A Buffalo Native Was Instrumental in the Most Critical Naval Battle of WWII
Clarence Wade McClusky
Part I
Many people are at least somewhat aware of the epoch events surrounding the Allied D-Day invasion of the European
continent that began on June 6th 1944. Occurring during the last year of WWII, the Allies had struggled to produce more and
more equipment and train ever increasing numbers of combat personnel to bring about the eventual surrender of Germany.
However, it is likely that far fewer people are aware of the background and significance regarding a small, remote Pacific
island known as Midway. This seemingly irrelevant place was actually the location that, in the opinion of many historians,
marked the beginning of the end to Japanese objectives during WWII. Unlike D-Day, the Battle of Midway occurred during the
beginning of our struggle against Japan, when the backs of our armed forces were literally “against the wall”
Even fewer people are aware of the involvement of a Buffalo native who made perhaps the most import operational decision
that allowed the US Navy to impose a stunning defeat on a superior Japanese invasion fleet, and so depleted Japan’s Naval
superiority that they never could adequately recover enough to carry out their long term objectives in the Pacific.
The background, events and aftermath of this “Incredible Victory” (1) are extensive and far too wide-ranging to cover in one
digestible article. Therefore I intend to divide this presentation into several sequential parts over a period of time. But first,
some background on this Buffalo native to which I am referring.
Clarence Wade McClusky Jr. – known as “C. Wade” or “Wade” McClusky during his adult life – grew up in the Triangle Area of
South Buffalo. He was born on June 1, 1902 to C. Wade McClusky Sr. and mother Mary. According to an article in the Buffalo
Courier-Express dated 17 May 1944, he had two sisters - and two brothers, Robert L. and Frank R. McClusky. The mother’s
maiden name was not given, and the sisters were referred to only by their title “Mrs.” and their married names. At the time of
the article, his mother lived at 151 Tuscarora Rd, less than one mile NW of the intersection of Orchard Park Road and and
Interstate 90. His father was a local businessman, and was deceased at the time of the article. No details regarding his
father’s specific business involvement was given.
McClusky attended what was then Public School 28, then on to South Park High School. Concurrent with high school
graduation 1922 he received an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduating and receiving a
commission as Ensign USN in 1926.
Official Navy records show that he served on active duty as an officer and Naval Aviator from 1926 through 1956, eventually
achieving the rank of Rear Admiral (O-8), equivalent to the two-star rank of Major General in the other armed forces. He died
on June 27, 1976 at the age of 74. He is buried in the Naval Academy cemetery at Annapolis.
The now-decommissioned guided missile frigate USS McCLUSKY (FFG-41) was named in his honor.
McClusky as a Captain (O-6) USN
USS McCLUSKY (FFG-41)
McClusky’s headstone at the Naval Academy
When McClusky graduated from Annapolis in1926, Naval Aviation was emerging from infancy, and was considered to be
important, but not nearly as important as the “Battleship Navy” or the submarine force. Academy graduates were expected to
pursue a Navy career, aspiring to command positions in the surface – or – perhaps, the submarine fleet. Battleships and
Cruisers were certainly the most important weapons the Navy had at the time.
Our first two combat-capable Aircraft Carriers had just been commissioned in1927 - USS LEXINGTON (CV-2) and USS
SARATOGA (CV-3). They were both actually an afterthought, based on the conversion of two Battle Cruisers as the result of
the Post-WWI Washington Naval Conference, signed in1922 by the US, Britain, France, Japan and Italy. The agreement
limited construction of Battleships and Cruisers, but Carriers were considered a novelty under this treaty, therefore
construction of, or conversion of existing ships to, Aircraft Carriers was not considered a significant naval threat at that time.
In general, Academy grads were expected to go to sea on a warship after graduation, even if they wanted to be an aviator. At
a later point, they would be allowed to enter flight training. In order to accommodate those who wanted to fly, new graduates
stayed at Annapolis, were given a short course in aviation and completed initial primary flight training in seaplane trainers. The
airplanes were located at a seaplane base across the Severn River from the Academy. These new Ensigns would then serve
aboard warships until a vacancy was available for them to continue training at the facilities in Pensacola, Florida. Wade
McClusky followed such a pattern, and received his wings on 7 May 1929.
N3N-3 float plane
Primary Trainer
He served in several aviation assignments from 1929 to May 1940, when he was assigned to Fighter Squadron SIX (VF-6)
aboard the Carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6). In April 1942, he was selected for Command of that squadron and that same
month, was selected to Command the entire Air Group of four squadrons on ENTERPRISE. This was a surprisingly fast
progression in his career, as he was only a Lieutenant Commander (O-4) at that point in his career.
At he beginning of WWII, Carrier Air Groups on the Navy’s seven Carriers (2) were typically composed of four squadrons – one
fighter (VF), a dive bombing squadron (VB), a scout squadron (VS) and a torpedo squadron (VT). Squadron and Air Group
numbering were based on the hull number of the Carrier they were assigned to. In the case of ENTERPRISE (CV-6), Air Group
SIX consisted of the following:
VB-6: 18 Douglas SBD-2 and SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers; CO LT Richard H. Best
VS-6: 18 Douglas SBD-2 and SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers; CO LT Earl Gallaher
VF-6: 27 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters; CO LT James Gray
VT-6: 14 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators; CO LCDR Eugene Lindsey
Although the VB and VS squadrons flew the same type airplane, scout squadron pilots specialized in long range search, and were
also trained to dive bomb when necessary. On search missions they typically would not carry bombs in order to reduce weight
and drag, thus increasing their search range. Soon after the war began various squadrons would be rotated through different Air
Groups due to Carriers being damaged or sunk, so Air Groups wound up becoming a “mish mash” of squadron numbers.at times.
Those readers with military experience will notice that the grades of the Commanding Officers in these squadrons are surprisi ngly
low compared to modern times, but also reflect the slow promotion rates between WWI and WWII. They also reflect the fact that
there was a relatively small pool of experienced aviators to draw from since the Naval Aviation force was still emerging.
So, we now see Wade McClusky’s rise to command the entire Air Group on board ENTERPRISE in April 1942. Soon, his
experience and leadership will be severely tested
NEXT –
• Where is Midway?
• So What?
FOOTNOTES for PART I:
(1) “Incredible Victory” is the title of an in depth account authored by the award-winning historical author Walter Lord. It was
first published in 1967.
(2) At the beginning of WWII, the Navy had seven Carriers, CV-2 through CV-8. The first Carrier USS LANGLEY (CV-1) was
never considered a combatant, but only an experimental platform. Commissioned in 1920 through the conversion of a
Collier, She was converted to a seaplane tender in 1937, then sunk in February 1942 south of Java by Japanese
destroyers.