Background
Delbert Wayne Halsey was born in Baker, Montana, on December 8, 1919.
Delbert Wayne Halsey was born in Baker, Montana, on December 8, 1919.
He enlisted in the United States. Navy on December 9, 1940, and was appointed Aviation Cadet on March 6, 1941, training at Naval Air Station Pensacola at Pensacola, Florida, and at Naval Air Station Miami at Miami, Florida. Appointed Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, on September 25, 1941, he reported to Bombing Squadron 6 on board aircraft carrier United States Ship Enterprise (CV-6), piloting Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers. On February 25, 1942, Halsey participated in a raid on Wake Island, during which he pursued and attacked an airborne Japanese four-engine flying boat.
When the flying boat accelerated and began to outrun his dive bomber, he reported it to nearby F4F Wildcat fighters, which were able to shoot it down.
Halsey was lost in action on June 4, 1942, in the Battle of Midway. The United States. Navy destroyer escort United States Ship Halsey (Delaware-310), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Ensign Halsey.
