Hailed as “the single most effective pilot at Midway” (World War II magazine), Dusty Kleiss struck and sank three Japanese warships at the Battle of Midway, including two aircraft carriers, helping turn the tide of the Second World War. This is his extraordinary memoir.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • “AN INSTANT CLASSIC” —Dallas Morning News
On the morning of June 4, 1942, high above the tiny Pacific … INSTANT CLASSIC” —Dallas Morning News
On the morning of June 4, 1942, high above the tiny Pacific atoll of Midway, Lt. (j.g.) “Dusty” Kleiss burst out of the clouds and piloted his SBD Dauntless into a near-vertical dive aimed at the heart of Japan’s Imperial Navy, which six months earlier had ruthlessly struck Pearl Harbor. The greatest naval battle in history raged around him, its outcome hanging in the balance as the U.S. desperately searched for its first major victory of the Second World War. Then, in a matter of seconds, Dusty Kleiss’s daring 20,000-foot dive helped forever alter the war’s trajectory.
Plummeting through the air at 240 knots amid blistering anti-aircraft fire, the twenty-six-year-old pilot from USS Enterprise’s elite Scouting Squadron Six fixed on an invaluable target—the aircraft carrier Kaga, one of Japan’s most important capital ships. He released three bombs at the last possible instant, then desperately pulled out of his gut-wrenching 9-g dive. As his plane leveled out just above the roiling Pacific Ocean, Dusty’s perfectly placed bombs struck the carrier’s deck, and Kaga erupted into an inferno from which it would never recover.
Arriving safely back at Enterprise, Dusty was met with heartbreaking news: his best friend was missing and presumed dead along with two dozen of their fellow naval aviators. Unbowed, Dusty returned to the air that same afternoon and, remarkably, would fatally strike another enemy carrier, Hiryu. Two days later, his deadeye aim contributed to the destruction of a third Japanese warship, the cruiser Mikuma, thereby making Dusty the only pilot from either side to land hits on three different ships, all of which sank—losses that crippled the once-fearsome Japanese fleet.
By battle’s end, the humble young sailor from Kansas had earned his place in history—and yet he stayed silent for decades, living quietly with his children and his wife, Jean, whom he married less than a month after Midway. Now his extraordinary and long-awaited memoir, Never Call Me a Hero, tells the Navy Cross recipient’s full story for the first time, offering an unprecedentedly intimate look at the “the decisive contest for control of the Pacific in World War II” (New York Times)—and one man’s essential role in helping secure its outcome.
Dusty worked on this book for years with naval historians Timothy and Laura Orr, aiming to publish Never Call Me a Hero for Midway’s seventy-fifth anniversary in June 2017. Sadly, as the book neared completion in 2016, Dusty Kleiss passed away at age 100, one of the last surviving dive-bomber pilots to have fought at Midway. And yet the publication of Never Call Me a Hero is a cause for celebration: these pages are Dusty’s remarkable legacy, providing a riveting eyewitness account of the Battle of Midway, and an inspiring testimony to the brave men who fought, died, and shaped history during those four extraordinary days in June, seventy-five years ago.
more
A true story from the oldest survivor of the Battle of Midway. He was a pilot that
served on the carrier USS Enterprise.
Like all of the books that describe a singular event, this one deals mostly with the pre- Midway and post-Midway life of the author. For my taste, that is a little too much backstory for an event that took place in less than a day!
History from an actual combat pilot who lived it, not a behind the lines story teller.
Fantastic book, inside story about the battle of midway from a hero who was there in the thick of it.
A great read for anyone who enjoys military history.
Taking you into a front row seat during the Battle of Midway. The author is humble and truthful in presenting an honest opinion of what we did right and wrong in this, and other battles. Hero’s amongst us.
This book is another tale of the of a great American hero who is so humble as are most of our WWII service member. Dusty Kleiss is a one man killing machine against the powerful Japanese navy in 1942. He is responsible for sinking two aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser in the spectacular battle of Midway. Agaisnt odds that were clearly in Japan’s favor the untested American Navy comes in victorious showing the tenacity of the can do Spirit of the greatest generation. Without fighter support the Daughtles Dive bombers in 5 spectacular minutes the have 3 carriers burning out of control. Admiral Nimitz mad the decision that he wanted the fourth carrier taken out, so with time running out for daylight Dusty and his fellow pilots took off to take it out. The American Naval pilot were not used to flying at night but that nerver stopped them. They found the Japanese task force and sunk the last carrier and started their way back to the American task force. The Navy did not come out unsaved, they lost the carrier Yorktown. The next day the went to out to put an end to the battle and Dusty put his 500 lb bomb into a heavy cruiser and sunk his third ship. This book brings to life a humble man that against great odds and a willingness to win can do. All I can say about Jack “Dusty” Kleiss is thank you for you service and you are a hero
excellent, really detailed first person account of a pilot who fought in the battle of Midway. Very inspirational story, and informative.
It actually happened
Good book, enjoyed reading.
I’ll call the author a hero if I want to. But he sees himself, realistically as no more heroic than the guys he fought with. He may have been more successful than many of the others (3 ships sunk, 2 of them carriers is pretty successful), but he put himself no more in harm’s way than any of his comrades, some of whom steadfastly embarked on flying missions they knew were one-way trips. What stands out was what normal, down-to-earth persons each of these heroes was. The book calls to mind the statement of Admiral Halsey: “There are no great men, only great challenges that ordinary men must face.” These men faced and bested the challenges. Our nation was blessed to have them.
One of the Best books of WW 2, Bomber Pilots and Crew’s
The author had an interesting take on who should get the most credit for the success of Midway. He says the pilots and doesn’t think much of the moves made by Fletcher and Spruance. I’ve read a lot about Midway, but never heard this theory before. But then this the first book by a Midway Dauntless pilot I’ve ever read (or even heard of).
Amazing first person account of the battle, the surprising defeat of the Japanese fleet there, and the tragic loss of lives. You will learn about all the training, the development of aircraft used for dive bombing, how the navy operated during battle, etc…. and mistakes made. Extremely interesting if you have any interest in WWII and the battle that turned the tide of the war with Japan.
Excellent personal account of Battle of Midway and Pacific in first six months