 Having taken off prior to the Japanese attack , American bombers based on Midway made several attacks on the Japanese carrier force . These included 6 Grumman Avengers , detached to Midway from the USS Hornet 's VT @-@ 8 ( Midway was the first combat mission for the VT @-@ 8 airmen , and the combat debut of the TBF ) , Marine Scout @-@ Bombing Squadron 241 ( VMSB @-@ 241 ) , consisting of 11 SB2U @-@ 3s and 16 SBDs , plus 4 USAAF B @-@ 26s , armed with torpedoes , and 15 B @-@ 17s . The Japanese repelled these attacks , losing 2 fighters while destroying 5 TBFs , 2 SB2Us , 8 SBDs , and 2 B @-@ 26s . The first Marine aviator to perish in the battle , Major Lofton R. Henderson of VMSB @-@ 241 , was killed while leading his inexperienced Dauntless squadron into action . The main airfield at Guadalcanal was named after him in August 1942 . 
