Anthony Joseph Maday
Private Anthony J. Maday was a Marine Corps gunner who flew with VMSB-241.
He was shot down and reported missing in the battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 363417
Current Status
Remains not recovered.
Pursuit Category
Based on circumstances of loss, this individual is considered permanently non-recoverable.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth*
December 18, 1922
at Chicago, IL
Parents
Anton Maday
Katherine (Gadek) Maday
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Details unknown
* Anthony was born Anton Maday Junior
Service Life
Entered Service
January 29, 1942
at Chicago, IL
Home Of Record
1439 North Artesian Avenue
Chicago, IL
Next Of Kin
Sister, Mrs. Irene L. Podolski
Military Specialty
Radioman / Gunner
Primary Unit
VMSB-241
Campaigns Served
Midway
Individual Decorations
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Private Anthony Maday served as an aviation radioman and gunner with VMSB-241, a Marine scout-bomber squadron based at Midway in early 1942. He flew in the rear seat of an outdated Vought SB2U Vindicator bomber; from 26 May 1942 onwards, his pilot was Second Lieutenant Kenneth O. Campion. With limited supplies restricting practice flights, Maday and Campion had very little time to get acquainted in the air.
Pilots and gunners were placed on standby early on the morning of 4 June 1942. Conflicting orders and confusion rattled the nerves somewhat, but by 0600 the bombers were taking off to strike at an approaching Japanese fleet. Director John Ford was on Midway, and brought his film camera to the runway in time to catch the Vindicator unit taking off. He shot a color sequence of SB2U-3 #2067 – painted with squadron number 3 – taking off, with Campion and Maday clearly visible at their positions.
Norris rendezvoused his formation at Point Affirm and led them towards the reported carrier position, climbing as he went. The Vindicators trailed behind the Dauntlesses, and Japanese fighters were already in the air when they arrived over the fleet. As the fast “Zekes” raced through the Americans, Norris opted to attack the nearest target: the battleship Haruna, directly below. Despite their slow speed and shallow dive angle, not one of the Vindicators fell over the enemy fleet. The formation scattered and the pilots were left to find their own route back to Midway.
Campion formed up on Vindicator 2 flown by Second Lieutenant George T. Lumpkin, and the two planes set a southwesterly course. Zeroes tailed the pair, keeping Maday and PFC George A. Toms busy at their guns. When a scout plane appeared – Lumpkin thought it was a Type 95 “Dave” belonging to Haruna – the Vindicators turned around to bring the pilots’ guns to bear. The “Dave” wisely backed off and headed back towards the fleet. Campion’s blood was up, and he chased after the biplane. At that moment, Toms called Lumpkin to report more Zeroes approaching fast. Lumpkin hurried into a cloud and flew blind for several minutes, evading his pursuers. Vindicator 2 returned to Midway alone.
Nothing more was ever seen of Campion, Maday, or Vindicator 3, but it was presumed that they fell victim to the guns of the Zeroes. Both Marines were reported missing in action following the battle, and ultimately declared dead on 5 June 1943.
Burial Information or Disposition
Failed to return from mission over open sea; remains not recovered.
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Next Of Kin Address
Address of sister, Mrs. Irene L. Podolski.
Location Of Loss
Maday’s Vindicator was last seen on a course heading to Midway.
Anthony Joseph Maday is my great uncle. His sister was Irene Podolski, Irene’s son was Leon Podolski, Leon is my father. I have some original letters sent from Anthony to Irene in 1942 and I have an official Marine document from when he was declared killed in action.