Birds on the Brain

navyhistory:

Navy Photographer Remembers Sinking of USS Yorktown (CV 5)

By CDR William G. Roy, USN(Ret)

I was a member of the Yorktown salvage party. I volunteered 5 June 1942. I had been picked up by the USS Hammann (DD 412), with Captain Buckmaster, after we had abandoned Yorktown. He called for volunteers. I knew Captain Buckmaster, since I served on the bridge of Yorktown at Coral Sea as his photographer. I returned with the salvage party on USS Hammann early on the morning of 6 June 1942. Our first order of business was to put out the persistent fire burning below decks in the forward rag locker, near the aviation gasoline, bomb storage and torpedo storage.

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Top Photo: 80-G-312018, Scene on board USS Yorktown (CV-5), shortly after she was hit by three Japanese bombs on 4 June 1942 during Battle of Midway, photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class William G. Roy.

Bottom Left Photo:Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class William G. Roy, holding the camera he used to film the Battle of the Coral Sea and Battle of Midway. Photo courtesy of William Roy.

Bottom Right Photo: NH 95576, USS Yorktown sinking 7 June 1942, photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class William G. Roy.