The Armory Life Forum

Six Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron (VF) 3 were the sole protection for the USS Yorktown’s 12 torpedo planes and 17 dive bombers that attacked the Japanese First Carrier Striking Force early on 4 June 1942. Launching nearly two hours after their compatriots on board the USS Enterprise and USS Hornet, the F4Fs were led by then-Lieutenant Commander Jimmie Thach and were the only fighters to engage the Japanese over their ships that morning.