Delaware’s Forgotten World War II Hero

I. Introduction and Summary

The months after the devastating Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor were difficult ones for the United States.  The Japanese had destroyed the cream of our Pacific Fleet and began a reign of conquest almost unparalleled in modern times: China, Singapore, French Indochina, the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, New Guinea, Wake Island, etc.  To fight back, the US had only its few precious aircraft carriers and the men who flew their planes.  

Following the intelligence breakthroughs of the Navy’s codebreakers and Admiral Nimitz’s audacious confidence in their conclusions, the carriers were placed in position to neutralize the next Japanese attack on the strategic Midway Island.  The pilots did the rest.  

One of them was Lieutenant Wilmer Earl Gallaher, a Wilmington, Delaware native.  He was Commander of Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) aboard the USS Enterprise (CV-6).  His skill, valor, and personal leadership directly helped sink two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers destroyed that day.  This decisive result by the underdog Americans eliminated the threats to Midway, further Japanese expansion, and hundreds of irreplaceable first-line Japanese pilots.  The Americans then began the long road to victory in the Pacific.  Thus, a Delawarean was a key contributor to one of the most significant battles in world history.  Yet, his role has been largely forgotten.  We hope to begin to change that situation with this report.