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Lieutenant Commander Hopping, Halsted

Halsted Hopping was in command of the scouting group sent ahead of the carrier Enterprise on the morning of 7 December. His aircraft took off at 0615 and by about 0815 they were approaching Ford Island in the middle of Pearl Harbor. Japanese aircraft were already attacking and some of the flight engaged them. Others attempted to land as previously ordered, but were shot down or turned away by their own anti-aircraft gunners. He attempted to send a radio signal to the other pilots of Scouting Squadron Six, but the control tower's power was too little and he returned to his SBD2 Dauntless to do so. He then watched the Vals make their attacks.

See also: Enterprise; Ford Island; Pearl Harbor; SBD2; Val