80th Anniversary Talk: Battle of Leyte Gulf

Important information: This event is free with museum admission. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early as there may be a wait to enter the museum. This eventbrite is NOT a ticket into the museum. You do not need to bring this to attend the program.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the largest naval battle in modern history: the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23–26, 1944). Intrepid and its air group were at the center of this epic multi-day engagement, which involved nearly 200,000 men aboard 282 ships spanning 100,000 square miles of ocean. Join us on Thursday, October 24th for a presentation on Intrepid’s role in the battle and the experiences of the ship’s aviators and aircrew featuring Mike Fink, the Intrepid Museum’s Manager of Development Content and author of the forthcoming book, Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18.

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The talk will take place in the Intrepid Museum's Lutnick Theatre. Livestreaming of the conversation will be available if you can't make it in person to the Intrepid Museum. View the event live on ">span> or IntrepidMuseum.

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This event is free with museum admission. Please arrive at least 30 minutes early as there may be a wait to enter the museum. This eventbrite is NOT a ticket, you do not need to bring it to attend the program.

Special Guest Speaker:

Mike Fink is Manager of Development Content at the Intrepid Museum. An avid researcher/historian, he spent six years combing through archives and interviewing pilots and their families to uncover the incredible true story of “Two-a-Day 18,” Intrepid’s highest-scoring fighting squadron. 

About the Book:

At the end of their 81-day tour of duty aboard Intrepid, the men of Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) were credited with shooting down more than 170 planes, earning them the nickname “Two-a-Day 18” in newspapers nationwide. Intrepid's Fighting Squadron 18 follows squadron members through training, into combat, and finally to the end of their harrowing stories—whether they took the return trip home or made the ultimate sacrifice. Drawing extensively on archival and family collections, author Mike Fink reveals the personalities of these men and the binding friendships they built, showcasing the powerful impact of war on those who fight it in addition to the impact of those men on the war itself.

This book will be released on January 14, 2025.
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