assigned to torpedo squadron 8 (vt-8)—embarked in "hornet" (cv-8)—soon thereafter, moore was killed in action on 4 june 1942, during the battle of midway. flying a douglas tbd-1 devastator torpedo bomber, ensign moore perished in vt-8's gallant torpedo attack—led by lieutenant commander john c. waldron—against the japanese aircraft carrier "soryu" of the midway-bound task force under vice admiral chuichi nagumo. moore was awarded a posthumous navy cross for pressing home his attack despite being grimly aware that vt-8 lacked fighter cover.