Bulletin #8
4 June 2026
Topic in this update: Last Flight of Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Junior
To fans and followers of the Battle of Midway Roundtable, www.midway42.org:
When the book was first published it revealed several previously unknown or little known facts on the Battle of Midway. Now thanks to The Kelly Foundation it's available online.
The book is not perfect with a few errors such as the wrong launch photo on page 7 but all in all a valuable resource. Over the years I have received many requests to see if I knew where the book could be acquired. Since it was privately published not many copies existed and it was hard to find. In the past number of years it has become quite scarce. I highly recommend checking out the website and reading the book if you have not previously had the chance.
Thanks to Stephen Kent for bringing this to our attention.
Bulletin #9
9 June 2026
Topic in this update: new Naval History magazine article on VT-8 pilot William Evans
From its beginning, the Roundtable has showcased the remarkable writings of VT-8 pilot Ensign William Evans. A short excerpt from one of his most famous letters adorned the header of our earlier Roundtable Forum newsletters, and others appeared in later issues, thanks to family member and Roundtable contributor Mike Rogers.
Now, the U.S. Naval Institute, publishers of Proceedings and Naval History, has posted an online article about Evans and his exceptional writing skill by Robert Mrazek, whom you know as the author of A Dawn Like Thunder. Bob's article is a compilation of Evans' best known writings plus supporting commentary.
The article is highly recommended to the Roundtable, and you can read online for free here:
https://www.usni.org/WilliamRobinsonEvans