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761. Pensacola's June Loss 6-4-1942 WWII

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Updated: Feb 27, 2022

USMC Major Lofton Russell "Joe" Henderson was born in Lorain, Ohio on May 24, 1903, the son of Frederick Ernest Henderson (1874-1945) and Catherine "Katie" Schwartz (1875-1970) who were married in 1897. His father worked his whole life in Lorain, Ohio as a machinist in 1900, a foreman at the National Tube company in 1918 and a foreman in a steel mill in 1930. Catherine would bear Frederick four children: Charlotte Marie (1899-), Loftin Russell (1903-1942), Frederick Paul (1911-2001), and Shirley Hale Henderson (1914-1990). Their son Frederick Paul would graduate from Purdue University in 1934 and enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1935. He would retire as a Brigadier General in 1959 after serving in WWII and Korea.


Their second child Lofton would graduate from Lorain High School before entering the US Naval Academy in 1922. He would graduate in 1926 and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He was finally accepted into the flight program at NAS Pensacola, arriving on October 3, 1928. He completed the program and received his wings on September 20, 1929. He would return to Pensacola on October 29, 1931 as an instructor with a promotion to 1st Lieutenant the following July.


While serving in Pensacola, he met a young lady whose mother provided musical entertainment for many of the flight students and staff at NAS. Mrs. Anniebelle Matthews Galey came to Pensacola in 1928 and ran the Pensacola School of Music as an accomplished organist and pianist. Her daughter, Miss Jule Adele "Del" Williams Galey (1914-1999) was the daughter of Anniebelle's first husband Pratt Adams Williams (1878-1947), a lawyer by trade. After her parents divorced in 1915, Anniebelle would remarry in 1918 to Thomas Dandridge Galey Sr. (1889-1934). As for Lofton and Adele, one thing led to another and they were married in Pensacola on August 19, 1933 at her family home of 1407 North Palafox Street. Ironically, Lofton's good friend Charles Kastory (1905-1966) of Chattanooga had married Adele's sister, Miss Lewise Pembroke Williams Galey (1908-1977) the previous year. For their honeymoon, the newly weds drove across country to his next duty station in San Diego. There he would be promoted to Captain in 1936.


Lofton remained in San Diego area until July of 1937 at which time he and Adele moved to the East Coast. They would return to the West Coast in 1941 where he was again promoted to the rank of Major on July 8th. After the war began, Major Henderson would take command of the VSMB-241 Squadron on Midway Island and set about preparing them for combat. Soon, they received their new Douglas SBD-2 aircraft from the USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1) along with a new executive officer and a batch of eight rookie pilots.


As the mighty Japanese armada approached Midway, they had no idea that the US had three carriers lying in ambush waiting for them. Their battle plan was to bomb Midway into submission then invade and capture. So as they approached the island on June 4, 1942, Henderson and his squadron took off from Midway to make the initial attack that would open one of the greatest battles in American history. With the Japanese fleet were four of the six hated carriers that had attacked Pearl Harbor making them the #1 target for all naval aviators. All four, the Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu, and the Soryu were now approaching Midway.


As Midway's planes approached the incoming enemy fleet, they saw the Hiryu far below. Making the attack were Henderson's sixteen Dauntless dive bombers plus Major Benjamin Norris' eleven Vindicators. Henderson's squadron had just begun their attack when they were suddenly swarmed by numerous enemy fighters who initially went after Henderson's plane. He was quickly shot to pieces and burst into flames as he plummeted into the sea. Eight dive bombers from Henderson's squadron were lost along with Major Norris and ten of his Vindicators. The Japanese losses were non-consequential by comparison with only four sailors killed from a strafing run. None of the American bombs that morning hit any of their intended targets. When Henderson and his crewman failed to return, they were listed as missing in action along with the others.


Back home, the public was aware of a great naval battle but no one had any details. Naturally, Adeline was worried to death knowing that her husband was right in the middle of it. Word had been received that he was missing but so far, no chaplain had visited her nor had she received any of the dreaded telegrams. Then she opened the newspapers and on the front page was the article that her husband had been killed! She was immediately swarmed by reporters looking for an interview. She declined them all! Her only remark was, "I know he'll come back." As for the Japanese, their victory over Henderson's attack was short-lived at best. Within hours America's main battle fleet had located and destroyed the Japanese armada sinking all four of the hated Pearl Harbor carriers, plus a heavy cruiser, damaged another, shot down 248 aircraft and killed over 3,000 men.


But soon a story began circulating throughout the world that Lofton R. Henderson had purposely crashed his burning aircraft down the smokestack of a enemy carrier and sinking her on the spot. Sadly, Lofton died a hero's death but not the way that it was portrayed to the public. But the media would not be denied and the story grew and grew. Before long, three airfields were named in his honor, the most famous being Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Also, in 1945 the USS Henderson (DD-785) was launched and his hometown named a bridge after him all of which were well deserved to say the least!

As for Adeline, she went to work driving a truck at the San Diego Naval Air Station. There, she was known as the wife of the man that flew down a smokestack and sunk an enemy carrier. A year after the famous battle it was finally disclosed that she had met Lt. Robert W. Conrad of Minneapolis at the station and they had been married on June 16, 1943. However, her love for Major Henderson was not to be denied! Following her death, she was cremated and her ashes scattered over the battle site where her husband had sacrificed his life. If you wish, pull up the youtube video below to hear the story.


Story of Major Henderson and Adeline Galey



























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