Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters of VF-3, flown by squadron commander John S. “Jimmie” Thach (foreground) and Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare. During the battle of Midway, Thach provided vital fighter cover for American torpedo bombers aga
Categories: 100 Years of Naval Aviation
 
 
Thank you to the Mario Family Foundation for enabling the digitization of the U.S. Naval Institute’s Photo Archive. The physical photos in the Photo Archive are stored in the Mildred M. Mario Photo Archive Room located at the U.S. Naval Institute’s Headquarters in Annapolis, MD.

©2025 U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE