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Documentary Link Here: Casablanca to Tokyo, Torpedo Squadron Four in World War II

This documentary details US Navy pilot Gerald W. Thomas’ 25 months of combat duty with Torpedo Squadron 4 (VT-4). Thomas served on three aircraft carriers: the USS RANGER, USS BUNKER HILL, and USS ESSEX. On the RANGER he served in the Atlantic Theater; on the BUNKER HILL and ESSEX, he served the Pacific Theater. Air Group 4, of which Torpedo 4 was one component, was *the only air group that served in both theaters of the war.*

While on the RANGER, Thomas participated in OPERATION LEADER, the most significant attack on Northern Europe by a US carrier during the war. OPERATION LEADER was a strike against German shipping and shore installations along the fjords south of Bodo, Norway. This operation was a complete surprise to the German defensive forces and destroyed 23,000 tons of shipping, damaged 4 other ships, and killed about 200 German troops.

Torpedo Four TBF Avenger

In the Pacific, Thomas participated in the numerous actions against Japanese targets in the Philippines, including strikes on Ormoc Bay, Cavite, Manilla, Santa Cruz, San Fernando, Lingayen, Mindoro, Clark Field and Aparri.

Torpedo 4 Avenger takeoff from USS Essex

Following these actions, Thomas’ squadron made strikes on Formosa, French Indo-China, Saigon, Pescadores, Hainan, Amami O Shima, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. The attack on Japan was the first attack on Japan from an aircraft carrier since the “Doolittle Raid.”

Gun Mount USS Essex Feb 10-1944 — Thomas Holding Hat in Upper Right Corner

While on the ESSEX, just after Thomas had returned from a strike on Santa Cruz, *the ship was hit by a Kamikaze piloted by Yoshinori Yamaguchi, Yoshino Special Attack Corps.* Yamaguchi was flying a Yokosuba D4Y3 dive bomber. The Kamikaze attack killed 16 crewman and wounded 44.

Kamikaze Strikes USS Essex

Kamikaze Strikes USS Essex

Kamikaze Strikes USS Essex

D4Y3 Flown by Yoshinori-Yamaguchi

On December 28, 1944, the Bombing Four (VB-4) component of Air Group 4 was replaced by two Marine squadrons, VMF-124 and VMF-213. Flying F4U Corsairs, these squadrons were the first carrier-based Marines of the war. Although they had trained for carrier operations, and were carrier qualified, the initial carrier deployment was costly, with two Marine pilots and three F4Us lost in the first two-day shakedown.

F4U Corsair

“On March 1, 1945, Air Group 4 made its last strike of the war.” The pilots and crew of all planes approached this strike on Okinawa with notable nervousness, no one wanting to lose their life or be taken POW on a last mission. Sadly, one Torpedo Bomber and one F6F Fighter where shot down by Ack Ack, costing three men their lives.

Torpedo-Squadron-Four-Plane Lost

Thomas was awarded 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Air Medals, and 2 Presidential Citations for his combat actions in WWII. He retired from the Navy Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Lieutenant Commander Thomas’ remarkable memoir is detailed here: Torpedo Squadron Four – A Cockpit View of World War II