[Elbert Scott McCuskey oral history interview]

Fighter ace Elbert Scott McCuskey is interviewed about his military service with the United States Navy during World War II. He describes his experiences as a military pilot, including his time stationed in the North Atlantic aboard the USS Ranger (CV-4) and his time in the Pacific Theater with Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42), Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3), and Fighting Squadron 8 (VF-8). Special focus on his participation in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942 in which he intercepted a formation of Japanese dive bombers and scored several aerial victories.

The interview is conducted via phone by historian Eric M. Hammel.

Elbert Scott McCuskey was born on February 8, 1915 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He joined the United States Navy in 1938 and was designated a Naval Aviator the following year. Stationed aboard the USS Ranger (CV-4) in the North Atlantic, McCuskey initially served as a dive bomber pilot with VS-41 until the squadron’s re-designation as Fighting Squadron 42 (VF-42). Following the Pearl Harbor attack, McCuskey was deployed to the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5), where he continued to serve with VF-42, later reformed as Fighting Squadron 3 (VF-3). In 1943, he briefly returned to the United States as a flight instructor and G-suit test pilot. He then redeployed with Fighting Squadron 8 (VF-8) aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). McCuskey remained in the military after the war and went on to serve as commander of VS-22 aboard the USS Mindoro (CVE-120) and as operations officer aboard the USS Hornet (CV-12). Following his retirement at the rank of captain in 1965, he entered the education field. McCuskey passed away in 1997.