Eugene E. Lindsey, born in Sprague, Washington, 2 July 1905, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1927. After duty in Nevada (BB-36) and Saratoga (CV-3) he completed flight training in 1929, and served with a bombing squadron in Lexington (CV-2) and an observation squadron in Maryland (BB-46). From 3 June 1940 he commanded Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), which flew Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo bombers, in Enterprise (CV-6).