Norman "Dusty" Kleiss, a hero of the Battle of Midway, died on Friday in Texas. He was 91. Their captors turn to O'Flaherty, and his fate is clear.

Pilot, last surviving member of "The Few" from the Battle of Britain: Royal Air Force United Kingdom Emile Hemmen December 6, 1923 (age 96) Poet, writer Luxembourg Resistance Luxembourg Józef Hen November 8, 1923 (age 96) Writer Polish People's Army Poland James Hennessy September 26, … It turns out to be Japanese, and they're pulled aboard. In Midway, we see gunner Bruno Gaido and pilot Frank O'Flaherty ditching their plane in the open water, making it into a lifeboat and eventually spotting a ship. He was 100. Pilots at the Battle of Midway Jack Reid - PBY Catalina - VPB-44, Wade McClusky - SBD Dauntless - Enterprise CAG, John Waldron - TBD Devastator - VT-8, Marion Carl - F4F Wildcat - VMF-221, Scott McCuskey - F4F - VF-5. By Stephen Sherman, June 2000. The attack on Pearl Harbor, codenamed Operation Z in honor of Japan’s victory over the Russian fleet in the Battle of Tsushima, employed all six of Imperial Navy’s fleet carriers. The initial Japanese attack did not succeed in neutralizing Midway: American bombers could still use the airbase to refuel and attack the Japanese invasion force, and most of Midway's land-based defenses were intact.

Richard H. Best, a former Navy bomber pilot who scored hits on two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk in the critical Battle of Midway during World War II, has died.

Japanese pilots reported to Nagumo that a second aerial attack on Midway's defenses would be necessary if troops were to go ashore by 7 June. Still, Blazich says, Midway was far from a “miracle” win ensured by plucky pilots fighting against all odds. Refusing to give any information, Gaido is tied to an anchor and shoved overboard.

Updated June 27, 2011.