Hobby Master Archive

Aircraft BuNo. 4687 from the USS Enterprise (The Big E) (CV-6) was flown by the Lt. Richard H. Best, commanding officer of VB-6. On June 4, 1942 while flying Black B-1 from Bombing Six, Best and Murray took part in two sorties that day. The first mission took place in the morning against the IJNS Akagi and Kaga. In the afternoon they helped with the sinking of IJNS Hiryu. During the operation Best inhaled caustic fumes from a faulty oxygen bottle damaging his lungs and forcing him into early retirement from active duty.