How a WWII Pilot Destroyed TWO Enemy Aircraft Carriers - The Story of Richard Halsey Best

Invest in 24K Gold Jewelry with Mene! Get 5% off your first purchase here: mene.com/?prom...
In this video, we look at famed SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber Pilot Richard Halsey Best, who helped destroy two Japanese aircraft carriers in the famous Battle of Midway in 1942. This was made using the World War II flight simulator War Thunder. Hope you enjoy! Please like, comment, and subscribe. #WW2 #WWIIHistory #WarThunder
Guess what! TJ3 History officially has a newsletter! If you want awesome bonus content, WWII news, and great history content right to your email, subscribe here! tj3history.ck....
If you want to support TJ3 History and get access to special VIP content, please check out these awesome links!
Patreon - / tj3history
TJ3 History Merch Store!
teespring.com/...
Follow me on social media for updates!
Discord - / discord
Twitter - Twitter.com/TJ3History
Twitch - Twitch.com/TJ3Gaming
Instagram - TJ3History

[@TJ3]

Support TJ3 History and Invest in 24K Gold Jewelry with Mene! Get 5% off your first purchase here: mene.com/?promo=tj3

[@douglasdauntless]

This is great 👍

[@theonewhowokeup9987]

I trying to figure out where I heard the last name Best from until the last 4 minutes of the video. Best was depicted in one of *My* 5 best WW2 related movies called *Midway* can't remember the name of the actor who portrayed him tho. He was all about never say never, he gave no fu*ks about his safety he made sure his mission is completed.

[@andyspurlock5957]

Mr. Best was a friend of mine in the last few years of his life. A real honor to have known him.

[@slimeydon]

Dick best is not the only one who hit two carriers that day, Dusty Kleiss hit two that day plus a hit on I believe the cruiser Mogami 2 days later. He deserves more recognition than he gets.

[@briananderson8733]

That was the Mogami class heavy cruiser Mikuma. Dusty hit Kaga, Hiryu and Mikuma. Dick Best hit Akagi and Hiryu. He was in sickbay for the flight against Mogami and Mikuma. Dick Best's main contribution was the hit on Akagi.

[@tommybrown9534]

RIP Dusty Kleiss

[@chuckwhite3033]

These naval pilots saved the US from Japanese expansion in the Pacific. This was the "Stalingrad" of the Pacific War.

[@nogoodnameleft]

Okay...how the hell did Best and Kleiss not get the Medal of Honor? All the pilots that achieved direct hits on the 4 Japanese carriers should have received a Medal of Honor!!!!

[@Yamato-tp2kf]

@@nogoodnameleft That's true!!! They deserved that!!!

[@panzerivausfg4062]

It's amazing how Midway (2019) managed to follow exactly the path of the historical events of the dive runs. How Kroger and Weber missed and Best scoring the hit at the last moment... It's literally one of the few Hollywood movies that almost nailed it in historical accuracy... almost... Great video again!!

[@joeyakathug5215]

For what I researched (Although I lost the source), Weber's missed bomb did disable the turbine (Or something similar, I ain't familiar with ships)

[@panzerivausfg4062]

@@joeyakathug5215 It jammed Akagi's rudder

[@joeyakathug5215]

@@panzerivausfg4062 Thanks for clarification

[@panzerivausfg4062]

@@joeyakathug5215 If you see the scene from Midway (2019), Kroger's bomb smashed in the water next to the ship but Weber's bomb hit the sea right behind the Akagi and the blast and the underwater shock wave probably did the damage to the rudder.

[@disphoto]

Midway (2019) was a bit of a travesty in terms of historical accuracy. They got a few things right but missed a lot. It transformed Dick Best from a real-life hero into a Marvel Cartoon superhero. The totally made-up, highly risky landing near the movie's beginning would have got him court-martialand took me out of the movie. It is something no pilot would have done and made the rest of the movie was a cartoon. Overall the movie got a few things right and a lot wrong as it turned Dick Best into a cartoon. Dick Best made one of the singular greatest decisions in WW2 to pull out of his dive on the first carrier when he realized that the lead planes following McClusky had dived on the wrong (according to doctrine) carrier and Best the presents of mind, bravery, and skill to take out the second carrier. It might have been a different outcome if there had ended up being 2 Japanese left after the first attack. It is hard to fault McClusky since he was the one that figured out how to find the carriers in the first place and had not been a dive bomber pilot for very long. As many others have mentioned, Dusky Kleiss also hit two carriers that day, also a great accomplishment. Taking nothing away from what Kleiss did, Best's presence of mind may have changed the outcome of the whole battle of Midway. That could also be said of McClusky's finding of the carriers while risking everything to keep searching, or Best would not have been in a position to sink the carrier.

[@zTheBigFishz]

Dick Best's split second decision was probably the single most impactful decision of that type in the entire war. Had he not peeled off to attack Akagi, the Japanese counter strike would have been twice as large probably dooming at least one other American carrier. The fact that he was also responsible for Hiryu was just icing on the cake.

[@17donhol]

He took out Akagi with a single direct hit on her and at same time saved hundreds of American lives...

[@hotcoffee7933]

He insured that battle was a win for the U.S. and not a draw for both sides. That lifted America at a time when the Japanese were undefeated and considered the best navy in the world. He should never be forgotten.

[@Snarkbar]

Fuck Hiryu all my homies hate Hiryu

[@BHuang92]

What an amazing accomplishment! The only ace to sink two carriers in a row is a record that still stands today!!!

[@williampaz2092]

Two Aircraft Carriers in a single AFTERNOON!

[@steveg6978]

Jack “Dusty” Kleiss, who hit Kaga and Hiryu on June 4 and the cruiser Mikuma two days later.

[@ToddSauve]

Bomber pilots are not "aces" unless they do what fighter pilots do to earn the designation; shoot down five enemy aircraft. I don't know of any who have done that.

[@andrewtaylor940]

He actually shared that feat with Dusty Kleiss who hit Kaga and Hiryu, then came back the next day to hit the Cruiser Mikuma. Best gets remember a little more because he was the only one to score a direct and fatal hit on Akagi. Although I think Kleiss's hit on Kaga was the one that wiped out the bridge and all the command officers.

[@andrewtaylor940]

@@ToddSauve There actually were a small number of "Dauntless Aces". Owing to the fact that once a Dauntless dropped it's bombs it was a shockingly effective fighter. And a number of Zero's discovered that the Twin .30's in the back were a nasty surprise. Most Dauntless Ace's came out of Guadalcanal and the Solomon's. There were also some number of Avenger Air to Air kills late in the war, when they started using radar equipped Avengers as nightime fleet defense against Kamikaze's. They first tried it with an Avenger guiding 2 Hellcat's at night. I think they later just sent up the Avenger discovering that it could do the job with less aerial confusion.

[@Mister8224]

Dick Best KNEW what he had to do. He did not count on ANYONE else. He stretched his airplane to the LIMIT & maybe singlehandedly changed the trajectory of the war. He DESERVED & DESERVES the MEDAL!

[@curtiskretzer8898]

He should've got the Medal of Honor,w/making that obsolete equipment work like he did

[@MW-eb1qh]

@@curtiskretzer8898 The SBD was not obsolete in 1942. The TBD is another story.

[@curtiskretzer8898]

@@MW-eb1qh the Dauntless was obsolete.The Devastator that replaced it was questionable

[@bombsquig]

@@curtiskretzer8898 do you even have a clue?

[@curtiskretzer8898]

@@bombsquig original statement & follow up replies stand on their own. Best made the moving target dive bomber work way past capability

[@MrKe4bss]

SBD pilot Norman Jack (Dusty) Kleiss off the Enterprise scored 3 bomb hits during the Battle of Midway. 1. Kaga 2. Hiryu and 3. CA Mikuma. His book, Never call me a Hero is a Must read 🫡

[@mtacoustic1]

Mention should be made that a squadron of torpedo bombers preceded Best's attack and greatly contributed to Best's success; as the low-flying torpedo bombers drew off much of the enemy's fighter cover down to almost sea level. The entire torpedo squadron was shot down as a result. Their sacrifice allowed Best, and fellow dive bombers flying much higher, to only contend with anti aircraft fire; enabling this victory.

[@patrickkenyon2326]

My grandfather flew with Torpedo 8. May they all rest in peace. You gave all so that others could secure victory.

[@garydaniels5495]

If I remember correctly, a total of 41 TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers attacked the Japanese carriers. 35 were shot down, including all aircraft of the Hornet's VT-8. This is correct; the attention given to the torpedo planes allowed the dive bombers to approach and attack almost unnoticed and unopposed.

[@philipambler3825]

Armed with torpedoes that malfunctioned, the Navy should have executed a couple of Admirals,,and definitely got rid of King.

[@nyc5points]

their heroic sacrifice, limited Japaneses cap patrol to nil. The unsung heroes of the turning point of the pacific.

[@nyc5points]

If going to make documentary, get full facts straight. He wasn’t only pilot to hit 2 carriers.

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

For Dick Best not to get the Medal of Honor is a travesty.

[@Mister8224]

This travesty can be & should be fixed! I hope there us family that pursues this!

[@marcbhoy2811]

@@Mister8224 that window has long since closed

[@johnemerson1363]

If you give it to Best, then you need to give it to Dusty Kleiss as well. They both hit carriers at Midway. BTW Kleiss would tell us that he was a trained dive bomber pilot and was just doing what he was trained to do.

[@Mister8224]

@@johnemerson1363 Sounds reasonable John. I think what they both did was far above expectations & in addition changed the trajectory of the war. It's hard to argue they both deserve the button.

[@johnemerson1363]

@@Mister8224 Dusty Kleiss's book, "Don't Call Me A Hero" would argue the point. They both did their jobs magnificently.

[@brokenbridge6316]

I recently found out about Dick Best when I saw the movie "Midway." Shame what happened to him afterwards. Great video TJ3 History.

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@robertsmith2227---Agreed

[@farhanazzahra5]

What happen to him?

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@farhanazzahra5---As it turned out he inhaled something that badly damaged his lungs. Which the movie showed. And the navy wouldn't allow him to fly after that. He stayed on the ground the rest of his life. Or well that's what I assume happened to him after he was grounded.

[@bobfinkenbiner2539]

a fair number of officers had a over developed sense of worth, combined with aggressive self promotion. Cmdr Dick Best wasn't one of them.

[@imac1957]

@@brokenbridge6316 He lived to 91, which would not have happened if he had kept flying. Not a shame, but a reward.

[@josephwolosz2522]

You can ask any veteran how they felt about medals. They would surely say those are for the men and women who never returned. I am amazed Best lived to 91. Salute to you sir!

[@alexsauder7249]

that might be correct when trying to call them heros but most ww2 memoirs I've read said they wanted their actions to be recognized

[@MadTom56]

In his 2019 movie MIDWAY, producer/director Roland Emmerich definitely made the right call in making Best the main character. Best wasn't even a character at all in the ridiculous 1976 version, which had a ton of fictional characters in it. Emmerich's version was far superior in every way possible to the older movie, and finally gave Best his due!

[@leojablonski2309]

Agreed, hands down

[@mmp64]

Yes. The 1976 version is something I’ve seen many times, because it used to be on (pre-streaming) TV all of the time. When I started to research the battle myself, I wondered why they felt the need to invent Charlton Heston’s character. And don’t even get me started on the romance thing w/ his Son. The Actor and Actress they chose for those roles were painful.

[@larrybenoit1274]

@@mmp64. He should have received the congressional Medal of Honor, instead he got the distinguished flying cross and the Navy Cross. Imagine dive bombing on two aircraft carriers and living to tell the story.

[@mmp64]

@@larrybenoit1274 I know. I can't even do it in a video game. I cannot fathom how they did what they did.

[@ianbui5356]

I agree. Ever since I saw the 2019 movie, it's been hard for me to watch the 1976 movie. Apart from some of the score John Williams wrote for the older movie, I would say that the 1976 movie did a better job of explaining Yorktown's role in the battle, but only marginally.

[@tommytube268]

How has this pilot not have an Aircraft Carrier named after him is beyond reason. Talk about the Pride of sailors serving on a ship named after this guy!!!!!

[@authormikemontie250]

I agree with Noahs Ark below, but I would add, as Bob Friedman pointed out below, Norman "Dusty" Kleiss, also from Enterprise, hit 2 Japanese carriers in the same day at Midway. I have seen video interviews of both men. There is a book about Dusty, "Never Call me a Hero." Excellent read. Dusty lived to 100. When they found Japanese fleet there was a communication problem from the Air Group Commander, Mcluskey. Best broke off with his 2 wingmen and hit the Akagi. His hit was fatal. The latest movie doesn't mention Dusty and in my opinion portrays Best as an a a-hole. My perception of both men, based on what I have read, video interviews, etc, is that they were very intelligent, highly skilled, and dedicated professionals. No question they both deserved the CMO.

[@garymills562]

I read about Dusty Kleiss, Never call me hero, years ago. Never heard of Best till I saw Midway, both are amazing men, thank God for those naval aviators. Go Navy.

[@damndirtyrandy7721]

Agree 100% and want to add recognition to the SBDs, barely current tech, yet, in the hands of aggressive and well-trained pilots served as long as they had to until all the problems caused by the politicians/commanders involved in the Helldiver program were cleared up. Unfortunately for the Helldiver by the time a decent version came out, the idea of individual models of planes for each role dive bombing, torpedo attack, and fighters was coming to an end with fighters powerful enough to carry equivalent bomb load although not as far but had the benefit of not needing escorts and the idea of the single seat attack plane, Skyraider-types.

[@jig58-y6e]

A-hole, no, not even close, a man seriously determined, rough around the edges, tough, married, heroic, like dusty, we owe them much, Sincerely, Daren Joseph Lester.

[@vivekshivdasani9521]

Midway and Stalingrad were the two most decisive battles of WW2. But the Battle of Midway was a spectacular one

[@hansmaquine]

Stalingrad. How can u say that. It was the begin of the end for the f nazi's. A whole div and the 6 army gruppe where gone. 1 fieldmarshal and 34 generals out to the gulags. U can not compare that to the 4 carriers of midway. Compare it whit Iwo Jima or Okinawa. Than i can go in your statement. No way. Midway.

[@efraim3364]

@@hansmaquine they were the turning points in their respective theater

[@andrewwaller5913]

Battle of Britain too, the Germans first defeat.

[@TheAttacker732]

@@hansmaquine Iwo Jima & Okinawa were a much different situation. Japan had zero chance of winning the war by that point. Strategically speaking, Stalingrad & Midway are exceedingly similar. Axis forces dramatically overplayed their hand, and Allied forces scored decisive victories that permanently crippled the the Axis war efforts. Both completely changed their theatre, largely ending the Axis offensives.

[@GetRidOfCivilAssetForfeiture]

Actually, the battle of Khalkin Gal started a chain of events that would lead to the defeat of both Japan and Germany. The Soviet victory caused Japan, along with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty, to abandon its North Wind Cloudy Plan (attacking the Soviet Far East Territories) and institute East Wind Rain. When Richard Sorge’s spy network in Japan confirmed Japan’s intentions and informed Soviet intelligence, which Stalin this time believed after his disastrous disbelief just 5 months earlier in June, 1941, the Soviets were able to release tens of thousands of troops, along with tanks and planes, to stop the Germans at Moscow, which was the real turning point as it destroyed the myth of Wehrmacht invincibility and allowed the Soviets to regroup. Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor was a fatal victory as it did not sink the USA carriers nor do any real lasting damage to the Pearl Harbor Naval Station. With the airfields, fuel farm and dry docks intact, the US Navy was able to continue full operations at Pearl instead of San Diego. After the US Navy effectively knocked out two Japanese carriers at Coral Sea (they were rendered unable to participate at Midway as planned), replace the Lexington almost immediately and repaired the Hornet in record time at Pearl instead of San Diego because Japan never carried out its last wave in its attack on Pearl, making it available in time to participate at Midway. Also, the US Navy had found out about what had been a secret Japanese reconnaissance base on an island halfway between Hawaii and Midway and destroyed it, preventing Japan from knowing about the trap they were sailing into. Also, it was at Kursk that Germany’s fate was finally sealed. In other words, nothing happens in a vacuum.

[@peterblahut5106]

I’m happy this gentleman did what he did. My maternal grandfather was in WW2 in fighting North and South lines on the Atlantic Ocean. He was 1st Officer set in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. He was in the Royal Canadian Navy.

[@erikdrum6934]

Unfortunately the battle of midway was the last battle for LT Dick Best. During the battle, someone gave Best a bad canister of bottle oxygen. It damaged his lungs so bad, he had to be taken off flight duty and retired from the Navy due to disability.

[@MW-eb1qh]

The oxygen rebreather of Best's SBD had become heated during the unusually long search on the morning mission on June 4. The material used in the rebreather to remove exhaled carbon dioxide was sodium hydroxide. If the device containing this material were abnormally heated, it could release caustic soda fumes through the pilot's oxygen mask; consequently, Best had inhaled caustic fumes. Sometime in the past, Best had contracted latent tuberculosis, which remained in his lungs in an inactive state for years. The inhaled caustic fumes caused a chemical pneumonitis and eroded away a tuberculosis granuloma, transforming the inactive form of the organism into an active form, resulting in the progression from latent TB infection to TB disease.

[@alexsauder7249]

yeah it's in the video

[@qsfoxx]

FOR THE RECORD... Norman Jack "Dusty" Kleiss (March 7, 1916 - April 22, 2016) was a dive-bomber pilot in the United States Navy during World War II. He was the only pilot to hit three Japanese ships with bombs during the Battle of Midway [1]

[@StarflightProductions]

Oh helllll yes! One of my favourite stories! And you've even got Midway paintjobs on the SBDs and TBDs

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@whiplash8277]

Love your work, TJ. Thanks for all you do to make history alive and relatable.

[@TJ3]

Thanks for watching everyone! Hope you enjoyed.

[@Rick_27739]

Yes

[@paulgeorge7557]

Thank you

[@daviderickson1315]

Don’t forget Dusty Kleiss he is the only pilot to hit 3 Japanese ships at Midway including 2aircraft carriers

[@jackthedragon612]

You should do a video on Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa. He was also an SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber pilot who took on three Japanese Zeroes during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

[@TJ3]

He is on my list!

[@jackthedragon612]

@@TJ3 Good to know.

[@kaewakoyangi8071]

Why "Swede"?

[@jackthedragon612]

@@kaewakoyangi8071 It was his nickname.

[@kaewakoyangi8071]

@@jackthedragon612 Thank you, Captain Obvious. But "Vejtasa" is not a Swedish name, it's Hungarian. Or Czech. In Hungarian it actually means something: "his brother-in-Law".

[@wombatwilly1002]

Saw an interview with Dusty Kleiss who hit two carriers at Midway.Down to earth guy!

[@TedVinz7]

There was a major effort put forth to have Best's Navy Cross upgraded to a Medal of Honor, and I personally agree that he deserved it. They did not succeed. He solely ended Akagi. The chances of the US carrier's surviving the later two Japanese attacks from Hiryu AND Akagi would have been greatly diminished. Both Japanese carriers could have survived the battle if twice as many of their planes attacked in each wave and twice as many Japanese CAP fighters had been available two cover the afternoon US strike. Two or all three American carriers could have been sunk. Of course this is all counterfactual speculation, but I love alternate history. Had Best not been this situationally aware and instantly deceive, Wade McCluskey, a hero of mine, would today be considered a goat for his failure to lead the attack properly - not dividing the two squadrons according to standard procedure.

[@stevedeleon8775]

these UNSUNG heros we are never taught about in history classes in school are appreciated.. Yourself & others making these animated features..👍😢

[@evannielsen9013]

with flying with bad o2 in his tank he still flew to the mission. not once but twice. He should have been awarded the medal of honor .

[@gbro8822]

Wow TJ, another great video. Thank you so much, your hard work is much appreciated.

[@TJ3]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@gbro8822]

@@TJ3 Outstanding as always.

[@TheCountofToulouse]

The guy lived to 91 after coughing up blood and getting TB? Wow! That is one tough old man!

[@machfiver753]

If the movie I saw that showed this type of Ariel combat from the pilots viewpoint is even halfway accurate then I'd gladly be a rear gunner in awe of the sparkles and blissfully unaware of the forward view. How anyone could intentionally run that gauntlet a second time after knowing what to expect is beyond brave. Seriously how do you manage to function in such circumstances let alone score a kill from a dive once let alone twice and survive? In fucking credible

[@patrickseekins1299]

Rear Gunner sees the tracers going past him also! Just can see them coming. Not sure which is worse.

[@standriggs2420]

I believe the protocol during a dive was to have the gunner swivel his seat to face forward, and he was responsible for calling out the altitude to help the pilot time the release and recover the plane before hitting the water. I wasn't there, but I think I read this somewhere...

[@hotcoffee7933]

Well stated. Those guys were special.

[@bkjeong4302]

Do keep in mind that AA wasn’t the biggest threat a pilot faced when attacking an enemy ship. Enemy fighter patrols were.

[@philgiglio7922]

​@@bkjeong4302... that's what destroyed Torpedo 6 & 8...fighters and Ensign George W Gay had a ringside seat. Saw his obituary in Time in 87?

[@JUNKERS488]

Another Great video. Thanks for your hard work TJ.

[@elijahhodges4405]

I am glad that Best lived that long. He is one of my heroes.

[@lokiwiseyt8608]

I have a suggestion for a future video William H. Pitsenbarger one of the first enlisted Air Force personnel to be awarded the medal of honour after he laid down his life on April 11th 1966 to save 60 soldiers in battle.

[@philgiglio7922]

Drawing a blank on the name, and it was US Army Air Force, but a sargent was awarded the Medal of Honor early in the second great debate. He put out a fire with the only liquid available to him...he pissed on it

[@mpayne8206]

I think what sets him apart from Dusty (who is an absolute stud and hero in his own right) is that he made the decision to break off and go for the other carrier when all the rest were attacking one. Also putting that bomb in a place where it only took one was pretty impressive!! Did he also take out an airfield in the Battle of Coral sea? I know they show him in the movie doing that but I haven't really heard it mentioned anywhere else.

[@andysnyder4506]

That was the Marshall Raid when they were returning from the Battle of Coral Sea.

[@mpayne8206]

@@andysnyder4506 I was just wondering about this again last night. Thx!

[@dr.troycrane9973]

They need to make another Battle of Midway Movie and recognize Dusty Kleiss's contribution also!

[@Querencias7]

10:43 Thank Y O U … TJ3 … for going above and beyond! Remarkable productions and tribute. 👍

[@mmercier0921]

My father had a clean chest screen when he entered the navy. On his exit... he had severe tebuclosis scarring. He spent 3 years on a boat with tebuclosis and never knew it. He told me he was too busy puking from sea sick to notice the other symptoms. He also told me to never join the navy.

[@jamesburns2232]

It's amazing that someone with a full disability retirement from the Navy in 1944 could live to be 91! Normally, disability is paid because of a life shortened by a service connected disability. That wasn't the case with Best.

[@17donhol]

That's because he is DICK BEST !!!!

[@marksanto1086]

I don't know about then, but now, at least, military medical retirement is based on a percentage of your ability to perform your job. Since his lung condition no longer allowed him to serve, he was "fully disabled". Troops returning from the Middle East today with prosthetic limbs are 100%, and can go on to live full lives.

[@davemclaughlin8625]

My dad lost his legs in Vietnam and gets disability so no it’s not about a shorter life .

[@philgiglio7922]

See Robert Heinlein

[@joelellis7035]

Tough old coot, wasn't he? Not only survived bombing two enemy aircraft carriers, but TB and inhaling caustic fumes which would have tore up his lungs, and still lived into his 90s.

[@eugenemansvelt5953]

Your footage show Best and mates striking IJN carriers with Starboard islands, Akagi and Hiryu both had Portside islands

[@andersardestam767]

Ever heard of Hans-Ulrich Rudel? Rudel flew 2,530 combat missions, in a Junkers JU 87 ”Stuka”, with a total of 2,000 targets destroyed; including 800 vehicles, 519 tanks, 150 artillery pieces, 70 landing craft, nine airraft, 4 armored trains, several bridges, one destroyer, two cruisers, and the Soviet battleship Marat.

[@TJ3]

I have a video on him as well if you want to go watch it. It's pretty good!

[@jeffadams9807]

Rudel Was A "FEARLESS ACE" To...

[@garydaniels5495]

I have, as a matter of fact. There is a book (which title escapes me at the moment) which talks about the last 100 days of WW 2 on the European front. As I recall, Hans Ulrich Rudel was mentioned several times, including the mission in which he was severely wounded and burned when his aircraft either crashed or was shot down. I knew about his tank-killing prowess. I did not know about the other things. Thank you for the additional information!

[@garyhughes9649]

Don't want to have some a****** trying to sell me gold when I want to watch the Navy pilot sink two carriers

[@HornetCinematics]

Great job TJ, been recently looking at stuff about Midway and stumbled across this video! It's a bit late (8 months) but I really enjoyed this entertaining yet informative documentary!

[@royanthonyponce3708]

Thank you! For your service brothers and sisters

[@Phil-nz9ux]

Special thanks to this pilot. 🙂

[@mebf1093]

Almost 80k subs !! Great work Man Watching from the Philippines

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@markmorris5880]

You guys do know that Dusty Kleiss did the exact same thing during the exact same battle right? Two hits on two carriers during the Battle of Midway !

[@17donhol]

Dusty was incredible as well.... Dick was a little more spectacular in the manor he scored those 2 direct hits... Peeling out of dive after realizing both squadrons all dove on Kaga and then sinking Akagi almost single handedly is off the charts bro....

[@MW-eb1qh]

@@17donhol Strictly speaking, while the SBDs all reduced the 4 carriers to flaming wrecks, they all retained the structural integrity of their hulls. They could not be saved, so the Japanese scuttled them with torpedos from their destroyers. Otherwise, the 4 could have stayed afloat and drifted indefinitely. Some say the IJN was concerned the USN may have tried to tow Akagi back to Pearl if she was not scuttled, to use for propaganda purposes. The IJN did not tell the Japanese people what happened at Midway till late in the war. If the USN had captured Akagi and towed her to Pearl, certainly Japan's citizens would have found out the truth.

[@your_royal_highness]

The “meatball” was a typical aiming point. There is some thoughts that bomb that hit in the rear area did do some significant damage. But, it is amazing one 1,000lb bomb could kill a carrier. It is like shooting a person. You can put 18 holes in someone and they can survive or one center mass can kill

[@frednone]

It helped a little that there was a fully fueled strike in the hanger where the bomb exploded, also there was ordinance all over the place, not to mention that the IJN did not have the best damage control in the world.

[@your_royal_highness]

@@frednone you must have read “Shattered Sword” too!

[@SANORIA]

Thanks bro for making video on Best ❤️❤️

[@eddiemclean7011]

Look into the story of Italian ww2 pilot Quido Rossi who flew a captured P38 until his run in with a YB40 sent for him especially. Most interesting in how he was baited, downed, captured and the friendship he developed with the US pilot who flew the YB40.

[@TJ3]

I'll check it out!

[@jamesgibbs6970]

It wasn't the case that McClusky didn't know the doctrine. McClusky saw a box shape (Akagi and Kaga equadistance) and assigned left and right targets while Best saw a diamond shape (Akagi further than Kaga) and did not hear that target assignment message due to a radio glitch or blind spot as he was flying behind and underneath McClusky's group. Flying in at different angles would explain why they each saw a different shape. If flying in at different angles and seeing different shape would explain a truthful accounting by each pilot. After the battle there was a lot of fog with regard details like exact angle of approach. Some pilots couldn't even accurately recall the carrier they attacked.

[@17donhol]

Thsts why Best was the best pilot...He single handedly erased McCludky's error and made sure Akagi did not escape ... McCluskys decision to stay out instead of returning to fuel up was a huge part in this battle however...Do he deserves plenty of credit for his actions on this day...

[@sneville44]

Well done! Thanks for keeping our history alive!

[@TJ3]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robertharrison7718]

"Squadron," "squad" and "group" are not interchangeable terms. A squad is an infantry sub-unit of a platoon. A squadron is a command consisting of a designated number of aircraft, men and equipment. It is roughly equivalent to a small ship command such as a destroyer. A group is an undefined term.

[@g.t.richardson6311]

An air group at the time was all planes on the ship Hence the title CAG, commander air group

[@bustertaco]

71 yrs old,been hearing about "uncertain times" for 65 years hive us a break on "uncertain times"

[@douglasdauntless]

Thank You for keeping our history alive.

[@DFSJR1203]

TJ I really love your video's especially the real pilots explain things.

[@LesterMoore]

What brave heroes we had during WWII. From Mr. Best to all the Soldiers, Marines and Corpsmen who climbed down boarding nets for D-Day, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, The Philippines and the Paratroopers. These men carried on from the memory of the Colonists who stood still at Concord Green, the Copse of trees at Gettysburg, Chapultepec, Belleau Wood, Chosin Reservoir, Pork Chop Hill, Hue, Hamburger Hill, Khe Sahn. Baghdad and Andar Provinces. The young men and their descendants make the basis for the American culture. Something few new immigrants have cognition, deep awareness and a respect for.

[@marksummers463]

AMEN!

[@philgiglio7922]

There has never been anything like the American citizen soldier

[@dianestowell5813]

I agree with everything you said up to the last sentence. Most immigrants came and come because of those accomplishments and our values. This from one whose ancestors fought under Washington, but all Americans came from immigrant ancestors, only the first ones walked here. TJ... excellent as always.

[@АлексейРоденко-г4о]

"GC"marking of Dauntless is falce.Richard Best was commander of VB-6.His plaine was marking "B1".

[@minsapint8007]

So, does sinking 2 carriers make a pilot an ace? It certainly ought to. Total respect for this hero.

[@garymills562]

Excellent point, many aircraft unrecoverable.

[@trebuchetsupportsquad7909]

Dusty cleats also scored two hits on carriers during the Battle of Midway also hit one cruiser

[@MattsTrainsandThings]

Best wasn't the only pilot to sink two Japanese carriers in a single day. Another Enterprise pilot, Norman Jack "Dusty" Kleiss, helped sink the carriers Kaga and Hiryu. Then, two days later, he helped sink the Japanese cruiser, Mikuma. He became the only pilot to hit three enemy ships during the battle of Midway. Also, Clarence Wade McClusky of the USS Enterprise was the dive-bomber pilot who trained to be a fighter pilot; he was also the one who made the call to keep searching for the carriers, despite being low on fuel. Later in the war, he would command the escort carrier, USS Corregidor. Sometime after his death in 1976, a frigate would be named after him, as well as the award given annually to the most outstanding U.S. Naval attack squadron.

[@rickyhenry4958]

Dusty Kleiss hit three ships if I’m not mistaken. Both legends!

[@Madmok128]

I think maybe the deal with best was that his bomb was the only bomb to hit the akagi. If it weren’t for Best’s last minute decision to pull off from the 30+ dauntless’s diving on the Kaga with his two Wingmen, Weber and Kroeger, the Akagi may have gotten off Scott free as the Hiryu had during the 5 minutes between 10:21 and 10:26am

[@brianjones7660]

His middle name was Halsey? What a crazy coincidence….👍

[@JesseOaks-ef9xn]

The battle of Midway spawned many great heroes. They made history and changed naval tactics for the better. It would probably take hours to show all of the guys who made the difference that won the war.

[@A_Litre_of_Farva]

Fantastic. Best was a beast, a legend… incredible story.

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

Outstanding individual and bravery. A member of our GREATEST GENERATION. I thought ENSIGN was pronounced: En-sin. What do I know though? I am the wife of an Army veteran but our son was Navy.

[@lt.williamcrowecrowe2505]

Ya boiiii!!!! Awesome content based on the pacific theatre is here!! Awesome Man! I'm sure we'd all Love to see More heroes of the skies based on the pacific theatre!

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@dcnbernardvessa7431]

Please do a video about Cdr (later Capt) David McCampbell the top Navy ace with 34 victories, including 9 in a single sortie. A good source for this is Edwin P. Hoyt's book "McCampbell's Heroes" (1983)

[@augliew1]

I remembered growing up in the air of freedom in the '50s n '60s due to the conquest of the evil powers of Japan n Germany in WW2. Now we got losers in power n they brought in the stench of oppression that fills the air.

[@McPh1741]

Although I get it exaggerated a few things, I enjoyed the movie “Midway”. The YT channel History Buffs did a really good breakdown of the movie and pointed out it’s accuracies and inaccuracies. They really should do a miniseries about the Navy in the Pacific.

[@philgiglio7922]

They did...it's called VICTORY AT SEA... and can be found here on KZbin . The musical score is epic

[@johnshields6852]

Having the nerve and balls to dive straight into a hail of bullets until the right moment to release the bomb is amazing, taking out those aircraft carriers was so huge, our freedoms as USA citizens owe a debt of gratitude for those brave pilots and all who served. God bless America.🇺🇸

[@digitalguy6367]

He was such a good pilot, they made a movie about him.(Midway)May he rest in peace

[@jackgreuey1930]

I have watched the 2019 making of the movie Midway, and wondered if the reason Mr. Best stopped flying was actually inhaling bad oxygen or if that was a little bit of Hollywood drama sprinkled in. If I remember correctly in the movie after they returned to Pearl Harbor and the movie gave slight insights to the roles of Nimitz, Halsey, McCLusky, Best, and a few others that the citation on his honors said his “ boldness, determination and utter disregard to personal safety” helped turn the tide of the war in the Pacific; and is one of two pilots credited striking two enemy aircraft carriers in a single day.

[@franklamothe5378]

Thank you for letting us know about these super heroes from WW I. Make me proud to be an American .

[@joehendricks6355]

It is a shame that men like this are not honored by Hollywood in movies as hero's like they were in the past. Kids need to see and hear about true life hero's. Not sick individuals.

[@brotjack]

He was simply the "Best". The size of his grapefuits to stare death in the eye and fight to live another day. 👍

[@danielwarnes7231]

Great man. So glad that he was able to have a long life.

[@fridayray8891]

Never Forget Bataan

[@stevendraper2613]

Those "Young" Dive Bombers & Torpedo Dive Bombers .. We're "St ud Heroes" a Majority got Shot Down During Their Approach .. And Ditched to Be Abandoned Hundreds of Miles from Friendly Forces.. And Floated for Days.. To Die Alone in the Unforgiving Sun, Sea and Sharks!!! God Bless "All" Navy Pilots.. Semper Fortis..

[@theminutemen1275]

Great story and presentation!

[@TheCoralClimb]

Thank you for sharing the story

[@yoshisampson_yt8349]

Richard was such a good pilot he’s one my of my hero’s

[@MinhNguyen-cn8kx]

Fantastico Mr. Best.... With love from Vietnam...

[@NASWOG]

Great vid! Btw, Ensign is pronounced “In-sin”

[@TJ3]

Thanks!

[@robertbowers9856]

You do such a wonderful job!

[@zillsburyy1]

he gave it his best

[@theidahotraveler]

Love the new channel it's always so great to watch and i look forward to your videos and check your channel. Thanks so much brotha.

[@TJ3]

Thanks for watching!

[@kevinrice4909]

Yeah Gold....gotta couple ammo cans of the stuff in my bug out kit Everybody get gold ! Good advice FU46

[@TheFunkhouser]

Those dive bombers and torpedo bombers where incredibly brave! 😮😮

[@treesarecool3601]

Nice video! U put so much hard work into your videos but ur channel is so under rated u deserve more subscribers

[@TJ3]

Working on it! Haha

[@theodorerobinson2819]

Midway(2019) is a great movie to tell a bit of his story.

[@paulquist2475]

Well done! And very interesting!

[@lauratacderan3781]

No one beats that Record and He is famous in Destroying The AKAGI

[@machfiver753]

I guess what people don't seem to appreciate is just how many simultaneous attack attempts that were made by other pilots on those carriers that for the role of the dice soaked up the anti-aircraft fire so that one or two could make it through that swarm of flying metal and sink those carriers. More pure luck of the draw to make a successful bomb run mixed with nerves of fuck it lets go attitude. The pilots who got blown out of the air or missed didn't show any less than those that scored a hit did.

[@daskritterhaus5491]

imho this was actually a happy ending. and imho Midway will remain the single most dramatic turnaround of any war in the modern era. that being 1800s onward. google it. 3 of the carrier hit and soon after SUNK in the span of some 10-15 minutes. through all the chaos and luck we beat them.

[@khalifstigler7493]

Right off the bat your talking about Midway

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up as a support

[@АлексейРоденко-г4о]

SBD with "GC" marking piloted by commander Wade McClusky.

[@garydaniels5495]

I was wondering what the "GC" stood for. Thank you for explaining!

[@cheesyfromindonesia9969]

Good thing they made a movie about The Battle of Midway with Richard "Dick" Best destroying 2 aircraft carriers with his tail gunner Murray