Chronology of World War II
Thursday, June 4
US Navy LCdr Maxwell F. Leslie Ditches in the Ocean
US Navy LCdr Maxwell F. Leslie, commanding officer of bombing squadron VB-3, ditches in the ocean next to the heavy cruiser USS
Astoria
, after successfully attacking the Japanese carrier
Soryu
during the Battle of Midway, on June 4, 1942. Leslie and his wingman Lt(jg) P.A. Holmberg ditched near
Astoria
due to fuel exhaustion, after their parent carrier USS
Yorktown
was under attack by Japanese planes when they returned. Leslie, Holmberg, and their gunners were rescued by one of the cruiser's whaleboats. Note one of the cruiser's Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes on the catapult at right. (US Navy)