Richard Halsey Best (March 24, 1910 – November 1, 2001) was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. [5], On February 24, 1942 Best took part in the attack of Wake Island by the Enterprise Air Group, and on March 4 Marcus Island was attacked. Richard Halsey Best - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org | 4 days ago | Article Details | Related Articles | Share. This division became part of the Rand Corporation in December 1948, where Best headed the security department until his retirement in March 1975. Wife of Richard Halsey Best — married 24 Jun 1932 (to Jan 1966) in Washington, District of Columbia, United States Mother of Barbara Ann (Best) Llewellyn Died … This was my second total hip replacement surgery with Doctor Hulsey. He completed his flight training in December 1934. Stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, Best led his dive bomber squadron at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking one Japanese aircraft carrier and potentially damaging another, before being medically retired with tuberculosis that same year. Best saw his first action on February 1, 1942. The focus of the film is on Lt. Richard Halsey Best, XO and later commander of Bombing Squadron Six stationed aboard USS Enterprise in the first months of the War, along with the rest of the ship's bomber and torpedo squadrons. Having graduated with honors in 1932, he served for two years aboard the light cruiser USS Richmond. Born in northern New Jersey, Best entered the US Naval Academy in 1928. Frederick Thomas Weber, landed in the water, near the stern. This was that VB-6 would attack the nearer carrier (in that case Kaga) and VS-6 the one further away (here Akagi). Wade McClusky was 14 TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers of Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6), 34 SBDs of VB-6, the CEAG section, and VS-6, and ten F4F-4 Wildcat fighters of Fighting Squadron 6 (VF-6). He became acutely ill with a temperature of 103 °F (39 °C), and was admitted to Pearl Harbor Hospital. Best was married and had a daughter - Barbara Ann Llewellyn and a son - Richard Halsey Best II.[13]. Geni requires JavaScript! ): Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States), Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States), United States Navy personnel of World War II, http://cv6.org/ship/logs/ph/org-am-19411207.htm, http://cv6.org/ship/logs/ph/ela19411210.htm, http://cv6.org/ship/logs/action19420201-vb6-1015.htm, http://www.immf-midway.com/narrative.html, http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/rhbest.htm, Best's Bombing Squadron Six Action Report 4-6 June 1942, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Richard_Halsey_Best?oldid=5386875. At about 10:22 the Enterprise dive bombers started to attack two Japanese carriers, Kaga and Akagi. Share. Richard H. Best was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1928, and he graduated with honors in 1932. The oxygen rebreather of Best's SBD had become heated during the unusually long search on the morning mission on June 4. Richard E. Hulsey, M.D. This division became part of the Rand Corporation in December 1948, where Best headed the security department until his retirement in March 1975. Oxford: Osprey. After these raids Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor and accompanied USS Hornet during the Doolittle Raid in mid-April. Richard Halsey was born to be a film editor. If the device containing this material were abnormally heated, it could release caustic soda fumes through the pilot's oxygen mask; consequently Best had inhaled caustic fumes. Richard Halsey Best is similar to these military people: Norman Kleiss, John C. Waldron, Mamoru Seki and more. After discharge from the hospital, Best worked in a small research division of the Douglas Aircraft Corporation. Anticipating what was probably coming, after a year and some months of instructing, Best decided that he could be of most use as a dive bomber pilot. His first assignment was Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2B) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, flying the Grumman F2F. Prior to the outbreak of World War II, her father, Richard H. Best, moved his wife and young daughter to the Hawaiian Islands. At about 06:15 the carrier launched 18 SBDs to search ahead of the carrier, the Commander of the Enterprise Air Group, LtCdr. Kinchein, Richard Best was born on month day 1796, at birth place, to Williams Best … Dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II. On December 7, 1941, Best was a carrier pilot aboard the USS Enterprise, which through luck or fate, was not in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. He died in October 2001 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. On Monday, June 12, 2006, BARBARA ANN LLEWELLYN of Rockville, MD. From 1936 to 1938 he was a member of VF-2, the famous "Flying Chiefs", which was considered the most professional squadron in the Navy. Kinchein Best 1796 1867 Mississippi Kinchein Richard Best, 1796 - 1867. If you've seen the new epic World War II movie "Midway," you know the story of dive bomber pilot Dick Best.A caption at the end of the movie [SPOILER ALERT] reveals that Best was one of … That hit doomed the Akagi. At 10:26 Best's three SBDs attacked Akagi. Richard Halsey was born to be a film editor. In 1934 he was transferred to the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, as a naval aviation student. Best is believed to be the first American pilot to successfully bomb two Japanese carriers in one day." Enterprise and Hornet left Pearl Harbor on May 28, the hastily repaired Yorktown two days later to take part in what became known as Battle of Midway, from 4 to June 6, 1942.[6]. As instrument flying became a mandatory requirement, Best also trained the flight instructors. Find Richard Best's phone number, address, and email on Spokeo, the leading people search directory for contact information and public records.