Damaged Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat of VF-72 after landing aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 26 October 1942 (80-G-42562)

A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat (BuNo 5246) of Fighting Squadron 72 (VF-72) from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) after landing aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942. The aircraft had been flown by Ensign Philip E. Souza. It was heavily damaged by Mitsubishi A6M2 Zeros from the aircraft carrier Zuihō while escorting a strike from Hornet at circe 0900 hrs. Souza reached the Enterprise circa at 1120 hrs, shortly before the carrier was attacked by dive bombers from the Japanese aircraft carrier Junyō. The Wildcat 5246 broke loose during the evasive maneouvering and slid across the deck with a collapsed landing gear. It was quickly pushed over the side.