One of the most noteworthy individual aircraft in history is depicted in this profile, the SBD-3 flown by Lieutenant Richard H. “Dick” Best, commander of VB-6 aboard USS ENTERPRISE, CV-6, and his gunner ACRM J. F. Murray, during the Battle of Midway. On the morning of June 4, 1942, while the majority of the ENTERPRISE air group attacked the Japanese carrier HIRYU, Best led his three-ship element against AKAGI, the lead carrier at Pearl Harbor and Midway. After his wingmen scored two near-misses that damaged the target, Best dropped his bomb which penetrated AKAGI’s flight deck and exploded in the hangar deck amidst fully fueled torpedo planes. AKAGI was doomed and the Battle of Midway was won. It is interesting to note that Best was the squadron commander while still a lieutenant. (Artwork by Rock Roszak)