EUGENE E. LINDSEY, LCDR, USN
Eugene Lindsey '27
Lucky Bag
From the 1927 Lucky Bag:
Eugene Elbert Lindsey
Fort Smith, Arkansas
"Eel" "Gene"
EEL was born in the state of Washington, but early decided the weather was too balmy and went South. Splitting up his time in grade school and high school between Arkansas, Kansas and Texas, Eel graduated in '22, but was a bear for punishment, and came back and graduated from Fort Smith High again in '23, thus having attended six high schools. He ever had that wanderlust fever and regularly went on barnstorming expeditions, running off with the natives' first money for track and diving honors.
This is probably what caused him to choose a life on the sea. It was late in Plebe summer before he arrived. But he states this was an advantage, because he wasn't supposed to know as much as the rest.
Eel was soon on the list of track and gym athletes, never satisfied unless trying something new. This was especially true of him on the flying rings or on the diving board. Second Class year he had a regular gym class, and it was probably due to his work that some men were not permanent fixtures of the weak-squad.
His brow is unfurrowed from worry over academics. He said they may get him down, but they couldn't get him out.
"This lesson looks hard. I'm going over to the hospital for the morning."
Track: Squad (3, 2, 1.) Cross Country Squad (1) Class Numerals (1) Navy Numerals (4) Plebe Team; Swimming: Class (3); Gymnasium: Squad (1) Class (2) Class Captain (2) Navy Numerals (2): Gymkhana: Cast (2) Manager Roustabouts (1).
Eugene Elbert Lindsey
Fort Smith, Arkansas
"Eel" "Gene"
EEL was born in the state of Washington, but early decided the weather was too balmy and went South. Splitting up his time in grade school and high school between Arkansas, Kansas and Texas, Eel graduated in '22, but was a bear for punishment, and came back and graduated from Fort Smith High again in '23, thus having attended six high schools. He ever had that wanderlust fever and regularly went on barnstorming expeditions, running off with the natives' first money for track and diving honors.
This is probably what caused him to choose a life on the sea. It was late in Plebe summer before he arrived. But he states this was an advantage, because he wasn't supposed to know as much as the rest.
Eel was soon on the list of track and gym athletes, never satisfied unless trying something new. This was especially true of him on the flying rings or on the diving board. Second Class year he had a regular gym class, and it was probably due to his work that some men were not permanent fixtures of the weak-squad.
His brow is unfurrowed from worry over academics. He said they may get him down, but they couldn't get him out.
"This lesson looks hard. I'm going over to the hospital for the morning."
Track: Squad (3, 2, 1.) Cross Country Squad (1) Class Numerals (1) Navy Numerals (4) Plebe Team; Swimming: Class (3); Gymnasium: Squad (1) Class (2) Class Captain (2) Navy Numerals (2): Gymkhana: Cast (2) Manager Roustabouts (1).
Loss
Eugene was lost on June 4, 1942 when his aircraft was shot down during a strike on the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway. He was the commanding officer of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 6, flying from USS Enterprise (CV 6).
Biography & Other Information
From Find A Grave:
Gene Lindsey married Martha Fronk, daughter of Navy Capt and surgeon Clarence Elmer and Laura T. Douglas Fronk, about 1935. They were the parents of at least two children: Eugene Elbert Jr and Mary Louise Lindsey. Eugene Jr was born in Annapolis, MD and his sister Mary was born in Long Beach, CA. After her husband's death at Midway, Martha married then Captain Elton Watters Grenfell, a submarine officer, in March 1944 in Hawaii. They were the parents of at least three children.
Gene graduated from Ft Smith High School, Ft. Smith, Arkansas in June 1923. Several months later on 8 Sept 1923 he entered the US Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, MD via a Congressional Appointment from Arkansas. …
Ensign Lindsey, after graduation, was soon off to his mandatory sea duty tour. He reported aboard the newly constructed USS Saratoga (CV 3) about September 1927. She was commissioned on 16 Nov 1927 and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet (I can find no record that he was assigned to the USS Nevada (BB 36) during his active service in the US Navy.) He completed his tour aboard Saratoga in Dec 1928 when he transferred to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL to begin pilot training. He completed his pilot training by December 1929 when he detached from NAS Pensacola on 21 Dec 1929 to report to Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, where he was assigned in a flight status to Bombing Squadron 1B (VB 1b). It was during this tour that Ens. Lindsey completed a Naval War College Correspondence Course on Strategy and Tactics.
During his tour with VB 1b, Ensign Lindsey was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (Ltjg) on 02 June 1930. Following his assignment with VB 1b, Ltjg Lindsey was assigned to the USS Lexington (CV 2) until May 1933. On 24 Jun 1933, Ltjg Lindsey reported to Aircraft Squadrons, Pearl Harbor, and Patrol Squadron Six “F” (VP 6 F). It was during this tour that he met his future wife, Martha Fronk. In addition, during this tour, he completed a Naval War College Correspondence Course in International Law. Two years later, 26 Jun 1935, he was assigned as a student at the Navy Post Graduate School in Annapolis, MD to study Aeronautical Engineering. Six months later, Gene’s first child, a son, Eugene Elbert Jr, was born. The following year, 30 Jun 1936, Ltjg Lindsey was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Subsequent to his Academy tour, Lt Lindsey was sent to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, as a student where he completed a postgraduate course in Aeronautical Engineering.
After his work at Ann Arbor was completed, Lt Lindsey was assigned in a flight status to Observation Squadron Four, attached to the Colorado Class battleship, USS Maryland (BB 46) on 01 July 1938. His final assignment was as the Commanding Officer, Torpedo Squadron Six (VT 6) attached to the USS Enterprise (CV 6) on 03 Jun 1940. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander (Lcdr.) on 01 Nov 1941.
During the months that led up to 7 Dec 1941, and the entry by the US into WWII, Enterprise shuttled Army Air Force P 39s and P 40s, as well as, Navy aircraft from US West coast ports to Pearl Harbor and beyond. On 28 Nov 1941 Enterprise left San Diego with a cargo of Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF 211) aircraft and pilots destined for Wake Island. The Marine pilots and their planes flew from Enterprise to Wake Island on 02 Dec 1941. Enterprise was scheduled to arrive back in Pearl Harbor on 06 Dec, but was delayed due to inclement weather. Fortunately she wasn't in port on the morning of 07 Dec but arrived later that evening.
In the first five months of 1942 Enterprise and her Air Group participated in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and Wake Island operations in Feb 1942. On 01 Feb 1942 Lcdr Lindsey lead Torpedo Six against Japanese forces on Kwajalein earning him a Distinguished Flying Cross. In March Enterprise attacked enemy installations on Wake and Marcus Islands, and in April, she supported the Doolittle raid. In early May Enterprise and Hornet were sent to the South Pacific to assist USS Lexington and USS Yorktown engaged in the battle of the Coral Sea. The battle was over before they arrived on scene. After additional operations in the Central Pacific, Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 May and began intensive preparations to meet an expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island. On 28 May, Enterprise and Hornet sortied from Pearl Harbor. It was during this sortie that Lcdr Lindsey crashed his plane while attempting to land on Enterprise. The aircraft went over the side. Lindsey and his two crewmen were picked up by the plane guard destroyer USS Monaghan. The crewmen were ok, however, Lindsey was badly injured and confined to sick bay. Doctors feared he might have broken his back. On 4 Jun, after almost a week of recuperation, Lindsey still so bruised about the face that he could not put on his flight goggles. When asked by the Air Group Commander, Lcdr. Wade McClusky, if he could fly Lindsey answered, “This is what I’ve been trained to do”.
A short while later, aircraft from the USS Enterprise's air group launched to attack the Japanese carrier striking force that was approaching the Midway atoll. Without combat air protection, Torpedo Squadron Six (VT 6), led by Lcdr Gene Lindsey, had to thread their way through a gauntlet of swarming enemy fighters and a hail of anti aircraft fire. Of the fourteen torpedo planes that took off from the Enterprise that morning only four returned to Enterprise. Lcdr Eugene Elbert Lindsey and his gunner/radioman Aviation Chief Radioman Charles Tilden Grenat, did not return from this mission, and they were listed as missing in action. Their remains were unrecoverable.
On 5 Jun 1943 they were presumed dead. Lcdr Lindsey was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Presidential Unit Citation ribbon. bio compiled by G47
From researcher Kathy Franz:
Eugene married Martha Fronk on April 23, 1935, in Honolulu at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Some of the ushers were Naval Academy 1927 classmates Renwick Calderhead, Henry Dozier and Charles Skelly.
In 1910, Eugene’s father Elbert was a telegraph operator in Pittsburg, Kansas. Living with them were his father's second wife Delia and stepchildren Vincent and Edna Cornell. In 1940, Elbert was in San Diego as an adjuster, retailer for the Board of Trade with wife Delia and daughter Dixie born in 1919 i Pittsburg, Kansas.
His wife was listed as next of kin; he was also survived by his son, Eugene Jr., and daughter Mary Louise. Eugene Jr. graduated the Naval Academy in 1958 and retired as a Captain in 1984.
Photographs
Circa 1929. From Naval History and Heritage Command via Wikipedia.
Lieutenant Commander Eugene E. Lindsey's Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo bomber (Bureau # 0370) sinking astern of the carrier after a deck landing accident on 28 May 1942. Plane guard destroyer, USS Monaghan (DD-354) is in the left background. Enterprise was then en route to the Midway area. LCdr. Lindsey, Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), was flying out with the rest of the air group to join the ship when the crash took place. He, and the other members of the plane's crew, were rescued by Monaghan.
LCDR E. E. is assisted into a breeches buoy for transfer from USS Monaghan (DD-354) to USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 31 May 1942, while the ships were en route to the Midway area. He had been picked up by the destroyer on 28 May, after his TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bomber had crashed attempting to land on the carrier. Aviation Radioman First Class Charles T. Granat is partially visible behind Lindsey, waiting his turn on the high line. The other member of the plane's crew, Chief Aviation Pilot Thomas E. Schaeffer is standing with hands in pockets, just to left of the transfer group. Lindsey and Granat were killed in action attacking the Japanese fleet on 4 June 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.
Remembrances
From the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah, December 27, 1942 via researcher Kathy Franz:
Series entitled “I Fly for the Navy!” by Lieut. Irvin H. McPherson
The skipper (Lieutenant Commander Eugene Lindsey, who was the leader of McPherson’s torpedo squadron) most fortunately escaped injury on the [May] 28th, when his ship stalled and dropped a wing in an incipient spin while he was attempting a landing on the carrier. He and his crew were picked up, banged up a little, but not seriously hurt.
It happened as we were landing on the carrier just after we started out from Pearl Harbor. As his plane started in for its final approach it was slowed down a little below the margin we all use. When the stall came and the wings quit producing lift the skipper was almost aboard. The wing that went down hit the ramp at the fantail and the whole plane dived nose first into the sea in an almost vertical position.
I was in the air myself and saw the whole thing. The heavy TBD went completely under the water, and I thought they were all gone. But a second later it popped up, still buoyant because of air in the wings and fuselage. All three men snapped open their cockpit inclosures and they climbed out of their cockpits in the two minutes the airplane remained afloat. Our guard destroyer picked all of them up. Mr. Lindsey was cut and bruised, and we didn’t think he would fly again for several days, but he has returned to us and is going to fly whenever we meet the enemy.
Namesake
USS Lindsey (DM 32) was named for Eugene; the ship was sponsored by his widow.
From Hall of Valor:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey (NSN: 0-61684), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane and Squadron Commander of Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), during the "Air Battle of Midway," against enemy Japanese forces on 4 June 1942. Participating in a vigorous and intensive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant Commander Lindsey pressed home his attack with relentless determination in the face of a terrific barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The unprecedented conditions under which his squadron launched its offensive were so exceptional that it is highly improbably the occasion may ever recur where other pilots of the service will be called upon to demonstrate an equal degree of gallantry and fortitude. His extreme disregard of personal safety contributed materially to the success of our forces and his loyal conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Distinguished Flying Cross
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey (NSN: 0-61684), United States Navy, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
General Orders: American Battle Monuments Commission
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
From Hall of Valor:
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Eugene Elbert Lindsey (NSN: 0-61684), United States Navy, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight during World War II.
General Orders: American Battle Monuments Commission
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Commander
The "Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps" was published annually from 1815 through at least the 1970s; it provided rank, command or station, and occasionally billet until the beginning of World War II when command/station was no longer included. Scanned copies were reviewed and data entered from the mid-1840s through 1922, when more-frequent Navy Directories were available.
The Navy Directory was a publication that provided information on the command, billet, and rank of every active and retired naval officer. Single editions have been found online from January 1915 and March 1918, and then from three to six editions per year from 1923 through 1940; the final edition is from April 1941.
The entries in both series of documents are sometimes cryptic and confusing. They are often inconsistent, even within an edition, with the name of commands; this is especially true for aviation squadrons in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Alumni listed at the same command may or may not have had significant interactions; they could have shared a stateroom or workspace, stood many hours of watch together… or, especially at the larger commands, they might not have known each other at all. The information provides the opportunity to draw connections that are otherwise invisible, though, and gives a fuller view of the professional experiences of these alumni in Memorial Hall.
January 1928
April 1928
July 1928
October 1928
January 1929
LT Edwin Conway '20
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT Stephen Cooke '21
LT James Carney '21
LT Francis Bridget '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
April 1929
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT James Carney '21
LT Francis Bridget '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
LTjg Creighton Lankford '25
July 1929
LT LaRue Lawbaugh '20
LT James Carney '21
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
October 1929
LT John Jones '21
LTjg William Davis '22
LT James Craig '22
LTjg Matthias Marple, Jr. '23
LTjg Walter Dey '24
LTjg Hubert Hayter '24
LTjg John Waldron '24
LTjg Hubert Waters '25
ENS Henry G'Sell '26
January 1930
LT Thomas Fisher '18 (Light Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Walter Leach, Jr. '24 (Light Bombing Plane Squadron (VB) 2B)
LTjg Charles McDonald '24 (USS Saratoga)
LTjg Charles Signer '26 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 2B)
LTjg Claude Haman '26 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 2B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (USS Saratoga)
April 1930
October 1930
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Burton Doggett '24 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Hilan Ebert '26 (USS Lexington)
ENS William Potts '27 (USS Lexington)
ENS Robert Haven '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
January 1931
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Burton Doggett '24 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Hilan Ebert '26 (USS Lexington)
ENS Robert Haven '30 (USS Lexington)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
April 1931
LT James Carney '21 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 2B)
LT Arnold Isbell '21 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LT Edwin Crouch '21 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Hilan Ebert '26 (USS Lexington)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg Robert Winters '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Baylies Clark '30 (USS Lexington)
July 1931
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Weldon Hamilton '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1931
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
January 1932
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
April 1932
LTjg John Waldron '24 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
1LT Donald Willis '24 (Scouting Squadron 15-M)
LTjg Richard Downer '27 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
LTjg Elmer Cooper '27 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
LTjg John Riggs, Jr. '28 (Torpedo and Bombing Plane Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
October 1932
LT William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT William Ault '22 (Torpedo and Bombing Squadron (VT) 1S)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
ENS Edwin Kelly '30 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Lance Massey '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
January 1933
LT William Sample '19 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT John Jones '21 (Aircraft Squadrons)
LT William Ault '22 (Torpedo and Bombing Squadron (VT) 1S)
LTjg Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5S)
ENS Edwin Kelly '30 (Torpedo Squadron (VT) 1B)
ENS Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
ENS Lance Massey '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3S)
April 1933
LTjg Arthur Farrell '25 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
LTjg Henry Twohy '29 (Fighting Plane Squadron (VF) 5B)
ENS John Yoho '29 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Victor Gaulin '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
ENS Lance Massey '30 (Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B)
July 1933
October 1933
April 1934
July 1934
October 1934
January 1935
April 1935
October 1935
CDR Samuel Moore '13
LT William Gray '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LT Richard Gingras '25
LTjg Ralph Hickox '27
January 1936
CDR Samuel Moore '13
LT William Gray '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LT Richard Gingras '25
LTjg Ralph Hickox '27
April 1936
CDR Samuel Moore '13
LT William Gray '21
LT John French '22
LT Howard Healy '22
LT Edward Metcalfe '22
LT Eugene Elmore '22
LT Richard Gingras '25
LTjg Ralph Hickox '27
July 1936
January 1937
April 1937
LTjg Victor Gaulin '30 (Training Plane Squadron (VN) 8D5, Naval Academy)
September 1937
January 1938
July 1938
ENS Eli Roth '37 (USS Maryland)
ENS Wade Shaffer, Jr. '38 (USS Maryland)
January 1939
ENS Eli Roth '37 (USS Maryland)
ENS Wade Shaffer, Jr. '38 (USS Maryland)
October 1939
June 1940
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Edward Allen '31 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg Walker Ethridge '34 (Bombing Squadron (VB) 6)
LTjg Hubert Harden '35 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
ENS Ernest Wood, Jr. '38 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
November 1940
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Edward Allen '31 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Ernest Wood, Jr. '38 (USS Enterprise)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
April 1941
LT Ralph Smith '26 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Edward Allen '31 (Scouting Squadron (VS) 6)
LT Alfred Tucker, III '31 (USS Enterprise)
LTjg Hubert Harden '35 (USS Enterprise)
ENS John Kelley '38 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 6)
ENS Frank Quady '38 (Fighting Squadron (VF) 6)
ENS Edward Degarmo '40 (USS Enterprise)
ENS William Williamson, Jr. '41 (USS Enterprise)
The "category" links below lead to lists of related Honorees; use them to explore further the service and sacrifice of alumni in Memorial Hall.
