On February 1, 1942, LCDR Hopping led a flight of US Navy Douglas Dive Bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise on an attack of the island Roi-Mamur in the Marshall Island chain.
Silhouetted against the rising sun, Hoppings dive bomber made an easy target for the Japanese defenders of the island. During his low altitude dive, Hopping's aircraft was immediately attacked by a Japanese Zero. His plane was shot to pieces, & he crashed into the Pacific. His remains were not recovered. Killed along with Hopping was his gunner Radioman First Class Harold Thomas.
Silhouetted against the rising sun, Hoppings dive bomber made an easy target for the Japanese defenders of the island. During his low altitude dive, Hopping's aircraft was immediately attacked by a Japanese Zero. His plane was shot to pieces, & he crashed into the Pacific. His remains were not recovered. Killed along with Hopping was his gunner Radioman First Class Harold Thomas.
On February 1, 1942, LCDR Hopping led a flight of US Navy Douglas Dive Bombers from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise on an attack of the island Roi-Mamur in the Marshall Island chain.
Silhouetted against the rising sun, Hoppings dive bomber made an easy target for the Japanese defenders of the island. During his low altitude dive, Hopping's aircraft was immediately attacked by a Japanese Zero. His plane was shot to pieces, & he crashed into the Pacific. His remains were not recovered. Killed along with Hopping was his gunner Radioman First Class Harold Thomas.
Silhouetted against the rising sun, Hoppings dive bomber made an easy target for the Japanese defenders of the island. During his low altitude dive, Hopping's aircraft was immediately attacked by a Japanese Zero. His plane was shot to pieces, & he crashed into the Pacific. His remains were not recovered. Killed along with Hopping was his gunner Radioman First Class Harold Thomas.
