USS Wasp Operating Planes 

All who served aboard the USS WASP CV7 were and are honorable patriots. You who remember their sacrifices, honor them through these commentaries. You too are equal in beliefs and patriotism. My Great Uncle Lieutenant Commander Laurice A. Tatum served aboard the USS WASP, as the ship's Dentist. As a result of hostile Japanese Naval action he was killed in action. Because of his love for America, sense of duty, faith in his fellow seamen. He was inspired to do that which few would do. While serving aboard the WASP on 15 September 1942, the carrier was covering movement of reinforcements from Espiritu Santo to Guadalcanal. At which time the ship was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. My Uncle LTDR Tatum, along with many others, found themselves trapped in the ship forecastle. Because of flames and exploding munition he and fellow seamen were cut off from the rest of the ship. Rather than saving himself by jumping overboard. LTDR Tatum remained in the forecastle providing aid and comfort to the wounded. It has been reported that he saved 77 lives that day. He did so by leading those capable of walking through the explosions and flames to safety. After which he returned to those more seriously injured. To continue administering first aid and comfort and making arrangements for those seamen's escape. There are conflicting reports that he went down with the ship. As opposed to a report that the ship remained afloat after the fires were extinguished. At which time, LTDR Tatum was transported to a Destroyer and later passed away from smoke inhalation and other injuries. The WASP subsequently sank and he was buried at sea. For his "gallant and intrepid conduct," he was posthumously awarded the "Silver Star." He was further honored by the Navy naming a Buckley Class Destroyer Escort in his honor. USS TATUM DE 789. I miss not having known my Great Uncle who made the ultimate sacrifice that day. However I do take consolation and solace. In having as a child had the opportunity to meet one of the sailors he saved. That meeting can best be described as "serendipitous," a "divine appointment." I can justly say that survivor influenced the course and direction of my life.

That’s a Yorktown class carrier...Yorktown, Enterprise or Hornet. Not the Wasp. Probably the Enterprise since it shows Halsey and Enterprise was his flagship pre-war and early war.

I had an uncle that served aboard the U.S.S WASP CV 7. He survived the Torpedo attack and passed in 1977. He was haunted up till his passing.

Reminds me of those films on fifties TV "Victory at Sea" series. My late Charles Mateo Dolza served aboard CV-7 Wasp. He was on board when she was torpedoed by Guadalcanal.

Shots of scout plane recovery are fascinating!

That guy jumped on top of that plane floating- flying on the ocean like he was on a jet ski. That's ballsy exercises. Real guts.

She is not Wasp Films are CV-6 Enterprise ＋ CV-8 Hornet

100% badass and dicey too.

This video is not of uss wasp cv7 , most likely the Doolittle raid ,uss enterprise and at the end hornet launching b25

This must have been the Wasp that was sunk because CV 18 went to the Pacific with F6Fs and its planes didn’t have striped tails. Oops. Wrong video. I didn’t realize RU-vid had sent me to this one

Adm. Halsey. They don't make men like him anymore...

Thanks!

Douglas Devastator. How could you possibly make a plane go so slow at full power?

Men of great skill and courage.

That was their reality back then

FLY NAVY....Bravo Zulu!!!

So long operating planes XD LOL

Some horrible airmanship mixed in there.