Background
Oswald Jopseh Gaynier was born in Monroe, Michigan, on 4 March 1915.
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Oswald Gaynier
Edit ProfileCareer
He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as a seaman second class on 3 October 1940 and was appointed Aviation Cadet on 10 December 1940. Commissioned as an ensign on 3 June 1941, he was assigned to Torpedo Squadron 8 on 25 August 1941. In the half of the squadron transitioning to the new Grumman TBF Avenger aircraft in 1942, Ensign Gaynier was not aboard United States Ship Hornet (CV-8) when the ship left Pearl Harbor for the Battle of Midway with the rest of the squadron.
Instead, he was in a detachment of six TBFs that flew to Midway Island on 1 June 1942.
Led by Lieutenant Langdon K. Fieberling, the detachment participated in the uncoordinated attack by United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Army Air Force aircraft on the morning of 4 June against the Japanese Carrier Striking Force. Lacking fighter protection and overwhelmed by Japanese A6M Zero interceptors, Ensign Gaynier and most of the detachment were shot down and killed.
Only Ensign Albert K. Earnest and his radioman, RM3 Harry Ferrier, survived to return to Midway. The United States. Navy destroyer escort United States Ship Gaynier (Delaware-751), launched in 1944 but never completed, was named for Ensign Gaynier.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
June 4, 1942 (aged 27) -
Nationality
United States