We are so proud to see Alfred Joseph Payne wearing our M-422A jacket.
He is the last survivor of USS Hornet CV-8! During the Battle of Midway, Alfred Joseph Payne was 18 years old and a Aviation Machinist Mate with Fighting Squadron Eight (VF-8). He was in charge of the propellers and helped launch the F4F Wildcats off the Hornet’s flight deck for that fateful mission. On October 26, 1942 during the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, he witnessed the kamikaze hitting the island structure and was on the port side of the ship when the second bomber struck the bow. The crew was ordered to abandon ship and CV-8 was sunk.
Pictures and text from @georgeretelas