VT-3

Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3) was a United States Navy torpedo bomber squadron established in the 1920s and most famously active during World War II. VT-3 gained distinction for its role in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, where its pilots and crew launched a courageous but costly attack against the Japanese carrier fleet. Despite suffering heavy losses—most of its planes were shot down—VT-3’s attack, along with those by VT-6 and VT-8, drew Japanese fighter cover away, enabling American dive bombers to strike decisively. The squadron’s sacrifice was pivotal in turning the tide of the Pacific War in favor of the Allies.