John C. Waldron

John Charles Waldron (August 24, 1900 – June 4, 1942) was a United States Navy (USN) aviator who led a squadron of torpedo bombers, Torpedo Squadron 8 aboard USS Hornet, in World War II. While he was among the 29 men of the 30-man squadron who perished in the Battle of Midway, his decision to attack the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) carriers delayed the launching of a planned strike against the American carriers, enabling other USN planes to sink four of the IJN's seven fleet carriers then in service. Waldron was born on August 24, 1900 at Fort Pierre, South Dakota, son of rancher Charles Westbrook Waldron and Jane Van Metre grandson of lawyer and probate Judge George Prentiss Waldron, and a sixth great nephew of Richard Waldron. He was of colonial New Hampshire families on his father's side, and of Oglala Lakota and Southerner background on his mother's side. His family immigrated to Canada when he was a child and homesteaded near Lashburn, Saskatchewan, where he spent his youth before returning to the USA. In the midst of his armed forces career he married Adelaide Wentworth and had two daughters. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. World War II Navy Commander George Philip Jr., a Navy Cross recipient and namesake of USS George Philip (FFG-12), was the son of Waldron's sister Alice Island Waldron. He received an appointment as midshipman from his home state on June 16, 1920, and graduated with the United States Naval Academy Class of 1924. Following his initial sea duty aboard Seattle (CA-11), Waldron went to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, where he received his wings in the summer of 1927.