Name/Title
Helmet of William SurgiDescription
A gray, steel doughboy-style helmet from World War II with an attached canvas chin strap and internal netting.Use
This helmet was likely World War I surplus and issued to US Navy sailors for protection at the beginning of World War II.Context
“I was still wearing my helmet…” said USS Yorktown (CV-5) veteran William “Bill” Surgi while describing the Battle of Midway. “I was wearing an aviator’s life jacket and had not cinched it around my waist. So it floated in front of me, and I found It was a great place to rest my [broken] arm…”
As an 18-year-old Aviation Machinist Mate who worked with Fighting Squadron 42, Surgi’s battle station was on the port side catwalk. From his station, Surgi had a front-row seat to Japanese Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers attacking the Yorktown. During one torpedo strike, the explosion threw Surgi into the overhead. The helmet seen here saved his head but didn’t stop his arm from breaking.
On June 7, 1942, the USS Yorktown (CV-5) sank beneath the waters of the Pacific, lost to history. But this wasn’t the last Bill Surgi would see of the Yorktown.
56 years later, oceanographer Dr. Richard Ballard invited Surgi aboard his expedition to find the missing aircraft carrier. On May 19, 1998, four weeks into the expedition, the USS Yorktown (CV-5) was finally found.Collection
William Surgi CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2006.00062Source or Donor
Jean Sadler SurgiAcquisition Method
GiftUpdate Date
September 18, 2024
