The Raft and The Typhoon – Becoming an ace and a survivor in one Mission

It was still dark, when Ensign Clarence "Spike" Borley launched in his Hellcat to strike Formosa. There was no way he would have imagined how long it would be, and how many adventures he'd have, before returning to the Essex. (Photo by John Dibbs/planepicture.com)

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Well before dawn, October 12, 1944, a sailor of the duty watch on USS Essex (CV-9) entered officers’ quarters: “It’s 0400, sir, you’re scheduled for the first strike. There’s coffee and sandwiches in the wardroom. Good luck today, sir.” After washing and shaving, the pilots headed for the wardroom, greeted by coffee, Spam sandwiches, leftover canned beets and asparagus, the standard fare aboard Essex after five months in the Western Pacific. Most stuck to coffee....

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