naval Academy |others=Nimitz Library U. S. Naval Academy}} After duty on {{USS|Nevada|BB-36|6}} and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|6}}, he completed flight training in 1929 and served with a bombing squadron on {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|6}} and an observation squadron in {{USS|Maryland|BB-46|6}}. From 3 June 1940 he commanded Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), which flew Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo bombers, in {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|6}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-profiles/lindsey-torpedo-6.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018111815/https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/browse-by-topic/wars-conflicts-and-operations/world-war-ii/world-war-ii-profiles/lindsey-torpedo-6.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2020|title=LCDR Eugene e. Lindsey of VT-6}}
On 7 December 1941, Lindsey was aboard Enterprise when he received word (along with most of the ship's company) of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. That evening (at 16.30), Enterprise received a report of an enemy carrier south of Oahu. With most of the ship's dive bombers having either flown into Pearl that morning or been deployed on search, Lindsey was ordered to lead his 19 TBDs against the target. However, the contact report proved to be false, and the strike found nothing. On their return around 20.00, Enterprise ordered the strike to proceed to Ford Island. However, Lindsey, who knew his men were low on fuel, refused, and convinced his ship to take them in. The VT-6 pilots, landing with live torpedoes and (in some cases) no night landing experience, all got aboard safely.Cressman and Wenger, Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts, pp 49, 52-53
Lindsey's first real combat occurred on 1 February 1942, when he led VT-6's first division in two strikes against Japanese targets in the Marshall Islands. In the first, he led nine bomb-carrying TBDs as part of a full-scale dawn strike against Roi and Kwajalein. For the second, he took off as part of a follow-up strike of 8 SBDs and nine TBDs (again carrying bombs) to hit shipping and facilities at Wotje.Action Report for 1 February 1942 at http://cv6.org/ship/logs/action19420201.htm{{failed verification|reason=Lindsey not mentioned in source |date=January 2021}} In both cases, Lindsey's division returned without loss. His performance and leadership on these strikes would earn him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
On 24 February 1942, Lindsey again led nine bomb-equipped TBDs as part of Enterprise's strike against Wake Island.Lundstrom, The First Team, p.112-113 Again, VT-6 returned without loss (although two SBDs went down). On 4 March, Enterprise continued the campaign by hitting Marcus Island. However, Lindsey's men missed out as they were being held in reserve in case any important shipping targets turned up.Lundstrom, The First Team, p.118
On 28 May 1942, as Enterprise departed Pearl Harbor in preparation for the Battle of Midway, Lindsey made a bad landing while leading his squadron aboard. As his plane neared touchdown, it suddenly stalled, struck the deck hard, and careened over the port side. The destroyer {{USS|Monaghan|DD-354|6}} rescued Lindsey and his crew (ACRM Charles T. Grenat and Machinist Thomas E. Schaffer).{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-people/l/lindsey-eugene-e/80-g-7748.html|title = 80-G-7748 Lieutenant Commander Eugene e. Lindsey, USN, Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6)}} According to the Enterprise log, Lindsey suffered "several cracked ribs, [a] punctured lung, multiple cuts, and other lacerations."Quoted in Prange, Miracle At Midway, p.120 With such severe injuries, his shipmates expected him to be sidelined for the coming battle.
Lindsey, however, refused to let his injuries prevent him from leading his squadron. On 4 June, the day of the battle, he surprised Air Group Commander Wade McClusky by joining him at breakfast.Lord, Incredible Victory, p.92 After almost a week of recuperation, Lindsey was still so bruised about the face that he could not put on his flight goggles. However, when McClusky asked if he could fly, Lindsey answered, “This is what I’ve been trained to do”.{{Cite web|url=https://usnamemorialhall.org/index.php/EUGENE_E._LINDSEY,_LCDR,_USN|title = VMH: Eugene e. Lindsey, LCDR, Usn}}
Lindsey died in action on 4 June 1942 with his rear-seat gunner, Charles T. Grenat, ACRM, in the Battle of Midway, when their Douglas TBD Devastator was shot down by Japanese A6M2 Zero fighters, while attacking the aircraft carrier Kaga.*{{Cite book | last=Cressman | first=Robert J. | title="A Glorious page in our history," Adm. Chester Nimitz, 1942: the Battle of Midway, 4–6 June 1942 | year=1990 | publisher=Pictorial Histories Pub. Co.| location=Missoula, Mont. | isbn=0-929521-40-4 | pages=94|display-authors=etal}} VT-6 lost 10 out of 14 planes. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross[https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=653259 "Navy.togetherweserved: Lindsey, Eugene Elbert, LCDR"] for his contribution to the battle.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/771.htm|title = Destroyer Photo Index DD-771 / DM-32 / MMD-32 USS LINDSEY}}
Awards and honors
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" | |
| colspan="5"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Naval Aviator Badge.png|width=205|alt=}} | |
| colspan="3"|{{Ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Navy_Cross_ribbon.svg | width=110}} {{ribbon devices|number=|type=oak|ribbon=Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg|width=110}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=|type=award-star|other_device=|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=United_States_Navy_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg|width=110}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|other_device=|ribbon=American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}} | |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=110}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|width=110}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="5"|Naval Aviator Badge |
| colspan="3"|Navy Cross
|colspan="3"|Distinguished Flying Cross |
| colspan="2"|Purple Heart
|colspan="2"|Navy Presidential Unit Citation |colspan="2"|American Defense Service Medal |
| colspan="2"|American Campaign Medal
|colspan="2"|Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal |colspan="2"|World War II Victory Medal |
=Navy Cross citation=
:Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey
:U.S. Navy
:Date Of Action: June 4, 1942
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Squadron Commander of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the USS Enterprise (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Participating in a vigorous and intensive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant Commander Lindsey pressed home his attack with relentless determination in the face of a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The unprecedented conditions under which his squadron launched its offensive were so exceptional that it is highly improbably the occasion may ever recur where other pilots of the service will be called upon to demonstrate an equal degree of gallantry and fortitude. His extreme disregard of personal safety contributed materially to the success of our forces and his loyal conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/21337|title=Valor awards for Eugene Lindsey|website=Military Times |access-date=December 30, 2023}}
=Namesake=
In 1944, the destroyer {{USS|Lindsey|DD-771}} was named in his honor.
Portrayals in film
He was portrayed by Robert S. Woods in the TV miniseries War and Remembrance, Parts II & III (1988).
Eugene E. Lindsey was portrayed by Darren Criss in the film Midway (2019).
References
{{reflist}}
:{{DANFS}}
Bibliography
- Cressman, Robert J., and Wenger, J. Michael, Steady Nerves and Stout Hearts: The Enterprise (CV-6) Air Group and Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Missoula 1990. {{ISBN|0929521250}}
- {{Cite book| last = Lord | first = Walter | authorlink = Walter Lord | year = 1967 | title = Incredible Victory | publisher = Harper and Row |location=New York |isbn = 1-58080-059-9}}
- {{Cite book| last = Lundstrom | first = John B. | year = 1984 | title = The First Team: Pacific Naval Air Combat from Pearl Harbor to Midway | publisher = Naval Institute Press | location = Annapolis, Maryland | isbn = 1-59114-471-X }}
- {{Cite book | last1 = Prange | first1 = Gordon W. | authorlink = Gordon W. Prange | last2 = Goldstein | first2 = Donald M. | last3 = Dillon | first3 = Katherine V. | year = 1982 | title = Miracle at Midway | publisher = McGraw-Hill | location = New York | isbn = 0-07-050672-8 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/miracleatmidway00pran }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindsey, Eugene}}
Category:United States Navy officers
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:United States Navy bomber pilots of World War II
Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
Category:United States Navy personnel killed in World War II
Category:People from Lincoln County, Washington
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
{{US-navy-bio-stub}}