Earnest ’938 and the 1942 Battle of Midway By Jim Dittrich ’76, Alumni Association Historian
be the “whole ... Japanese Navy.” He was Albert Kyle Earnest ’938 is one of the in line with the other five Avengers and Institute’s most decorated graduates, they dove, targeting the Japanese carrier winning two Navy Crosses in a single Hiryu. Japanese Zero fighters appeared day – and later, a third. The first two everywhere, firing – too many to count. decorations were awarded for Earnest’s He tried his .30 caliber machine gun, but actions as a Navy pilot during the Battle it didn’t work. The other two guns were of Midway June 4, 1942. both in action, but Ferrier soon reported Earnest’s story began in Virginia. He Manning was wounded severely or poswas born in Richmond in 1917. He sibly dead. Shortly after, Ferrier was also followed his brother, Jim ’929, to VMI quiet, and Earnest was alone. and was a fun-loving cadet: A 1st Class Earnest dove to 200 feet. He could hear private. bullets hitting the back of his seat. He After VMI, Earnest took a civilian opened the bomb bay doors. He saw the job. He had received a reserve Army other five Avengers crash. Shrapnel came commission but soon resigned it and in through his windshield, and he felt a was commissioned in the U.S. Navy Air wound in his neck. The stick did not work Corps Reserve. His fleet assignment was and the cables to the elevator controls with Torpedo Bomber Squadron 8. He were out. He knew his plane could not reported just days after Pearl Harbor. stay in the air much longer and he could He flew the brand-new TBF-1 Avenger, Albert K. “Bert” Earnest ’938 is one of VMI’s most decorated not keep on target to the carrier. Instead, which first saw combat at Midway. graduates. He was awarded three Navy Crosses during World he was heading toward a cruiser and he atThere were six TBF-1s stationed at War II. Photos courtesy VMI Archives. tempted to drop his 2,000-pound torpedo. Midway Island, and the remainder of Did it release? the squadron’s Avengers were aboard the He did not know until after the battle, but it USS Hornet. The U.S. Navy had broken some 3rd Class Harry Ferrier. The Avenger carried did. Earnest’s altitude kept dropping to 100 of the Japanese code and knew the Japanese one 2,000-pound torpedo in the bomb bay. fleet was headed to Midway. On the day of the battle, the Avengers took feet, 75 feet, 50 feet, 25 feet and then 20 feet. He tried to adjust his trimtabs and remarkEntering the battle, Earnest was 25 years off from Midway at 4:40 a.m. The enemy was ably this allowed the aircraft to gain altitude. old, with no combat hours. With him were suspected to be 180 miles away. Seaman 1st Class Jay Manning and Radioman At 6:55 a.m. Earnest saw what appeared to His rudder worked so he could turn. There
10
VMI Alumni Review
