U.S. Navy LCdr Maxwell F. Leslie, commanding officer of Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3), ditches his Douglas SBD-3 <i>Dauntless</i> next to the heavy cruiser USS <i>Astoria</i> (CA-34) after successfully attacking the Japanese carrier <i>Soryu</i> during the Battle of Midway, 13:48 hrs, 4 June 1942. Leslie and his wingman Lt(jg) P.A. Holmberg ditched near <i>Astoria</i> due to fuel exhaustion, after their parent carrier USS <i>Yorktown</i> (CV-5) was under attack by Japanese planes when they returned. Leslie, Holmberg, and their gunners were rescued by one of the cruiser's whaleboats.
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U.S. Navy photo <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/wars-and-events/world-war-ii/midway/80-G-32307.html">80-G-32307</a>