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Douglas SBD Dauntless as flown by Lt. Cmdr. Clarence Wade McClusky, Commander USS Enterprise Air Group. Wade McClusky was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his part in the Action which was largely responsible for the sinking of three Japanese carriers on the morning of the Battle.
Grumman TBF Avenger of Squadron VT-8 (Torpedo 8) flying from Midway Island. This aircraft was the only one of six Avengers to return after attacking the Japanese fleet, with one crewman dead and another injured. For his part in the Battle, the pilot, Ensign Albert K. Earnest was awarded two Congressional Medals of Honor; one for the attack itself and one for bringing his badly damaged aircraft home
Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat as flown by Lt. Cmdr. John S. Thach of VF-3, USS Yorktown in the Battle. John Thach was also a holder of the Medal of Honor.
Douglas TBD-1 Devastator as flown by Lt. Cmdr. John C. Waldron, Commander of VT-8 from USS Hornet during the Battle of Midway. All 15 aircraft (each with a crew of two) from Torpedo 8 flying off the Hornet were lost attacking the Japanese Fleet with only one pilot surviving. John Waldron was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.
A selection of other US Navy Aircraft
McDonnell F2H-4 Banshee, USS Coral Sea, March 1956
Another view of the Banshee
Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk, flown by Lt. Thomas S. Combs, Section 2 Leader, VF-1B, USS Saratoga, July 1933
Grumman AF-2W and AF-2S Guardian hunter-killer team. The aircraft with the large radome under the fuselage would search for submarines and then call in the killer aircraft to attack.
Close up of the AF-2W hunter aircraft
Curtiss N-9H "Jenny" floatplane, Naval Air Station Pensacola, 1918
Another view of the "Jenny"
Vought TBY-2 Sea Wolf of VT-154, Naval Air Station Quonset Point
Douglas A-4C Skyhawk from Attack Squadron VA-15, USS Forrestal during the Vietnam Conflict and bearing the "Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club" emblem on the fuselage
Another view of the Skyhawk
Two views of the North American AJ-2 Savage from Heavy Attack Squadron 7 (VAH-7)
Grumman E-1B Tracer airborne early warning aircraft of Squadron VAW-121 flying off of USS Intrepid in 1972
The successor to the Tracer, the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye
Grumman KA-6D Intruder. This is the in-flight refuelling version of the Intruder bomber. This particular aircraft was based on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and belonged to Attack Squadron VA-35, "the Black Panthers"
Grumman EA-6B Prowler. This is a "stretched" version of the Intruder used for Electronic Warfare. The aircraft depicted was from Squadron VAQ-135 on USS America.
Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo, the US Navy's first monoplane fighter. This aircraft belonged to fighter squadron VF-2 on the carrier USS Lexington in 1941
Grumman F3F-1 of fighter squadron VF-4 ("the Red Rippers") on the carrier USS Ranger c1936-7
Grumman FF-1 of VF-5B on USS Lexington in 1936
Boeing F4B-4 from squadron VF-2 on USS Lexington
Grumman F7F-3N Tigercat nightfighter
Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat. The aircraft depicted belonged to fighter squadron VF-194 based on the carrier USS Boxer in June 1950
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (with "straight" wings) and the later swept-wing F9F-8 Cougar
Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk. The structure on top of the wing enabled the aircraft to hook on to a "trapeze" apparatus suspended from an airship so that it could be raised and lowered in and out of a hangar on board the airship. This aircraft was assigned to the airship USS Macon.
General Dynamics F-16N Fighting Falcon in "Top Gun" markings. The purpose of this aircraft was to play the part of an enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat training
IAI F-21A Lion. This aircraft, built by Israeli Aircraft Industries as the Kfir was leased by the US Navy for "Top Gun" air-to-air combat training as it had similar performance characteristics to potential enemy aircraft, most notably Russian-built MiGs
Vought F-8E Crusader of fighter squadron VF-162 aboard USS Oriskany
Vought A-7B Corsair II of attack squadron VA-56 on USS Midway
McDonnell FH-1 Phantom from fighter squadron VF-17A operating from USS Saipan in 1947
McDonnell F3H-2 Demon of fighter squadron VF-41 on USS Independence
Boeing Vertol CH-46D Seaknight detached to USS White Plains
Douglas F3D-2T2 Skyknight trainer version of the F3D fighter
Vought F7U-3 Cutlass fighter - a radical but not very successful design
Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher. The aircraft depicted was based on USS North Carolina at Truk in April 1944 when it was used to rescue 10 downed aircrew. For this feat the pilot, Lt. John Burns, received the Navy Cross.
Lockheed P-3c Orion maritime patrol aircraft of Patrol Squadron VP-40
